What STEIN Automation does

STEIN Automation GmbH & Co. KG, founded in 1969 by Josef Stein and headquartered in Niedereschach in the Black Forest region of Germany, designs and manufactures modular transfer systems and automated conveyor technology for industrial assembly lines. The core platform is the workpiece-carrier-bound transfer system family (STEIN 300 for up to 25 kg, STEIN 300e for cleanroom applications using electric drives instead of pneumatics, and STEIN 400 for up to 80 kg), all controlled by the proprietary STEIN CONTROL platform that allows configuration of workflows, order and product management, and ERP/MES integration without SPS programming knowledge. SOFTMOVE technology (in market since 2008) delivers intelligent EC motor control with claimed energy savings up to 80% and noise reduction up to 75%, while STEIN link, launched in 2023, extends the portfolio into battery-powered intralogistics shuttles for flexible internal transport.

STEIN sells primarily to enterprise industrial customers across automotive (Continental, MAHLE, Magna, Kiekert, Burger/SBS), medical/pharmaceutical (B. Braun, Baxter, CeramTec), electrical engineering (Festo, Hilti, WERMA), drive technology (SEW-Eurodrive, EBM PAPST), household appliances (Vorwerk, EMSA), and toys/leisure (Playmobil, Atomic). The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, and the broader DACH region with an extensive channel partner network across Europe (Austria, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic/Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria) and North America (USA and Canada). Revenue is generated through configured hardware sales (individual components or fully assembled systems with 4-6 week component lead times and 10-12 week full-system lead times), STEIN CONTROL software and control systems, and professional services including commissioning, training, remote diagnostics, and spare parts.

STEIN has been an Indutrade partner and shareholder since 2020 and is led by Managing Director Armin Doser (appointed 2025), who succeeded the Stein-family operational leadership. With more than 3,900 systems installed worldwide and DIN EN ISO 9001 certification, the company is a focused mid-market specialist in transfer automation rather than a broad-line industrial automation vendor.

Name

STEIN Automation

Legal name

STEIN Automation GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://stein-automation.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STEIN Automation GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer of modular transfer systems and automated conveyor technology for industrial assembly, serving enterprise customers across automotive, medical, electronics, drive technology, and consumer goods since 1969, with a proprietary STEIN CONTROL platform and an installed base exceeding 3,900 systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villingen-schwenningen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transfer Systems and Components: Sale of modular transfer systems including STEIN 300, STEIN 300e, STEIN 400, and associated components (pallets, conveyor modules, transfer units, centering devices). Available as individual components for customer assembly or as fully assembled systems.
2. STEIN CONTROL Software and Control Systems: Proprietary control system providing production management capabilities including order management, product management, workflow configuration, and vertical ERP/MES integration.
3. Services (Commissioning, Maintenance, Training, Support): Commissioning, maintenance/service work, training sessions at STEIN or on-site, and support via phone or remote access. Remote diagnostics enables global service delivery.
4. STEIN link Intralogistics Systems: Battery-operated shuttle systems for intralogistics applications with modular track profiles and intelligent routing capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

STEIN Automation designs, manufactures, and supplies modular transfer (conveyor) systems and automated material handling solutions for industrial assembly lines. Its portfolio includes the STEIN 300, STEIN 300e, and STEIN 400 transfer systems, the STEIN link battery-powered intralogistics shuttle, the proprietary STEIN CONTROL software platform, SOFTMOVE energy-efficient motor technology, and STEIN LEAN one-piece-flow production methodology. The company serves automotive, medical/pharmaceutical, electrical engineering, household appliance, drive technology, and toy/leisure manufacturers.

Product overview

STEIN Automation specializes in modular transfer systems and automated conveyor technology for industrial assembly. The portfolio is organized around three main transfer system platforms—STEIN 300 (up to 25 kg), STEIN 300e (electric variant for cleanrooms), and STEIN 400 (up to 80 kg for heavy applications)—complemented by STEIN link, a battery-powered shuttle system for intralogistics. All systems are controlled via the proprietary STEIN CONTROL platform, which enables configuration-based operation without programming. Key add-on capabilities include SOFTMOVE for energy-efficient gentle transport (up to 80% energy savings) and STEIN LEAN for lean production methodology. The MODULAR SYSTEM provides millimeter-precision scalability from 160 x 160 mm base sizes. RFID technology enables workpiece identification across the portfolio, and ERP/MES integration supports Industry 4.0 requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• STEIN 300: Main transfer system for assembly lines, weights up to 25 kg
• STEIN 300e
• STEIN 400
• STEIN link
• STEIN CONTROL
• SOFTMOVE
• STEIN LEAN

