FIPA
FIPA GmbH is a privately held German industrial automation company that manufactures vacuum, gripping, and lifting components—including vacuum cups, EOAT grippers, and FIPALIFT tube lifters—serving packaging, plastics, sheet metal, and general manufacturing customers globally through a 50+ partner distribution network and direct DACH sales.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersIsmaning, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What FIPA does
FIPA GmbH is a German industrial automation company founded in 1985 and headquartered in Ismaning, Germany. The company designs and manufactures vacuum, gripping, and lifting technology solutions organized around three product pillars: vacuum automation (vacuum cups, generators, components, and area grippers), End-of-Arm-Tooling (standard mechanical gripper components and customized complete gripper systems), and FIPALIFT vacuum tube lifters for ergonomic heavy-load handling. Its catalogue comprises over 13,000 products, and the company claims more than 40 years of accumulated application expertise in industrial handling processes.
The technical portfolio rests on several differentiated elements: Hartcoat® hardcoating on aluminum gripper housings and jaws for wear resistance, Thermalon® vacuum cup material rated to 160°C with FDA and EU1935/2004 food-contact compliance, Bernoulli-Sauger cups for touch-reduced transport of sensitive semiconductor and photovoltaic wafers, and multi-chamber ejectors that reduce compressed air consumption by up to 60%. FIPA monetizes primarily through hardware sales of standard catalog components via an online webshop (with free shipping above EUR 150) and through quote-based, customer-engineered EOAT solutions for specific production lines.
The go-to-market model is hybrid: a direct sales team covers the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) while 50+ channel partners and subsidiaries distribute the catalogue across more than 45 countries spanning Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania, and Africa. FIPA serves four primary verticals — packaging, plastics processing, sheet metal and metal processing, and general manufacturing (plant and mechanical engineering, electrical, glass, wood, and furniture) — and is privately held as a family-owned GmbH under Managing Director Rainer Mehrer, with no disclosed institutional investors, funding rounds, or M&A activity.
FIPA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- FIPA
- Legal name
- FIPA GmbH
- Website
- https://fipa.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- FIPA GmbH is a privately held German industrial automation company that manufactures vacuum, gripping, and lifting components—including vacuum cups, EOAT grippers, and FIPALIFT tube lifters—serving packaging, plastics, sheet metal, and general manufacturing customers globally through a 50+ partner distribution network and direct DACH sales.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
FIPA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Vacuum Automation Equipment
- NAICS
- Fluid Power Pump and Motor Manufacturing (333996), Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413)
- SIC
- Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers) (IMAHAGAN)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Vacuum Pumps & Systems (IMAHANAD), Actuators & Motion Devices (Linear, Rotary, Electric Actuators for Motion Control) (IMAHAGAG), Pneumatic Components (FRLs, Cylinders, Valves) (IMAHAGAC)
Keywords
Where FIPA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ismaning
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
FIPA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales: Sale of standard vacuum automation components, End-of-Arm-Tooling components, and vacuum lifting systems through online webshop and direct sales.
- Customized Solutions: Design and delivery of customer-specific gripper systems and handling solutions optimized for individual production processes.
- E-commerce Sales: Online sales through FIPA Webshop with free shipping for orders over 150 EUR, online order process, and quick delivery.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Products via Webshop |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
FIPA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
FIPA GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells vacuum automation components (vacuum cups, vacuum generators/ejectors, area grippers, Bernoulli grippers), end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT) mechanical gripper components and complete gripper systems, and FIPALIFT vacuum tube lifters. The company serves industrial manufacturers in packaging, plastics, automotive, sheet metal forming, and food industries with both standardized components and custom-engineered handling solutions.
Product overview
FIPA is a global industrial automation company specializing in vacuum, gripping, and lifting technology solutions. The product portfolio consists of three main pillars: (1) Vacuum automation including vacuum cups, vacuum generators (pumps and ejectors), vacuum components (filters, valves), and area grippers; (2) End-of-Arm-Tooling (EOAT) including mechanical gripper components (gripper tongs, fingers, parallel/angle/inside/magnetic grippers, cutting tongs, profile systems, quick-change systems) and customized complete gripper systems; and (3) FIPALIFT vacuum tube lifters for ergonomic heavy-load handling. FIPA offers both standard components and customer-specific solutions, with a catalog of over 13,000 products and gripper systems. The company serves industries including packaging, plastics, sheet metal, plant/mechanical engineering, electrical, glass, wood, and furniture.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FIPALIFT: Vacuum tube lifting systems for ergonomic handling and lifting of heavy and bulky loads
- Thermalon®
Products and services
- Vacuum Cups (Bellows and Flat Cups)
- Multi-Chamber Ejectors (Vacuum Generators)
- End-of-Arm-Tooling (EOAT) Components
- Complete Gripper Systems
- FIPALIFT Vacuum Tube Lifters
- Area Grippers
- Bernoulli Grippers
Quantifiable outcome
- Multi-chamber ejector reduces compressed air consumption by 60 percent
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use FIPA
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
FIPA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
FIPA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Global Sales Partners NetworkcoreFIPA maintains a global network of over 50 sales partners and subsidiaries covering over 45 countries worldwide. Partners handle local sales, distribution, and customer support for FIPA vacuum, gripping, and lifting products.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
FIPA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Festo: Festo is a global German pneumatics and automation incumbent offering a broad portfolio that includes vacuum generators, grippers, and EOAT alongside valves, cylinders, drives, and controllers. A broad incumbent that competes with FIPA in vacuum/ejector components and grippers as part of a much wider factory automation offering.
