KOB

What KOB does

KOB GmbH is a German B2B manufacturer of elastic medical textiles, headquartered in Wolfstein (Rhineland-Palatinate) and operating production sites in Germany and Coimbatore, India, with commercial presence in the United States and Japan. Founded in 1904 as Karl Otto Braun and reorganised under the KOB GmbH name in March 2020, the company sits as the centre of excellence for elastic medical textiles within the PAUL HARTMANN AG group and is the largest employer in the Kusel district, employing roughly 1,200-1,251 people worldwide. Its product portfolio comprises four medical verticals — phlebology/lymphology compression bandages, sports medicine and orthopaedic support bandages, wound care dressings (including the patented Pedilay line), and textile carriers for pharmaceutical applications such as active-ingredient plasters — alongside a Smart Medical Textiles line integrating sensors for wound monitoring, compression-therapy feedback and contactless thermometry.

The business operates a sales-led B2B model, supplying medical-device companies and pharmaceutical manufacturers globally through regional sales contacts, international trade-fair presence at MEDICA, FIME and Medical Fair Asia, and a factory outlet at Wolfstein. Manufacturing is dual-shore: a Wolfstein facility that houses Europe's most modern spinning operation and largest doubling mill, and a 450-employee Coimbatore site using LEAN methods and ISO 13485-certified processes. Revenue mechanics are anchored in volume-based hardware sales of regulated medical devices with selected professional-services revenue from smart-textile co-development projects, while pricing is handled via direct sales inquiry rather than publicly disclosed list pricing.

KOB's competitive position rests on regulatory depth (DIN EN ISO 13485, CE marking under EU MDR 2017/745, AEOF customs certification, IEC/TC 124 standards participation), 120 years of accumulated textile know-how, branded product franchises (Pedilay, Hospifix, VisioCompress2), and a 1,465-strong apprenticeship pipeline since 1971. The 2021 carve-out of the unrelated BRAWO SYSTEMS trenchless-sewer business sharpened the company's focus on medical textiles, while the May 2024 entry into the Horizon Europe H2TRAIN biosensor consortium marks a deliberate move up the value chain into intelligent textiles and remote patient monitoring.

Name

KOB

Legal name

KOB GmbH

Website

https://kob.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1904

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

KOB GmbH is a German B2B manufacturer of elastic medical textiles, producing compression, orthopaedic, wound-care and pharmaceutical-carrier bandages for medical-device and pharma customers worldwide from its Wolfstein HQ and Coimbatore, India production sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wolfstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Medical textile products: KOB generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of elastic medical bandages and fabrics for medical and pharmaceutical companies. Products include compression bandages for phlebology/lymphology, support bandages for sports medicine/orthopaedics, fixation bandages for wound care, and textile carriers for pharmaceutical applications including active ingredient plasters.
2. Smart Medical Textiles: Revenue from development and manufacturing of customized smart textile solutions including sensor integration for medical monitoring applications, often through research partnerships and client-specific development projects.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KOB is an international manufacturer of elastic medical textiles, producing compression bandages for phlebology and lymphology, support and relief bandages for sports medicine and orthopaedics, fixation and secondary wound care dressings, and textile carriers for pharmaceutical applications such as active ingredient plasters. The company also develops smart medical textiles with integrated sensors for wound monitoring, compression therapy support, and body temperature control, alongside contract manufacturing services.

Product overview

KOB GmbH is a leading international B2B supplier of elastic medical textiles based in Wolfstein, Germany with over 120 years of experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of medical bandages and fabrics organized into four core product categories: Phlebologie & Lymphologie (compression bandages for venous/lymphatic therapy), Sportmedizin & Orthopädie (support/relief bandages), Wundversorgung/Wound Care (wound dressings including Pedilay® foot and leg, Hospifix® tubular bandages), and Pharma Solutions (textile carriers for pharmaceutical applications). KOB also operates a Smart Medical Textiles division developing intelligent textiles with integrated sensors for digital healthcare monitoring. The company operates production facilities in Germany and India, and was formerly the parent company of BRAWO SYSTEMS (now independent). Notable products include Pedilay® wound care bandages (awarded German Medical Award silver medal 2024), VisioCompress2® compression systems, and Hospifix® tubular bandages.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Phlebology & Lymphology Compression Bandages Compression bandages designed for phlebological and lymphological therapy, used by healthcare providers to treat venous insufficiency, lymphedema, and related circulatory disorders. Targeted at medical and pharmaceutical companies for clinical and outpatient use.
• Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics Bandages Support and relief bandages used in sports medicine and orthopaedics for musculoskeletal injuries, joint stabilization, and orthopedic support. Sold B2B to medical, pharmaceutical, and sports medicine companies.
• Wound Care Products Wound care products including fixation bandages, secondary dressings, and tubular bandages for acute and chronic wounds. Supplied to healthcare providers and wound care specialists.
• Pharma Solutions (Textile Carriers) Textile carriers and substrates for pharmaceutical applications, including backing materials for active ingredient plasters and pharmaceutical-coated textiles. Sold B2B to pharmaceutical companies for transdermal drug delivery systems.
• Pedilay foot Adjustable, ready-to-use foot bandage made of soft non-woven fabric with Velcro strips for easy application without bandage scissors or additional fixation. Designed for diabetic foot syndrome, leg ulcers, pressure sores, and post-operative wound care. Targeted at healthcare professionals and home care providers.
• Pedilay leg Adjustable, ready-to-use lower leg bandage made of soft non-woven fabric with Velcro strips. Functions as a universal secondary dressing for fixation of primary wound dressings on the lower leg.
• Hospifix Bi-elastic 911 Seamless knitted bi-elastic tubular bandage with bi-elasticity for difficult and conical body parts, colored centre lines for size identification, and washability at 60°C. Used as a fixation layer in wound care.
• VisioCompress2 Lite 2-component compression bandage system consisting of a padding bandage and permanently elastic non-woven bandage, designed for lower compression pressure applications with visual indicators on both layers for easy and secure application.
• Smart Medical Textiles Intelligent medical textiles integrating electronic components with fabrics, enabling wound monitoring, compression therapy support, body temperature control, and electronic device fixation for digital healthcare applications. Developed and manufactured as customized solutions for healthcare partners and research projects.
• Thermometer Patch Flexible patch with hypoallergenic adhesive that measures body temperature quickly and reliably via contactless reading, can be worn for several days, and requires no battery. Targeted at healthcare monitoring applications.
• Epionics SPINE Adhesive Pocket Solution Adhesive skin-friendly textile tube for fixation of electronic instruments on the back, with integrated electronics that continuously monitor and evaluate functional disorders for up to 48 hours to support diagnosis of back disorders. Developed as a customized smart textile client project.
• Contract Manufacturing Contract manufacturing services providing customized medical textile production for partner companies, leveraging Europe's most modern spinning facility, the largest doubling mill, and cost-efficient production capacity in Germany and India.

