Thielenhaus Microfinish

What Thielenhaus Microfinish does

Thielenhaus Technologies GmbH is a German private industrial company founded in 1909 and headquartered in Wuppertal, Germany, that designs and manufactures precision surface finishing machines marketed under the Microfinish/Superfinish technology umbrella. The firm operates from 251–500 employees across three regional headquarters in Germany, the United States (Novi, Michigan), and China (Shanghai), with additional sales and service presence in India, Brazil, and Switzerland. Its stated positioning is "world market leader" in its niche, serving primarily the automotive industry (crankshafts, bearings, camshafts, injectors, planetary gears, pistons, steering racks) with secondary exposure to aerospace, medical technology, and broader precision engineering. The company holds historical brand equity from a documented contribution to the 1969 Apollo lunar module's miniature gyro navigation bearings.

The product portfolio is organized around dedicated finishing platforms: CenterStar (shaft/cylinder), CUBE evo and PowerCUBE (belt finishing), Infinity (throughfeed for rollers/shock absorber rods), the BearingStar series (Mini/90/200/320/650 for ball and roller bearing raceways), CrankStar TX and HD (crankshafts), MicroStar 200/300/EVO 1200 (flat/plane combination processing), NanoStar (compact flat finishing), and Sphero/SpheroStar (spherical parts). Supporting these are MicroTools attachments (SL50, SL100, KG50, KG50-DB, KG100 belt finishers and the SF70 stone finisher) and the proprietary HyperFinish technology, which superimposes high-frequency oscillation above 3,600 double strokes per minute on conventional microfinishing. Process precision reaches 0.0001 mm, with the MicroSens adaptive force control system enabling 0.1 µm accuracy on flat surfaces. The company claims a 2012 world-first in combining finishing, sanding, and honing in a single clamping operation.

Thielenhaus monetizes through four streams: (1) one-time capital equipment sales of engineered-to-order machines; (2) contract manufacturing and subcontracting services for prototypes and small/medium batches; (3) recurring service, training, conversions, and spare parts across its three-continent aftermarket network; and (4) consumables including silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, CBN, and diamond finishing tapes, films, stones, and finishing oils. Go-to-market is enterprise-direct via regional Product Line Managers in Germany/ROW, the USA, and China, supplemented by a strong trade-show presence (EMO Hannover 2025, GrindingHub 2026, IMTS 2024). In 2024 the group completed a corporate restructuring, merging Thielenhaus Technologies GmbH into a holding entity and adopting a new global structure with regional COOs to support international market share.

Name

Thielenhaus Microfinish

Legal name

Thielenhaus Technologies GmbH

Website

https://thielenhaus.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Thielenhaus Technologies GmbH is a German privately held manufacturer, founded 1909, of engineered-to-order Microfinish and Superfinish precision surface finishing machines, serving primarily the global automotive industry with secondary exposure to aerospace, medical technology, and precision engineering via subsidiaries on three continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Surface Finishing Machinery

NAICS

Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351), Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517), Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE)

Keywords

• Precision surface finishing
• Microfinish machines
• Superfinish equipment
• Crankshaft finishing machines
• Bearing raceway machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Novi

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 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. Precision Machine Sales: Manufacturing and sale of Microfinish/Superfinish machines including CenterStar, CUBE, Infinity, BearingStar, CrankStar, MicroStar, NanoStar, Sphero product lines. Machines are customized to customer requirements with modular designs.
2. Contract Manufacturing/Subcontracting: Surface finishing contract work services for customer workpieces. Ideal for start-up production, prototype processing and small/medium batch sizes. Over 60 years of experience with state-of-the-art technology.
3. Service, Training, and Spare Parts: Comprehensive services including inspections, conversions, training courses, spare parts, tool supplies, and operating materials (flushing oils, filter aids). Global service presence on three continents.
4. MicroTools and Consumables: Finishing tools including silicon carbide, aluminum oxide, mixed grain, CBN and diamond finishing tapes/films and stones/discs, pressure rollers, brushes, and finishing oils.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Thielenhaus Microfinish designs, manufactures, and sells precision microfinish and superfinish machines for surface finishing of metal workpieces such as crankshafts, bearing rings, shafts, cylinders, rollers, injectors, planetary gears, pistons, and steering racks. The company also supplies MicroTools (belt and stone finishing attachments, finishing tapes/stones, oils), offers contract manufacturing/subcontracting services, and provides inspections, retrofits, training, and spare parts support globally.

