What AE Group does

AE Group is a German light-metal die casting specialist serving the European automotive industry, founded in 1980 in Gerstungen, Thuringia, and reorganized as ae group ag in 2003. The company produces aluminum high-pressure die-cast (HPDC) components including transmission valve plates (>1 million units per year), battery housings for fully electrified vehicles, structural components for EVs and hybrids, and machined finished components, operating from facilities in Gerstungen (headquarters, ~600 employees, 30 casting machines, 72 machining centers, 31,265 m² production area), Nentershausen (~160 employees, with a development and skilled-worker training center), and Lübeck. Group annual production capacity is approximately 22,000 tonnes. AE Group became the first CO2-neutral light metal die casting group in Europe in June 2021 and developed the SALZIG salt-core technology under BMWi funding with Fraunhofer IFAM to enable complex geometries such as integrated cooling channels.

The business model is industrial B2B manufacturing: revenue is generated through hardware sales of aluminum die-cast components made to order against long-term supply contracts with automotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers, delivered directly to assembly lines via direct enterprise sales. Pricing is contractually negotiated and not publicly disclosed. ZF Friedrichshafen AG is a flagship customer of more than 20 years, awarding AE Group the 2021 Sustainability Performance Award from its global supplier base of more than 30,000; additional revenue is anchored by an EUR 50M+ European-OEM battery-housing order and an EUR 8M+ investment in EV battery housings. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, and IATF 16949 certifications across its German subsidiaries.

On 5 February 2024, Munich-based Alutech Holding GmbH & Co. KG, advised by Deutsche Invest Mittelstand GmbH, acquired 100% of ae group ag, taking it private as part of a restructuring effort. On 12 August 2024, ae group ag and its three German subsidiaries filed for self-administered insolvency at the Meiningen Local Court, citing reduced automotive demand. On 1 August 2025 the court lifted self-administration and ordered standard insolvency proceedings, with Dr. Romy Metzger as insolvency administrator; on 24 October 2025 AE Group Polska was divested to a Polish investor. As of the latest filing, CEO Christian Kleinjung and CRO Philipp Bächle oversee the ongoing German restructuring.

Name

AE Group

Legal name

ae group ag, Holding

Website

https://ae-group.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

AE Group is a German aluminum high-pressure die casting specialist producing transmission valve plates, battery housings, and structural components for European automotive OEMs and tier-1 suppliers. Founded in 1980 in Gerstungen, it operates from three German facilities and is currently in insolvency proceedings following its 2024 acquisition by Alutech Holding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aluminum Die Casting

NAICS

Nonferrous Metal Die-Casting Foundries (331523)

SIC

Nonferrous Foundries (Castings) (3360)

akta.pro primary industry

Aluminum Casting & Ingot/Billet/Slab Production (IMAKACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Aluminum Fabrication & Finishing (Machining, Anodizing, Coating) (IMAKACAI)

Keywords

• Aluminum die casting
• Automotive components manufacturing
• High pressure die casting
• EV battery housings
• CNC machined parts

Headquarters

HQ city

Gerstungen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 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. Automotive component manufacturing: B2B manufacturing of aluminum die cast components for automotive industry including transmission parts, structural components, battery housings, and control units. Revenue generated through long-term supply contracts with OEMs and tier-1 suppliers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AE Group is a German aluminum die casting manufacturer specializing in high-pressure die casting (HPDC) and machining of light metal components for the automotive industry. The company produces aluminum die cast components including battery housings for electric vehicles, control units and valve plates for automatic transmissions, structural components for EVs, and hybrid vehicle parts. Operations span casting, CNC machining, and delivery of finished ready-to-install components through a local-for-local production footprint in Germany and Poland.

