Alfred Horn

What Alfred Horn does

Alfred Horn GmbH & Co. KG is a fourth-generation, family-owned B2B specialist trade distributor headquartered in Neuwied, Germany, operating since 1945. The company manufactures, distributes, installs, and maintains window and door hardware, fittings, automatic doors, fire-rated doors, smart access control systems, shading solutions, and modular vehicle equipment for tradespeople, serving exclusively commercial partners (craftsmen, window/door manufacturers, industrial partners, and public sector clients) across Germany. Its technology stack combines traditional mechanical hardware (DIN-compliant fittings, certified fire protection per DIN 4102/14677/EN 16034) with IoT-enabled products such as smartphone-as-key access control systems and online configuration tools (Rollladenkonfigurator), supported by an e-commerce platform (shop.alfred-horn.de) carrying 70,000+ SKUs.

The business model is multi-stream: (i) hardware and component sales through wholesale, showroom, and online channels; (ii) professional services including on-site consulting, measurement, installation, electrical connection, commissioning, repair, and maintenance; and (iii) custom fabrication (cutting of window sills and profiles to specification). Go-to-market relies on regional field sales representatives (Außendienst) covering territories such as Aachen/Düren/Köln, a physical showroom at HQ in Neuwied, the online shop, and a recently launched WhatsApp ordering service. Pricing is predominantly quote-based for B2B customers, with tiered delivery fees (free over €200 net merchandise value, same-day Horn@Day at €20.05, Horn@Night at €30.60, UPS Next Day at €27.70) and a 1.8% service/handling fee. Recurring revenue comes from annual door maintenance contracts (€300-500/year) and compliance-driven inspection services (Türwartung, Leiterprüfung per DGUV/BetrSichV). Strategic distribution partnerships with GEZE and dormakaba enable delivery of complete automatic door systems rather than discrete components.

Operating infrastructure centers on a 10,200 m² warehouse in the Distelfeld industrial area of Neuwied stocking 5,966+ articles for same-day or next-day delivery within Germany. The company employs 85-89 staff and claims 15,000 customers. Leadership is held by Geschäftsführer Rolf Horn (representing the owning Horn family) and Dr. Stefan Jeßen, with Thomas Lahr as Verkaufsleiter. The legal structure is a GmbH & Co. KG with Horn GmbH as the personally liable general partner (Komplementär), indicating family-controlled ownership with no external investors identified. The company joined the FairCommerce initiative in February 2018 and is undergoing a logistics adjustment effective 01.08.2026 to streamline order fulfillment.

Name

Alfred Horn

Legal name

Alfred Horn GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://alfred-horn.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alfred Horn GmbH & Co. KG is a fourth-generation, family-owned German B2B specialist trade distributor (founded 1945, Neuwied) that supplies, installs, and maintains window and door hardware, automatic and fire-rated doors, smart access control systems, and related professional services exclusively to commercial and public-sector partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Building Hardware and Access Solutions

NAICS

Other Building Material Dealers (44418)

SIC

Retail-Lumber & Other Building Materials Dealers (5211), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHSAIAJAD

Gate Automation, Access Control & Operator Repair

Home & Personal Services/Landscaping, Lawn Care & Outdoor Maintenance/Fence, Gate & Deck Installation/Repair (Outdoor Structures)

SECONDARYHSAIAJAC

Gate Installation (Manual & Automated)

Home & Personal Services/Landscaping, Lawn Care & Outdoor Maintenance/Fence, Gate & Deck Installation/Repair (Outdoor Structures)

Keywords

• Window and door hardware
• Automatic door systems
• Fire protection doors
• Access control systems
• Commercial building fittings