Product overview

Thielenhaus Technologies is a global technology partner in Microfinish and Superfinish surface finishing, offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized machines and technologies. The product lineup centers on dedicated finishing machines: CenterStar for shaft/cylinder finishing, CUBE evo/PowerCUBE for belt finishing, Infinity for continuous throughfeed processing, BearingStar series (Mini/90/200/320/650) for ball and roller bearing raceways, CrankStar (TX/HD) for crankshaft finishing, MicroStar (200/300/EVO 1200) for flat/plane machining, NanoStar for economical flat surface processing, and Sphero/SpheroStar for spherical part machining. Supporting these core machines are MicroTools attachments including belt finishers (SL50, SL100, KG50, KG50-DB, KG100) and stone finisher (SF70). The company also offers proprietary HyperFinish technology and combination processing capabilities that integrate multiple operations. Services include contract work, inspections, conversions, training, and spare parts support with global presence across Germany, USA, China, India, Brazil, and Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CenterStar Microfinish/superfinish machine for shaft and cylinder finishing, supporting processing of camshafts, balancer shafts, drive shafts, crankshafts, pumps, plungers, valves, and toothed racks. Used by automotive and industrial manufacturers.
• CUBE evo Belt finish machine for shaft machining with continuous programmability and precise positioning of finishers, characterized by lean design and small footprint.
• PowerCUBE Belt finish machine with up to four horizontally arranged workpiece spindles in a rotary table for finishing wave-shaped components in compact space.
• Infinity ST Continuous microfinish machine for shock absorber rods with throughput speed up to 6 m/min, improving surface finish by reducing roughness, texture, and waviness.
• Infinity KR/ZR Microfinish machine for cylindrical and tapered rollers that improves surface quality through precise contour shaping, increasing roundness, roughness depth, and contact ratio.
• BearingStar Mini Fully automatic microfinishing machine for processing miniature ball and roller bearing inner and outer rings using the one-step method.
• BearingStar 90 Fully automatic microfinishing machine for processing ball and roller bearing inner and outer rings using 1- or 2-step method.
• BearingStar 200 Universal machine platform for ball and roller bearing raceways. Outer ring outside diameter 85-200 mm, inner ring inner diameter 50-180 mm.
• BearingStar 320 Microfinish machine with choice between 1- or 2-stage processing for outer/inner rings, outer raceway and flange with spherical and logarithmic raceways.
• BearingStar 650 Largest BearingStar series for multiple processing stages and ring types including flange microfinishing and OD polishing.
• CrankStar TX Crankshaft surface finishing machine with optimized finishing units and loading systems for shortest cycle times. Modular concept with 1-X stations for 3- and 4-cylinder crankshafts up to 500 mm.
• MicroStar 200 Superfinishing machine with rotary transfer design equipped with eight stations for pre-finishing, finish-finishing on both sides, and brush-deburring in single pass.
• MicroStar 300 Linear processing concept with sequential process sequence for small and large workpieces with complex contours; swivel workpiece spindle option for spherical surfaces.
• MicroStar EVO 1200 Precision machining machine with up to twelve stations based on the rotary table concept, providing flexibility for process combinations and maximum output.
• NanoStar Cost-effective microfinish/superfinish machine for smaller production volumes of flat or crowned surfaces with high drawing requirements. Features MicroSens technology and approximately 3,000 kg weight.
• Sphero Compact microfinishing machine for finishing spherical parts with swivelable workpiece spindle up to 90 degrees and force-controlled tool spindle for maximum process reliability.
• SpheroStar Highly efficient two-step solution for ultra-fine machining of spherical workpieces in short cycle times, based on MicroStar and NanoStar platforms with rotary table design.
• Microfinish/Superfinish Contract Work Contract manufacturing service for precise surface processing of customer workpieces using Microfinish/Superfinish technology. Ideal for start-up production, prototype processing, and small to medium batch sizes, backed by over 60 years of experience.
• Service & Support Comprehensive after-sales services including machine inspections, retrofits/conversions, training courses, spare parts, and tool/operating material supplies, supported by service locations on three continents.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced friction values and maximum load capacity for crankshaft bearings
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Supfina: Supfina is a German-based specialist in superfinishing/microfinishing machines for flat surfaces and cylindrical workpieces, directly competing with Thielenhaus across superfinish technology for bearing, shaft, and hydraulic components — the closest one-to-one competitor.
• KADIA Werkzeug- und Sondermaschinenbau: KADIA builds honing, superfinishing, and special-purpose machines for precision components including bearings and gears, directly overlapping Thielenhaus' bearing and shaft finishing portfolio with comparable target customers in automotive and industrial manufacturing.
• Fritz Studer AG: Studer, part of United Grinding Group, manufactures cylindrical grinding machines widely used as upstream processes before superfinishing. Both companies serve bearing, shaft, and automotive tier-1 customers with adjacent finishing processes.
• Erwin Junker Machinery: Junker Group produces grinding machines for flutes, profiles, and shafts serving automotive, bearing, and tool industries, making it a direct peer in precision surface finishing technology serving overlapping customers.
• Lapmaster Wolters: Lapmaster Wolters (now part of Precision Surfacing Solutions) manufactures precision surfacing, lapping, and microfinishing equipment for bearings, seals, and flat components — directly comparable to Thielenhaus in precision surface finishing machinery.
• Schaudt (United Grinding Group): Schaudt, part of United Grinding, builds non-circular grinding and finishing machines for crankshafts, camshafts, and bearing rings — directly overlapping Thielenhaus' CrankStar and BearingStar product lines for the same automotive customers.
• Okamoto Corporation: Okamoto is a Japanese manufacturer of surface, creep-feed, and profile grinding machines as well as finishing equipment, serving bearing, automotive, and electronics customers globally — a comparable precision finishing machine tool peer across Asia and other key markets.
• Peter Wolters (under Lapmaster Wolters): Peter Wolters was a long-standing German manufacturer of fine grinding, lapping, and superfinishing machines for flat and cylindrical workpieces, now part of the Lapmaster Wolters brand — historically a direct competitor to Thielenhaus in superfinishing machinery.

Broad incumbents

• EMAG Group: EMAG is a large German machine tool group with broad portfolio of turning, grinding, and honing machines for automotive and industrial customers, serving as a broader incumbent that competes with Thielenhaus in some bearing, shaft, and drivetrain component finishing applications.
• DMG MORI: DMG MORI is a global machine tool leader offering milling, turning, and grinding systems including laserTec and surface-finishing-integrated machining centers; while broad and not specialist, it competes for the same precision manufacturing customer budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thielenhaus
• Xx.com/ThielenhausTech
• Facebookfacebook.com/thielenhaustech

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Thielenhaus Microfinish