Product overview

AE Group operates as a light metal die casting specialist offering aluminum high-pressure die casting (HPDC) as its core manufacturing process. The company provides a comprehensive portfolio including aluminum die casting components, battery housings for electric vehicles, control units/valve plates for automatic transmissions, structural components for EVs, hybrid vehicle components, and machined finished components. Their optimized local-for-local production structure spans facilities in Gerstungen (~600 employees, 30 casting machines, 72 machining centers), Nentershausen (~160 employees, 14 casting machines, 5 machining centers), Lübeck, and Poland, serving automotive OEMs with components for transmission, powertrain, chassis, and EV applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aluminum Die Casting Components
• Battery Housings for Electric Vehicles
• Control Units / Valve Plates for Automatic Transmissions
• Structural Components for Electric Vehicles
• Hybrid Vehicle Components
• Machined Parts and Finished Components

Quantifiable outcome

• 35,000 tonnes CO2 emissions avoided annually through CO2-neutral production
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer IFAMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 August 2021Research partner in the SALZIG project developing salt core technology for die casting. Project funded by Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi), funding code 03LB4001C.
• K+S GruppeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in SALZIG salt core development project.
• SBS Ecoclean GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in SALZIG salt core development project.
• BL&PminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject partner in SALZIG salt core development project.
• N-ERGIE AGminorOthersEnergy supplier providing hydropower-based electricity and CO2-neutral gas for ae group's climate-neutral production since June 2021.
• Bikeleasing-Service GmbH & Co. KGminorOthersPartner for company bike leasing program offered to employees as health and environmental benefit.
• FalkenstegcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCorporate finance advisory firm that accompanied the sale of ae group to Alutech Holding, including transaction and transformation process support.
• FTI AnderschcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRestructuring advisory firm engaged during company transformation and insolvency process.
• GRUB BRUGGERcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal advisory firm providing restructuring expertise. Partner Martin Mucha served as Generalbevollmächtigter during self-administered insolvency proceedings.
• BRYAN CAVE LEIGHTON PAISNER LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerInternational law firm providing restructuring legal counsel during company turnaround.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Trimet Aluminium SE: German integrated aluminum producer and casting specialist supplying billets, foundry alloys, and components to automotive and industrial customers. Comparable to AE Group in German aluminum expertise and automotive end-market exposure, though positioned more upstream.
• Rheinmetall Automotive (formerly KSPG): German automotive supplier (now part of Rheinmetall) with hardparts, pumps, and actuators for combustion and electric powertrains. Comparable to AE Group as a major German automotive tier-1 supplier serving European OEMs, though with a much broader portfolio beyond die casting.
• Handtmann Holding GmbH: German family-owned industrial group with light metal casting (aluminum and magnesium die casting) and machinery divisions serving automotive and industrial customers. Comparable to AE Group in German-based automotive aluminum die casting, with broader portfolio diversification.

Direct peers

• Bocar Group: Mexican aluminum die casting specialist serving North American and European automotive OEMs with HPDC components, machined parts, and assemblies. Comparable to AE Group in core HPDC technology, automotive customer focus, and tier-1 supplier positioning.
• Martinrea International: Canadian automotive supplier producing lightweight aluminum die cast components, assemblies, and fluid handling systems for global OEMs. Directly comparable to AE Group in aluminum die casting technology and automotive structural/EV component portfolio.
• Endurance Technologies: Indian automotive component manufacturer specializing in aluminum die casting, suspension, transmission, and braking systems for two-wheelers and four-wheelers globally. Comparable to AE Group in aluminum die casting technology and automotive OEM customer base, albeit with a different geographic and end-market mix.
• Georg Fischer (GF Casting Solutions): Swiss industrial group operating GF Casting Solutions, a major European light-metal and iron casting supplier serving the automotive industry with structural and powertrain components. Directly comparable to AE Group in automotive aluminum casting scope and European OEM customer base.
• Stellantis-affiliated Teksid (Stellantis component supplier): Italian-headquartered global iron and aluminum casting supplier serving automotive OEMs, including Stellantis group brands. Comparable to AE Group in HPDC aluminum components for automotive applications and European OEM customer base.
• Nemak: Mexican-headquartered global leader in aluminum die casting for the automotive industry, supplying structural components, powertrain parts, and EV battery housings to OEMs worldwide. Directly comparable to AE Group in HPDC technology, customer base (European OEMs), and EV transition positioning.

Regional players

• IFA Rotorion (formerly IFA Group): German automotive supplier producing aluminum die cast and machined components for transmissions, drivetrains, and e-mobility. Directly comparable to AE Group in German-based automotive aluminum die casting and e-mobility transition, with overlapping customer profiles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AEgroup_europe
• Facebookfacebook.com/AE-group-109601347449872

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 AE Group