SMB International

What SMB International does

SMB International GmbH is a German manufacturer of custom intralogistics systems headquartered in Quickborn, near Hamburg, operating as part of the privately-held SMB Group (which also includes MBA Instruments). Founded in the mid-1970s and employing 51-100 people at the SMB International level (with approximately 160 across the SMB Group), the company designs, engineers, and manufactures automated material-handling equipment sold directly to enterprise customers on a project basis.

Its product portfolio spans four main categories: (1) automated pallet storage systems — compact warehouses, double-mast stacker cranes, and truck shuttle systems including the proprietary CAPtriever wireless shuttle, CAPtriever Lift, Truck Shuttle Classic, and Truck Shuttle Half Pallet; (2) palletizing systems — the SHARK and Eagle Ray layer palletizers, plus KUKA-based robotic palletizers for bags and drums; (3) conveyor systems for pallets and containers; and (4) filling installations for drums, IBCs, canisters, and dangerous goods. It also produces ship loading systems, reclaimers, and bucket elevators for port and bulk-handling applications. Proprietary software — the LVS warehouse management system and MFR material flow computer — is integrated with the hardware layer to coordinate end-to-end material flow, and key components such as the CAPtriever shuttle are co-developed with strategic partners SEW-EURODRIVE (synchronous servomotors) and KUKA Robotics (robotic arms).

The company operates as general contractor on turnkey intralogistics projects, delivering custom-engineered solutions from planning through commissioning and ongoing service via its wholly-owned SMB Service GmbH subsidiary. Revenue is generated through one-time capital equipment sales, project development and integration services, and recurring service and maintenance contracts. The customer base is concentrated in German mid-to-large enterprises across food & beverage (primary), healthcare, chemicals, machinery manufacturing, and port operations, with select international projects including ship loaders deployed into Southeast Asia. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales supported by an active trade-show presence at LogiMAT, Hannover Messe, and FACHPACK. Documented reference customers include Asklepios Kliniken-Gruppe (a ~€40 million fully automated central medical warehouse in Bad Oldesloe with 20,000 pallet spaces) and WEBER Schraubautomaten GmbH.

Name

SMB International

Legal name

SMB International GmbH

Website

https://smb-international.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SMB International GmbH is a German special-purpose machine builder that designs, manufactures, and integrates custom intralogistics systems — automated pallet warehouses, palletizing equipment, conveyors, and filling plants — for enterprise customers in food and beverage, healthcare, chemicals, manufacturing, and port operations, delivering turnkey projects as general contractor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Quickborn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Intralogistics Equipment Sales: SMB designs, engineers, and manufactures custom intralogistics systems (automated warehouses, palletizers, conveyors, filling plants) as capital equipment. Projects range from individual machines to turnkey intralogistics solutions as general contractor. Revenue is project-based, one-time capital expenditure.
2. Project Development & General Contracting: As general contractor, SMB manages complete intralogistics projects end-to-end: planning, system integration, mechanical and electrical commissioning, software, and handover. Full lifecycle responsibility.
3. Service and Maintenance: SMB Service GmbH provides maintenance, repairs, and 24/7 emergency response including weekends and holidays. Service contracts and spare parts supply represent ongoing service revenue.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SMB International designs, engineers, and manufactures custom intralogistics systems as general contractor, delivering automated pallet warehouses (compact storage, shuttle systems, storage and retrieval machines), palletizing systems (layer palletizers and robotic palletizers), conveyor systems (pallet and container conveyors, picking systems), filling plants (drum, IBC, canister, dangerous goods), and ship loading equipment (ship loaders, reclaimers, bucket elevators). The company integrates proprietary warehouse management software (LVS) and material flow computers (MFR), with 24/7 service and maintenance support through its subsidiary SMB Service GmbH.

Product overview

SMB International is a special purpose machine builder offering a comprehensive intralogistics solutions portfolio with four main product categories: (1) Storage Systems including automated pallet warehouses, compact storage, truck shuttle systems (CAPtriever, CAPtriever Lift, Truck Shuttle Halbpalette, Truck Shuttle Classic), and double-mast storage machines; (2) Palletizing Systems including layer palletizers (SHARK, Eagle Ray), palletizing robots for bags/drums/pallets, depalletizers, pallet changers, and pallet stackers; (3) Conveyor Systems including pallet conveyors, container conveyors, picking systems, and modular components; (4) Filling Systems including drum, canister, pallet filling, and dangerous goods filling solutions. The portfolio also includes ship loading equipment (reclaimers, bucket elevators, ship loaders) and comprehensive services (consulting, project development, maintenance). SMB's products integrate their proprietary warehouse management system (LVS) and material flow computer (MFR) for complete intralogistics automation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CAPtriever: Wireless pallet shuttle system with supercapacitors for automated pallet warehouses
• CAPtriever Lift
• CAPtriever Advanced
• Truck Shuttle Classic
• Truck Shuttle Halbpalette
• SHARK
• Eagle Ray
• LVS/MFR

Products and services

• SMB Kompaktlager (Compact Pallet Warehouse)
• Truck Shuttle CAPtriever
• CAPtriever Lift
• Truck Shuttle Halbpalette (Half Pallet System)
• Truck Shuttle Classic
• Zweimast-Regalbediengerät (Two-Mast Storage and Retrieval Machine)
• Lagenpalettierer SHARK (SHARK Layer Palletizer)
• Lagenpalettierer Eagle Ray
• Sackpalettierer (KUKA Robotic Bag Palletizer)
• Palettierroboter für Paletten und Fässer (Palletizing Robots for Pallets and Drums)
• Portalroboter für Fässer (Gantry Robot for Drum Depalletizing)
• Depalettierer (Depalletizers)
• Palettenwechsler (Pallet Changers)
• Palettendoppler (Pallet Stacker)
• Palettenfördertechnik (Pallet Conveyor Systems)
• Behälterfördertechnik (Container Conveyor Systems)
• Kommissioniersysteme (Picking Systems)
• Linien-Abfüllanlagen (Inline Drum Filling Systems)
• Einzelplatz-Abfüllanlagen (Single-Station Drum Filling Systems)
• Palettenbefüllung (Pallet Filling Systems)
• Kanisterbefüllung (Canister Filling Systems)
• Abfüllung von Gefahrgut (Dangerous Goods Filling Systems)
• Mobile Semi-Automatic Filling System (GFG)
• Schiffsbelader (Ship Loaders)
• Reclaimer und Becherwerke (Reclaimers and Bucket Elevators)
• Intralogistik-Beratung (Intralogistics Consulting)
• Projektentwicklung (Project Development)
• Service und Wartung (Service and Maintenance)

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 100,000 pallet storage spaces in silo construction with CAPtriever Lift
• +10 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SEW-EURODRIVEcoreTechnology or Integration · 31 March 2025SMB and SEW-EURODRIVE collaborate on the CAPtriever wireless shuttle system. SEW provides the synchronous servomotor technology (synchronous drive motors) that powers the CAPtriever's high-performance operation. SEW drive technology is a key enabling component for the CAPtriever's speed, energy efficiency, and reliability. The partnership was showcased publicly at Hannover Messe 2025.
• KUKA RoboticscoreTechnology or IntegrationSMB works with KUKA Robotics for robotic arm solutions in palletizing systems. KUKA robotic arms are combined with SMB's combination gripper to form sack palletizing solutions and other robotic palletizing/depalletizing systems. This collaboration enables complex loading and unloading automation with robotic precision.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXZoQmBDlYMy1ku2B8GE4qg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smb-international-gmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/SMBInternationalGmbH

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 SMB International