Kohler + Partner

What Kohler + Partner does

Köhler + Partner GmbH is a family-owned full-service B2B marketing agency founded in 1975 by Freimut Köhler, headquartered in Buchholz in der Nordheide near Hamburg, Germany. The firm is specialized in industrial B2B communication, serving mechanical, electronic, and electrotechnical component and system manufacturers as well as machinery and plant engineering companies across Germany and broader Europe. The agency offers integrated services spanning strategic planning, public relations, design and corporate identity, performance marketing (SEA, SEO, programmatic, native ads), web development (TYPO3, WordPress, Shopware, Magento), social media management, content creation, and integrated campaign management.

The business differentiates through proprietary "Agentur Specials" — Mechatronic News (a trade-media-distributed industry publication), Fachpressetage Hamburg (an annual industry event connecting trade journalists with industrial clients), K+P Dashboard / KPImpact (a real-time cross-channel campaign reporting platform launched in 2025), and KI-Audit (an AI search visibility assessment service launched in 2025). Its technology stack combines standard martech (TYPO3, WordPress, Google Ads, Adobe Creative Suite) with these proprietary client-facing tools, and generative AI is used as an assistive content production tool.

The company employs approximately 80-90 people and generates around €6 million in annual revenue from ~70-85 active enterprise clients served through annual contracts and retainer arrangements. Revenue is generated through professional services fees and media planning/buying commissions, distributed via direct sales with dedicated account managers. Notable customers include Nabtesco Precision Europe (20+ year partnership), AL-KO, AERZEN, Bauer Gruppe, Nord Drive Systems, Kontron, Kendrion (Intorq), Norelem, and IMA Schelling. Ownership remains with the founding Köhler family, currently in its second generation of leadership under managing directors Jan Phillip Köhler and Julia Köhler-Cordes; no external investors, private equity, or holding companies are involved.

Name

Kohler + Partner

Legal name

Köhler + Partner GmbH

Website

https://koehler-partner.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Köhler + Partner GmbH is a family-owned German full-service B2B marketing agency specializing in industrial communication for manufacturing clients across Germany and Europe, with approximately 85 employees and around €6 million in annual revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

B2B Marketing Services

NAICS

Advertising Agencies (541810), Public Relations Agencies (541820), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (56192)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Technology & B2B PR (BPAFADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Product & Brand PR (Consumer & B2B) (BPAFADAH), Customer, Marketing & Sales Consulting (BPAHACAG), Trade Shows & Industry Expos (B2B) (MPAGAHAB)

Keywords

• Industrial B2B marketing
• Marketing agency services
• Trade media PR
• Corporate design services
• Performance marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Buchholz In Der Nordheide

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Marketing Services Retainers and Project Fees: Full-service agency providing ongoing marketing services to industrial clients. Revenue derived from annual contracts, retainer arrangements, and project-based engagements covering PR, design, web development, campaigns, and performance marketing.
2. Media Planning and Buying: Media buying services for clients leveraging industry-focused publications and digital channels. Agency acts as intermediary between clients and publishers, benefiting from volume-based pricing and exclusive media partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Köhler + Partner is a full-service B2B marketing agency specialized in industrial communication. It delivers integrated marketing services including public relations, performance marketing, media planning and buying, design and corporate identity, web development, content creation, social media, and campaign management to industrial manufacturing clients primarily in Germany and across Europe. The agency complements these with proprietary 'Agentur Specials' such as the Mechatronic News publication, Fachpressetage Hamburg event, K+P Dashboard (KPImpact) real-time reporting tool, and KI-Audit (AI visibility assessment).

