ZIPPE Industrieanlagen

What ZIPPE Industrieanlagen does

ZIPPE Industrieanlagen GmbH is a Wertheim, Germany-based, family-owned (fourth generation) specialty engineering company founded in 1920 that designs, manufactures, and commissions batch plants and cullet processing systems for the global glass industry. Its core products include complete Gemengeanlagen (batch plants) for precise dosing and mixing of raw materials, Scherbenanlagen (cullet plants) for in-process glass recycling, Einlegetechnik (batch chargers and scraping conveyors), batch/cullet preheating systems, the BZ24 glass level measuring system with multi-protocol PLC connectivity, and proprietary components such as the Dosing Belt Scale BWS with +/- 0.5% weighing accuracy. With an installed base of 670+ batch plants and 1,150+ cullet systems worldwide, the company self-describes as the world leader in this niche and serves container, float, special, fiber, and stone wool glass manufacturers through named enterprise customers including Verallia, Şişecam, Schott, Gerresheimer, AGI Greenpac, Arglass, Visy Glass, O-I, and Guardian.

The company operates a project-based enterprise sales motion with direct field sales from its German headquarters led by Director Sales Volker Maier, supplemented by wholly-owned subsidiaries in Italy (Parma), Poland (Wroclaw), China (Beijing), and the US (Alpharetta, GA), plus a network of independent agents in MENA, Latin America, and Asia Pacific. Revenue streams span turnkey plant projects (multi-million to €60M scale, e.g., Verallia Villa Poma), single machine and spare parts sales, engineering services (3D construction, basic and detail engineering), modernization/retrofit work, plant-check consulting, and recurring customer support — the latter increasingly delivered through the zmart360 digital service platform launched in 2024 with AI-enabled maintenance workflows. Automation is built around Siemens PCS7 and SIMATIC platforms under a long-standing Solutions Partner relationship.

Strategically, Zippe is pursuing a generational product expansion (modular AGV-based batch plants realized in 2023, zmart360 digital platform in 2024) layered onto its traditional equipment business, alongside geographic deepening in the US, India, and Australia. The company remains privately held under the Zippe family with Dr. Philipp Zippe as CEO and Dr. Bernd-Holger Zippe as Chairman of the Advisory Board; the most recent executive addition was the appointment of Dr. Andreas Emrich as CTO in 2022.

Name

ZIPPE Industrieanlagen

Legal name

ZIPPE Industrieanlagen GmbH

Website

https://zippe.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ZIPPE Industrieanlagen GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned German engineering firm that designs and commissions batch and cullet plants for global glass manufacturers, holding a self-claimed world-leader position across container, flat, special, fiber, and stone wool glass segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Wertheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Complete Batch Plant Systems: Design, engineering, manufacturing, delivery, and commissioning of complete batch and cullet plants for glass manufacturers. Turnkey project delivery including steel construction, silos, equipment, and electrical control systems.
2. Single Machines and Equipment: Sale of individual machines including batch chargers, scraping conveyors, crushers, and other processing equipment. Includes single machine sales and spare parts supply.
3. Engineering Services: Engineering services including 3D construction, basic engineering, building permit documentation, detailed engineering, and steel construction engineering.
4. Modernization and Retrofit: Modernization services for existing plants to bring them to latest technology standards, including control system upgrades and performance optimization.
5. Plant-Check and Consulting: Detailed analysis of existing plants to identify optimization potential and develop customized solutions for efficiency and productivity improvement.
6. Customer Support and Maintenance: Ongoing maintenance, spare parts supply, training, and support services to ensure long-term trouble-free operation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ZIPPE Industrieanlagen designs, engineers, manufactures, delivers, and commissions complete batch plants and cullet processing systems for glass manufacturers worldwide, including dosing, mixing, preheating, batch charging, and glass level measurement equipment. The company supplies both turnkey industrial plants and individual machines (batch chargers, scrapers, crushers, dosing scales), supported by engineering, automation, modernization, plant-check consulting, and long-term customer support services including the AI-enabled zmart360 digital service platform.

Product overview

ZIPPE Industrieanlagen is a world-leading provider of batch and cullet plants for the glass industry with over 100 years of experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around two core product lines: batch plants (Gemengeanlagen) for precise dosing and mixing of raw materials, and cullet plants (Scherbenanlagen) for processing and returning production waste glass. Supporting products include glass recycling systems, batch charging equipment (Einlegetechnik) with proprietary batch chargers and scraping conveyors, batch preheating technologies, and the BZ24 glass level measuring system with advanced PLC connectivity. The digital platform zmart360 enables AI-powered digitalization and smart maintenance for these plants. Services encompass full engineering (3D design), automation (Siemens-based control systems), modernization, plant assessments, and customer support including remote AR services. With 670 batch plants and 1,150 cullet systems operating internationally, the company serves container glass, float glass, special glass, fiber glass, and stone wool industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• zmart360: Digital service and maintenance tool with AI integration for batch plant operations
• zmart Scraper Control
• BZ24
• ZMART Inventory System
• Dosing Belt Scale BWS