Quantifiable outcome

• Pedilay® Foot simplifies wound care application, reducing material consumption and making care considerably easier while offering pleasant wearing comfort
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H2TRAIN Consortium (34 European partners)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2024KOB participates in the H2TRAIN research project funded by Horizon Europe and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (May 2024 - April 2027). The project aims to develop new biosensors for digital healthcare and smart tracking for sports and fitness, with KOB focusing on textile integration of sensors and validation in field studies for remote post-surgery and rehab monitoring.
• IEC/TC 124 (Wearable Electronic Devices and Technologies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOB participates in the IEC/TC 124 standardization committee for wearable electronic devices and technologies, contributing expertise in smart medical textiles to international standards development.
• RWTH Aachen UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity students visit KOB for production tours and information events as part of educational partnerships.
• PreeMo Research ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly detection of electrolyte disorders through non-invasive, continuous monitoring using small wearable patches with wireless communication for premature infant monitoring.
• THERAFOLG-KOMP Research ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of textile sensors for monitoring therapy progress/success when curing Edema, increasing therapeutic effectiveness through digital feedback about therapy success.
• ULIMPIA - Smart Body Patches ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean research project for permanent monitoring of chronic wounds with sensors for temperature, moisture, and pH, fully integrated into wound dressings with wireless communication.
• Indian Ministry of TextilesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDelegation visit from Indian Ministry of Textiles and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) as part of TechTextil trip to Germany for exchange on technical textiles cooperation.
• Zukunftsregion Westpfalz e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKOB hosted 'Leadership Connect - Connect Days' networking event with USAFE representatives focusing on leadership and employee retention topics.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Urgo Medical: Urgo Medical is a French wound care specialist (UrgoStart, Urgocell) with a strong presence in chronic wounds and compression therapy. It is a direct competitor to KOB in advanced wound care dressings and compression bandaging.
• Andover Healthcare: Andover Healthcare is a US-based manufacturer of cohesive bandages, athletic tape, and compression wraps used in sports medicine and orthopedics. It directly competes with KOB in elastic bandages for sports medicine and orthopedic applications.
• BSN Medical (Essity): BSN medical (now part of Essity) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of compression, orthopedic, and wound care bandages, including the JOBST, Elvarex, and Delta-Cast brands. It is the most direct global competitor to KOB in elastic medical textiles and compression therapy.
• Lohmann & Rauscher (L&R): L&R is a German-speaking, family-owned manufacturer of medical bandages, compression systems, and wound dressings. It directly competes with KOB across compression therapy (Rosidal, Cellacare), tubular bandages, and orthopedic supports in DACH and international markets.

Broad incumbents

• Smith & Nephew: Smith & Nephew is a major global medical device company with strong positions in advanced wound management (Allevyn, PICO negative-pressure therapy) and orthopedics. It competes with KOB indirectly through hospital wound care contracts and is a comparable buyer of textile substrates.
• Mölnlycke Health Care: Mölnlycke is a global wound care and surgical solutions leader (Mepilex, Mepitel, Avance negative-pressure wound therapy). It is a broad incumbent with overlapping products in advanced wound dressings — relevant to KOB's wound care and Pedilay® franchise.
• Coloplast: Coloplast is a Danish medical device company specializing in wound care (Biatain), ostomy, and continence care. It is a broad incumbent in advanced wound dressings and competes with KOB in chronic wound care and diabetic foot markets.
• PAUL HARTMANN AG: Hartmann is KOB's parent company and a broader incumbent in wound care (Hydrocoll, Cosmopor), incontinence care, and disinfection. While Hartmann overlaps with KOB in wound care and compression, it operates at much larger scale across multiple medical product categories.
• 3M Health Care: 3M's Health Care division includes wound care, surgical supplies, and skin health products across Coban, Tegaderm, and Micropore brands. It is a broad incumbent that competes with KOB in fixation bandages and surgical taping.
• ConvaTec: ConvaTec is a global medical products company with leading wound care (Aquacel, DuoDERM) and ostomy franchises. It overlaps with KOB in advanced wound dressings and diabetic foot ulcer care.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks4 records

Customer concentration

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Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 KOB