- SMC Corporation: SMC is the world's largest pneumatics manufacturer with a comprehensive range of vacuum components (ejectors, suction cups), grippers, actuators, and air-preparation equipment. Competes with FIPA in vacuum handling and EOAT as part of a full-line pneumatics/automation portfolio for industrial customers.
- Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin is a global motion and control technologies incumbent whose Industrial segment includes vacuum pumps, vacuum components, and pneumatic grippers. Broader portfolio than FIPA, but overlapping products in vacuum generation and EOAT serving packaging, automotive, and industrial automation.
- Emerson (Aventics): Emerson's Aventics line offers pneumatic and vacuum components including vacuum generators, suction cups, and gripper technology as part of its broader industrial automation portfolio. A broad incumbent with comparable products to FIPA, typically sold into larger integrated automation accounts.
Direct peers
- Piab: Piab is a Swedish-headquartered global leader in vacuum gripping and conveying technology, offering vacuum cups, ejectors, vacuum conveyors, and EOAT components. Directly comparable product categories (vacuum cups, generators, EOAT) and shared focus on packaging, automotive, and general manufacturing automation.
- Schmalz: Schmalz is a German family-owned specialist in vacuum automation and ergonomic handling, with the most directly overlapping product portfolio to FIPA: vacuum cups, vacuum generators, area grippers, vacuum tube lifters (Jumbo), and EOAT/clamping technology for industrial automation. Same end-markets (packaging, plastics, sheet metal) and comparable Mittelstand positioning.
- COVAL Vacuum Technology: COVAL is a French manufacturer of vacuum handling components — vacuum pumps, vacuum cups, grippers, and suction systems — serving packaging, plastics, and general industrial automation. Mid-sized specialist with a closely aligned product set and customer base to FIPA, including customized EOAT solutions.
Emerging players
- ANVER Corporation: ANVER is a North American specialist in vacuum lifting systems, vacuum tube lifters, and material handling equipment, with a narrower product range than FIPA. Overlaps most closely with FIPA's FIPALIFT vacuum tube lifter line and ergonomic handling solutions for industrial and warehousing customers.
- OnRobot: OnRobot is a Danish manufacturer of EOAT products for collaborative robots — grippers, vacuum cups, and force/torque sensors — sold through a global distributor network. Adjacent to FIPA's EOAT business, with growing overlap in vacuum and mechanical grippers targeting collaborative and industrial robot OEMs.
Regional players
- Binar Handling AB: Binar Handling is a Nordic manufacturer of vacuum tube lifters and ergonomic handling equipment serving manufacturing, logistics, and warehousing customers. Most directly comparable to FIPA's FIPALIFT product line, but primarily focused on the Nordic market and ergonomic/operator-assist lifting rather than EOAT.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
FIPA social profiles
Digital presenceFIPA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
FIPA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
FIPA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
FIPA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about FIPA
What does FIPA do?
FIPA GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells vacuum automation components (vacuum cups, vacuum generators/ejectors, area grippers, Bernoulli grippers), end-of-arm-tooling (EOAT) mechanical gripper components and complete gripper systems, and FIPALIFT vacuum tube lifters. The company serves industrial manufacturers in packaging, plastics, automotive, sheet metal forming, and food industries with both standardized components and custom-engineered handling solutions.
Is FIPA a public or private company?
FIPA is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was FIPA founded?
FIPA was founded in 1985. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is FIPA based?
FIPA is headquartered in Ismaning, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does FIPA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are customized Solutions and E-commerce Sales.
Who are FIPA's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Festo, SMC Corporation, Parker Hannifin and Emerson (Aventics). Direct peers are Piab, Schmalz and COVAL Vacuum Technology. Emerging players are ANVER Corporation and OnRobot. Binar Handling AB is listed as a regional player.
Does FIPA have an API?
No public API is recorded for FIPA.
What industry is FIPA in?
FIPA's product category is Industrial Vacuum Automation Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAGAN, Vacuum Systems & Components (Vacuum Pumps, Ejectors, Cups, Grippers), with a secondary code of IMAHANAD, Vacuum Pumps & Systems. Its NAICS code is 333996 and its SIC code is 3564.