Product overview

Kohler + Partner is a full-service B2B marketing agency specializing in industrial communication with a portfolio of integrated services. The core offerings include Public Relations, Performance Marketing (SEA/SEO/Programmatic), Design & Corporate Identity, Web Development (TYPO3/WordPress/Shopware/Magento), Content Creation, and Social Media Services. The agency differentiates through proprietary 'Agentur Specials' including Mechatronic News (industry publication), Fachpressetage Hamburg (annual trade media event), K+P Dashboard/KPImpact (real-time reporting platform), and KI-Audit (AI visibility assessment). These specials create synergy effects for clients and differentiate the agency from standard marketing firms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Public Relations Comprehensive public relations services for industrial companies, including strategy development, content creation, media distribution, and performance monitoring across B2B trade publications.
• Performance Marketing Digital marketing services including programmatic advertising, search engine advertising (SEA), search engine optimization (SEO), native ads, and social ads on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
• Media Planning & Buying Media planning and purchasing services leveraging industry partnerships to secure favorable rates and placement in B2B trade publications and digital platforms.
• Design & Corporate Identity Corporate identity and design services including logo development, brand guidelines, web design, print design, and trade fair/exhibition design for industrial companies.
• Web Development Website programming and development services using TYPO3 and WordPress CMS, e-commerce solutions with Shopware and Magento, web maintenance, and product configurators.
• Content Creation Multimedia content production including press releases, web texts, photography, videography, whitepapers, storytelling, and social media content, supported by generative AI tools.
• Campaign Management Integrated campaign management combining PR, digital, print, and event marketing across multiple channels with continuous performance tracking.
• Social Media Services Social media strategy, content creation, sponsored posts, and analytics for LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
• Mechatronic News Proprietary B2B publication distributed through key industrial trade media channels, providing clients with exclusive media placement opportunities.
• Fachpressetage Hamburg Annual industry event in Hamburg bringing together B2B trade media representatives with agency clients for networking and product presentations.
• K+P Dashboard (KPImpact) Real-time client dashboard providing cross-channel visibility into marketing campaign performance and results, accessible via personal login.
• KI-Audit (AI Audit) Assessment service to evaluate how well clients are discovered by AI-based internet search systems, with recommendations for optimization.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85 active customers managed by team of 80-90 employees with €6M annual revenue
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• BäderlandminorOthersEmployee wellness partnership providing discounted access to swimming pools and sauna facilities for agency staff as an employee benefit offering.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schwartz Public Relations: German PR agency specializing in B2B technology and industrial clients, with services spanning media relations, content, and digital marketing — directly comparable to Köhler + Partner's industrial B2B PR and full-service positioning.
• Hotzbrand: Munich-based B2B marketing and PR agency focused on technology, industrial, and engineering clients — overlaps directly with Köhler + Partner in serving Mittelstand manufacturers with integrated PR, content, and digital services.
• Palmer Hargreaves (Germany): International B2B marketing agency (now part of Havas) with a German presence serving industrial, technology, and engineering clients — directly comparable in vertical specialization, full-service scope, and Mittelstand/enterprise client mix.
• Kreutzfeldt GmbH: Hamburg-based B2B communication agency with strong focus on industrial and technology clients — geographic neighbor and direct competitor for industrial marketing and PR engagements in northern Germany.
• Wilde & Partner: German B2B technology PR and communications agency serving tech, industrial, and engineering clients — directly comparable offering around PR, content, and digital communications for industrial Mittelstand accounts.

Broad incumbents

• Serviceplan Group: Germany's largest independent agency group offering full-service marketing, PR, and digital — competes for the same industrial clients but operates across multiple verticals and consumer/B2B with significantly greater resources.
• Jung von Matt: Large German creative and marketing agency group with B2B capabilities serving enterprise clients — competes for industrial mandates with broader portfolio but deeper resources and global footprint.
• Scholz & Friends: Major German advertising and communications agency group with B2B experience — operates across a wider industry mix but competes for industrial marketing and PR budgets at a larger scale.

Emerging players

• ORCA Affairs: German B2B tech PR and communications boutique focused on technology and industrial clients — narrower scope and smaller scale than Köhler + Partner, but directly comparable in vertical focus and Mittelstand client base.

Others

• Vogel Communications Group: German B2B media and communications group operating trade publications and marketing services in industrial verticals — an adjacent ecosystem participant providing content channels and media services that overlap with Köhler + Partner's Mechatronic News and trade media positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/KoehlerPartner
• Facebookfacebook.com/koehlerpartner

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

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 Kohler + Partner