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuwied

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales (Hardware and Components): Sale of window and door hardware, fittings, components, and accessories to B2B partners. Includes items from categories: window fittings, door fittings, locking technology, access control, shading systems, and automation components. Revenue is generated through both in-store purchases and online shop (shop.alfred-horn.de).
2. Professional Services: Comprehensive services including planning consultation, on-site measurement, installation/mounting, electrical connections, repair, maintenance, inspection, and acceptance testing. Services are exclusively offered to commercial customers and public sector clients.
3. Custom Fabrication and Processing: Custom cutting and processing of window sills, profiles, and other articles to customer-specified dimensions. Items can be ready for pickup within hours of ordering.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Alfred Horn is a B2B specialist trade dealer that manufactures, installs, and maintains windows, doors, facades, gates, and interior fittings. The company supplies window and door hardware, automatic door systems, fire-rated doors, smart access control systems, shading solutions, and modular vehicle equipment to trade professionals, manufacturers, and public sector clients. Additionally, it provides professional services including consulting, planning, installation, custom fabrication, delivery logistics, and ongoing maintenance and inspection for mounted components.

Product overview

Alfred Horn GmbH & Co. KG is a B2B specialist trade distributor for windows and doors, founded in 1945 and headquartered in Neuwied, Germany. The company operates a unified platform model comprising a comprehensive hardware and fittings portfolio alongside extensive professional services. The core product portfolio encompasses AUTOMATIKTÜREN (automatic door systems — swing, sliding, telescopic, full-glass, revolving, and break-out automatic doors), BRANDSCHUTZTÜREN (certified fire-rated doors in single/double-leaf configurations), ZUTRITTSKONTROLLE (smart access control systems with smartphone, card, and biometric support), TÜRTECHNIK (door hardware — locking systems, security fittings, mailbox/parcel systems, door drives, finger protection), FENSTERTECHNIK (window fittings — turn-tilt hardware, handles, security grilles, ventilators), BESCHATTUNGEN (shading — roller shutters, Raffstores, zip-screens, awnings), and FAHRZEUGEINRICHTUNGEN (modular vehicle equipment for tradespeople). The services layer includes BERATUNG & PLANUNG (on-site consulting and project planning), MONTAGE (installation support), KONFEKTIONIERUNG (custom cutting of window sills and profiles), LIEFERUNG/LOGISTIK (multiple delivery options including Horn@Day same-day and Horn@Night night delivery), TÜRWARTUNG (door inspection and maintenance per DIN standards), LEITERPRÜFUNG (DGUV-compliant ladder inspection), and a self-service ROLLADENKONFIGURATOR (roller shutter configurator). The entire offering is accessible through the ONLINE-SHOP platform with over 70,000 articles. The company serves commercial business partners (Geschäftspartner) and public clients exclusively, offering product-neutral advice, full project support from planning through to installation, and ongoing maintenance. Most recently, the company launched a WhatsApp-based ordering service enabling customers to order by image or article number.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Automatiktüren (Automatic Door Systems) Automatic door systems including swing, sliding, telescopic, break-out, full-glass, revolving, glass sliding wall, folding, and arched automatic doors. Supplied both as individual components and complete systems with installation, commissioning, and acceptance support. Designed for commercial and public-sector buildings.
• Brandschutztüren (Fire Protection Doors) Certified fire-rated doors and custom solutions for commercial and industrial applications in single and double-leaf configurations with special frames and additional protective functions. Compliant with DIN 4102, DIN 14677, and DIN EN 16034.
• Zutrittskontrolle (Access Control Systems) Smart access control systems managing building entry, garages, lockers, and desks with a single key medium. Supports smartphones as keys, real-time permission management, and integrates with card readers, transponders, and biometric systems. Scalable across multiple locations for commercial and public-sector clients.
• Türtechnik (Door Hardware and Technology) Comprehensive door hardware solutions including locking systems, security fittings, fire protection elements, mailbox and parcel systems, sliding and swing door drives, and finger protection. Covers both interior and exterior building applications for commercial clients.
• Fenstertechnik (Window Technology) Full range of window solutions including turn-tilt fittings, window handles and grilles, security fittings, and window ventilators. Covers products for all window forms across wood, plastic, and metal construction for trade professionals and manufacturers.