Products and services

• Batch Plants (Gemengeanlagen) Planning, engineering, and construction of complete plants for precise dosing and mixing of raw materials to ensure consistently high glass quality, serving glass manufacturers worldwide.
• Cullet Plants (Scherbenanlagen) Systems for efficient processing and return of production waste glass into the melting process, conserving resources and reducing costs for glass manufacturers.
• Glass Recycling Plants (Glasrecycling) Complete waste glass processing plants that contribute to energy and raw material recovery, serving external recycling operations and glass manufacturers.
• Batch Charging Systems (Einlegetechnik) Innovative solutions for precise and reliable charging of melting tanks with batch and cullet, including batch chargers, scraping conveyors, and downpipes for glass producers.
• Batch Preheating Systems (Gemengevorwärmung) Technologies for preheating batch materials that reduce energy consumption in the melting process and increase efficiency for glass manufacturers.
• Glass Level Measuring System (BZ24) Precision measurement system for monitoring glass levels in melting tanks with advanced electronic interfaces, web-based configuration, and connectivity via Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet/IP, and Modbus/TCP.
• Bulk Material Handling Systems (Schüttguthandling) Equipment for handling raw materials and cullet including truck and train unloading systems, vibratory tray feeders, conveyor belts, and silo systems for glass plants.
• zmart360 Digital Service Platform Digital service and maintenance platform leveraging AI and digital integration for batch and cullet plants, enabling connected smart maintenance and operational optimization for glass manufacturers.
• Automation & Control Systems Customized control and automation solutions for efficient and safe plant operation, including software development, Siemens PCS7-based redundant architecture, and integration with existing systems for glass manufacturers.
• Engineering Services Modern 3D construction techniques for precise planning of glass batch plants, including basic engineering, building permit documentation, tender documents, and detailed steel construction engineering.
• Modernization & Retrofit Modernization services for existing plants to bring them up to the latest technology standards, including control system upgrades, new mixers, batch chargers, transport system refurbishment, and performance optimization.
• Plant-Check & Consulting Detailed analysis of existing glass batch plants to identify optimization potential and develop customized solutions for increasing efficiency and productivity.
• Customer Support & Maintenance Dedicated service team providing ongoing maintenance, spare parts supply, training, remote support with augmented reality, and troubleshooting to ensure long-term trouble-free operation of installed batch and cullet plants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Weighing accuracy up to +/- 0.5% with Zippe Dosing Belt Scale BWS
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

AI capability6 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• IET (Industrial Engineering & Trading)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIET has been representing Zippe as a trusted agent in Egypt for many decades. They facilitate sales and support activities in the Egyptian market, organizing industry seminars and customer engagement events under the Zippe banner.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationZippe is a Siemens Solutions Partner, utilizing Siemens automation technology including PCS7 systems and SIMATIC components in their control systems. The partnership provides access to industrial automation expertise and components.
• VDMA (German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association)minorOthersMember of the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association, participating in initiatives like Blue Competence sustainability program.
• Blue Competence InitiativeminorOthersAlliance Member of the VDMA Blue Competence sustainability initiative, committing to twelve sustainability guidelines for the mechanical engineering industry.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nikolaus Sorg GmbH & Co. KG (SORG Group): Germany-based engineering firm that designs and builds glass furnaces, batch plants, and cullet systems for the container, float, and specialty glass industries. Most direct head-to-head competitor for Zippe on complete batch house deliveries and furnace feeding solutions.
• Horn Glass Industries AG: German manufacturer of glass melting technology, batch plants, and cullet systems serving container, flat, and specialty glass producers. Overlaps directly with Zippe on batch and cullet equipment, batch chargers, and furnace engineering.
• Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich GmbH & Co KG: Specialist in industrial mixing and processing technology used in batch preparation; supplies intensive mixers and dosing systems to the glass, ceramics, and metallurgical industries. Competes with Zippe on the mixing/quality side of the glass batch process chain.
• Bottero Group: Italian manufacturer of complete glass container-making lines including batch plants, batch chargers, and forming equipment. Supplies similar large industrial glass customers (container glass producers) and overlaps with Zippe in batch plant and batch charging solutions.
• BDF Industries S.p.A. Italian provider of glass container manufacturing equipment, including batch plants, batch chargers, and forming machinery. Targets the same customer segments (container glass producers) and competes on greenfield plant deliverables alongside Zippe.
• Glasstech Inc. US-based designer and builder of machinery and equipment for the flat and architectural glass industries, including batch handling and processing equipment for glass manufacturers. Comparable specialized industrial equipment focus serving glass producers.

Broad incumbents

• Bühler Group: Swiss-based global process engineering group serving food, feed, and advanced materials; serves glass and specialty materials with mixing and dosing solutions. Much larger but addresses adjacent industrial processing needs of glass manufacturers and offers overlapping dosing/process capabilities.

Emerging players

• Lindner-Recyclingtech GmbH: Austrian manufacturer of shredding, sorting, and processing equipment including recycling systems for glass cullet. Overlaps with Zippe's cullet/glass recycling business at the material handling and processing stages.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Zippe-Industrieanlagen-GmbH/242594779110650
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zippe
• Instagraminstagram.com/zippe_industrieanlagen.gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Subsidiaries4 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 ZIPPE Industrieanlagen