Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik

What Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik does

Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik GmbH is a German Tier-1 manufacturer of electroplated and painted plastic components for the automotive industry, headquartered in Lüdenscheid with production sites in Lüdenscheid, Ibbenbüren, and Altena-Rosmart. The company, founded in 1796 as a brass and copper buckle maker and pivoting to automotive in 1952, has been privately held since a 2000 management buyout and operates with approximately 1,500 specialists across five locations (including subsidiary MEGATEC). Its core products are decorative and functional plastic parts for vehicle interiors and exteriors — radiator grilles, decorative trim strips, front grilles, light-integrated components, and ambient lighting/electronics — supplied directly to premium automotive OEMs under multi-year programs with just-in-time delivery into OEM production lines.

Gerhardi's technology stack is built on six integrated capabilities: multi-component injection molding (including radiator grilles with integrated lighting), state-of-the-art electroplating (Chrome(VI)-free since early 2020, with one of the world's largest and most modern electroplating plants housed at the Rosmart facility opened in January 2020), large-surface and robotic painting with partial contour masking, hot stamping, precision assembly (ultrasonic welding, bonding, joining, with camera/sensor quality checks), and automotive light/electronics integration. In 2024 the company extended this surface-coating IP into a new "Functional Protection" coating solution for EV battery housings. Manufacturing quality is backed by ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, and TISAX certifications across the German sites, and production is CO2-free since 2023 with near-100% heavy-metal recovery from wastewater.

The business model is B2B component manufacturing sold direct to automotive OEMs via project-management-led enterprise field sales; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quote-based on customer specification, volume, and complexity. The company maintains a vertically integrated, single-source proposition — taking customers from concept engineering through series production — with revenue concentrated in premium-OEM program wins. After acquiring majority control of injection-molding specialist MEGATEC Kunststofftechnik GmbH in 2010 and expanding into the United States with a Montgomery, Alabama plant in 2016–2018, Gerhardi divested the US site in 2025 to refocus on its European core.

Name

Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik

Legal name

Gerhardi Lüdenscheid GmbH

Website

https://gerhardi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1796

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik is a German Tier-1 manufacturer of electroplated and painted plastic components — grilles, trim, lighting — supplied directly to premium automotive OEMs, with vertically integrated injection molding, Chrome(VI)-free electroplating, painting, and assembly across three German production sites and ~1,500 specialists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Plastic Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Electroplating, Plating, Polishing, Anodizing, and Coloring (332813), Motor Vehicle Electrical and Electronic Equipment Manufacturing (336320)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Surface Materials & Coatings for Interiors/Exteriors Manufacturing (Upholstery Materials/Decor Films/Paints for Trim) (IMACAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive Lighting Assemblies Manufacturing (Headlamps/Taillamps/Interior Lamps/DRLs) (IMACAKAG), Passenger Vehicle Paint, Coatings & Surface Finishing (ICE) (IMACAAAD)

Keywords

• Automotive plastic components
• Plastic injection molding
• Electroplated plastic parts
• Automotive lighting solutions
• Surface finishing plastics

Headquarters

HQ city

Lüdenscheid

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automotive Component Manufacturing: B2B manufacturing of electroplated and painted plastic parts for automotive OEM interiors and exteriors, including decorative trim strips, front grilles, and lighting components. Revenue generated through component production and surface treatment services.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik manufactures electroplated and painted plastic components for the automotive industry, providing complete manufacturing solutions from a single source. Core offerings include plastic injection molding (single and multi-component), plastic electroplating (including chrome(VI)-free since early 2020), robotic and large-surface painting, hot stamping, precision assembly, and integrated automotive lighting solutions with LEDs, light guides, and sensors. The company supplies premium automotive OEMs with decorative trim strips, front grilles, and exterior/interior components, and in 2024 launched Functional Protection, a coating solution for EV battery housings.

Product overview

Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik is a leading European manufacturer of electroplated and painted plastic parts for the automotive industry, offering comprehensive manufacturing solutions from a single source. The company provides Kunststoffspritzguss (injection molding) as its core manufacturing capability, combined with Kunststoffgalvanisierung (electroplating), Kunststofflackierung (painting), Montage (assembly), Heißprägen (hot stamping), and Automotive Lichtlösungen (light and electronics). The portfolio also includes Engineering services, Qualität (quality assurance), and a recently launched Functional Protection coating solution for EV battery housings. Their MEGATEC subsidiary (acquired 2010) focuses on injection molding and assembly. Products include decorative trim parts, front grilles, interior components, and exterior body parts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kunststoffspritzguss (Injection Molding) Production of highly complex plastic components using single and multi-component injection molding processes, with specialization in radiator grilles with light inclusion. Targeted at premium automotive OEMs.
• Kunststoffgalvanisierung (Plastic Electroplating) State-of-the-art electroplating of plastic parts delivering high-quality plated surfaces for the premium automotive segment, including chrome(VI)-free production since early 2020, supported by a state-of-the-art test electroplating facility.
• Kunststofflackierung (Plastic Painting) Modern large-surface and robotic painting of plastic components with high degree of automation, including partial painting of individual component contours combined with injection-compression molding. Targeted at automotive OEM exterior and interior parts.
• Montage (Assembly) Precision assembly of plastic components combining bonding, ultrasonic welding, joining, and hot stamping processes with camera and sensor-based quality checks.
• Heißprägen (Hot Stamping) Surface finishing process using heat and pressure to apply decorative foils and patterns to plastic surfaces, used for automotive interior and exterior components.
• Automotive Lichtlösungen (Automotive Light and Electronics) Lighting and electronics integration solutions including ambient lighting systems, light guides, premium LEDs, and sensors for vehicle interior and exterior illumination. Targeted at premium automotive OEMs.
• Functional Protection Coating solution specifically designed for battery housings in electric vehicles, providing functional protection for EV components. Targeted at automotive OEMs developing electric vehicles.
• Qualität (Quality) Forward-thinking quality planning, constant quality assurance during development, zero-defect strategy implementation, and state-of-the-art testing techniques from advance planning through series production, supporting automotive OEM certification requirements (IATF 16949, ISO 9001).
• Engineering / Konstruktion Full component development support from concept idea to series component, including strategic coordination and close customer relationship management, delivered by a construction team led by Jan Prass.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2-free production since 2023
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Megatec Kunststofftechnik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Majority shareholding acquisition in 2010. Megatec Kunststofftechnik GmbH produces plastic components on modern single and multi-component injection molding machines for the automotive industry. Located in Lüdenscheid. Core processes are injection molding and assembly.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GERHARDIKunststofftechnik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gerhardi-kunststofftechnik-gmbh/?originalSubdomain=de
• Instagraminstagram.com/gerhardi_azubisquad/?hl=en

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gerhardi Kunststofftechnik