• Beschattungen (Shading Systems) Shading solutions including roller shutters, venetian blinds (Raffstores), zip-screen systems, and awnings, tailored to individual customer needs with focus on quality, longevity, and functionality for commercial buildings.
• Fahrzeugeinrichtungen (Vehicle Equipment) Custom modular vehicle equipment systems for tradespeople, configurable independently of vehicle manufacturer, optionally equipped with appropriate tools and assembly accessories, transforming vehicles into efficient mobile workshops.
• Professional Services for Doors and Windows Qualified professional services for commercial customers including measurement support (Aufmaß), installation, electrical connections, commissioning, repair, maintenance, acceptance testing, dismantling, proper disposal, and prescribed product inspections for mounted components. Exclusively offered to commercial and public-sector clients.
• Türwartung (Door Maintenance and Inspection) Inspection and maintenance of fire protection and functional doors to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including testing of hold-open systems and smoke protection devices per DIN 14637 and ASR A1.7. Annual maintenance contracts typically priced 300-500 EUR.
• Leiterprüfung (Ladder Inspection) Ladder and step inspections conducted by qualified persons per DGUV Regulation 208-016 and BetrSichV, ensuring legal compliance, early defect detection, and accident prevention for commercial customers.
• B2B Online Shop (shop.alfred-horn.de) B2B e-commerce platform offering over 70,000 articles, with ordering, payment, and delivery tracking capabilities for commercial customers with account-based ordering.
• WhatsApp Ordering Service WhatsApp-based ordering service allowing customers to order by image or article number via the company's WhatsApp number (+49 2631 8704-666), enabling simple and uncomplicated ordering for commercial partners.
• Konfektionierung (Custom Cutting and Assembly) Custom cutting of articles such as window sills and profiles to desired dimensions, with items available for pickup within hours of ordering for commercial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Digital access control typically pays for itself within one year
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Initiative FairCommerceminorOthers · 26 February 2018Membership organization promoting fair and transparent business practices in e-commerce and trade. Horn joined as a member demonstrating commitment to consumer protection and fair business practices.
• GEZEcoreTechnology or IntegrationLeading manufacturer partnership for automatic door systems. Horn works closely with GEZE and delivers both individual door components and complete automatic door systems from planning through installation to commissioning.
• dormakabacoreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic manufacturing partner for automatic door solutions. Dormakaba products are integrated into Horn's comprehensive door automation offerings.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hagebau: German building materials and DIY retail/dealer cooperative with broad trade and prosumer coverage. Competes with Horn for trade customer share within Germany at a substantially larger scale.
• Hilti: Global, direct-to-trades B2B distributor of construction tools, fasteners, and related software/services. Comparable B2B specialty distribution motion but a much larger portfolio and international footprint.
• ASSA ABLOY: Global leader in door hardware, locking, and access control solutions. Operates at much larger scale across the same end-product categories Horn distributes, with potential channel and pricing overlap.
• Hornbach Baumarkt: German home improvement and building products retailer with strong trade offering. Broader portfolio and larger footprint than Horn, but overlaps in door/window hardware distribution to professional buyers.

Direct peers

• Roto Frank: German-headquartered manufacturer of window and door hardware, with deep penetration in the same German window/door manufacturer customer base that Horn serves.
• Würth Group: German family-influenced B2B specialty distributor serving trades and industrial customers with a comparable relationship-driven, field-sales model and a broad hardware and fastener catalog. Closest analog in business model and customer base.
• MACO: Austrian/German manufacturer of window and door hardware. Comparable in product category and target customer (window/door fabricators and trade professionals) to the suppliers Horn carries.
• Siegenia: German specialist manufacturer of window and door hardware, ventilation, and smart comfort systems. Comparable German Mittelstand focus on window/door fittings that Horn distributes to its trade customers.

Others

• dormakaba: Global manufacturer of access solutions, automatic doors, and door hardware. Strategic product partner to Horn whose access control and door automation portfolio overlaps with Horn's Zutrittskontrolle and Automatiktüren offerings.
• GEZE: Leading German manufacturer of automatic door and window systems. Strategic product partner whose technology is integrated into Horn's automatic door systems and service offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/alfredhornneuwied

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Alfred Horn