Products and services

• STEIN 300 The main modular transfer system for assembly lines, handling workpieces up to 25 kg. Features RFID-enabled workpiece identification, ERP/MES connectivity, modular construction kit, and integration with SOFTMOVE technology. Deployed in over 3,900 assembly halls worldwide.
• STEIN 300e Purely electric version of the STEIN 300 transfer system that replaces pneumatics with electric drives for stoppers, transfer units, and centering devices. Designed for cleanroom applications (ISO 6 and 7) with status message feedback capability for workpieces up to 25 kg.
• STEIN 400 Heavy-duty intelligent transfer system for workpieces up to 80 kg. Features intelligent EC motors, SOFTMOVE technology for shock-free transport of heavy items, easy configuration via STEIN CONTROL, and transport speeds up to 30 m/min with minimal wear.
• STEIN link Battery-powered autonomous shuttle system for intralogistics. Transports up to 80 kg at speeds up to 50 m/min with RFID-enabled routing, exchangeable battery for continuous operation, and operates on floor, wall, or ceiling tracks without cable routing.
• STEIN CONTROL Proprietary control platform for production process management and workstation communication. Enables configuration-based control without SPS programming knowledge. Supports product management, order management, workflows, diagnostics, and ERP/MES integration for Industry 4.0.
• SOFTMOVE Intelligent EC motor control technology for gentle, energy-efficient pallet transport. Automatically adjusts motor speed to prevent hard collisions, reduces energy consumption by up to 80%, minimizes noise by up to 75%, and extends system lifespan. Available for STEIN 300, STEIN 300e, and STEIN 400 systems.
• STEIN LEAN Lean production methodology integrated with STEIN transfer systems. Enables continuous one-piece flow production with flexible response to errors, quick process interruption, and efficient material handling from start to finish.
• STEIN Modular System (Modulbaukasten) Modular construction kit for customizing transfer system dimensions. Pallets scalable from 160 x 160 mm in millimeter increments. All standard assemblies adapt to selected workpiece size without additional design requirements; components delivered within 4 to 6 weeks and complete systems including STEIN CONTROL within 10 to 12 weeks.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% energy savings with SOFTMOVE technology
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers18 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dematic: Dematic (KION Group) builds automated material handling and intralogistics systems including conveyor, shuttle, and ASRS solutions. Directly comparable to STEIN link intralogistics shuttle offering and overlapping automotive/industrial customer base.
• Dürr AG: Dürr builds automotive assembly and finishing systems with conveyor/conveyor-based paint and assembly technology. Same automotive-industry orientation and integrates transfer systems into final assembly lines — comparable in many STEIN customer projects.
• TGW Logistics Group: TGW provides automated warehousing and intralogistics systems with shuttle and conveyor technologies. Most direct competitor to STEIN link in battery-powered shuttle category targeting automotive and industrial logistics.
• Montech AG: Montech (Switzerland) manufactures modular transfer systems, conveyors, and linear technology for industrial assembly. Direct competitor in the European SMB automation segment with comparable modular architecture and target verticals.
• Swisslog (KUKA): Swisslog supplies automated intralogistics solutions including shuttle-based storage and conveyor systems for industrial/retail customers. Overlapping use cases with STEIN link and broader assembly intralogistics integration.
• FlexLink (Coesia): FlexLink, part of Coesia, builds modular conveyor and transfer systems for industrial assembly lines serving similar manufacturing verticals (automotive, electronics, medical). Closest functional analog to STEIN's STEIN 300/400 workpiece-carrier platforms.

Emerging players

• Knapp AG: Knapp builds intralogistics and shuttle-based storage/order fulfillment automation. Partial overlap with STEIN link intralogistics focus; differs by serving distribution rather than direct-manufacturing assembly lines.

Broad incumbents

• KUKA AG: KUKA supplies industrial robots and assembly automation for automotive and industrial customers. Adjacent in assembly line automation with broader robotics and controls portfolio that competes for STEIN customers' automation budgets.
• Bosch Rexroth: Bosch Rexroth offers linear motion, assembly technology, and conveyor systems under its Factory Automation portfolio. Same end-customers (automotive, EV/electronics assembly) with broader mechanics+hydraulics+controls portfolio.
• Festo: Festo supplies electric drives, controllers, and handling/transfer subsystems for factory automation. Notable overlap: Festo is both a STEIN customer and a competitor in drives/handling. Comparable in serving automotive/electronics assembly with broader pneumatics+digital portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtLIKGltMKzZGowpz_ec3QQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/steinautomation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stein-automation-gmbh-&-co.-kg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 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 STEIN Automation