Michael Koch
Michael Koch GmbH (Bremsenergie) is a privately held German industrial manufacturer founded in 1997 that designs and produces safe brake resistors and active energy management devices for electric drive systems, serving OEM machine builders across packaging, food processing, marine, aerospace, and other industrial verticals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersUbstadt-weiher, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Michael Koch does
Michael Koch GmbH, operating under the brand "Bremsenergie," is a privately held German industrial manufacturer founded in 1997 and headquartered in Ubstadt-Weiher, Germany. The company specializes in two complementary product lines: safe brake resistors (10W to 7.2kW) that dissipate braking energy as heat, and active energy management devices (peak power up to 200+ kW) that store and reuse braking energy in the DC intermediate circuit of electric drives. Its proprietary Pxt product family, including PxtFX, PxtRX, PxtKX, and PxtTX variants, addresses application-specific needs such as controlled machine stops during power failures, voltage dip compensation, grid load peak reduction, and operation in contaminated-air environments. The company also offers complete custom-engineered control cabinet systems, accessories, and digital tools (PxtTerminal software, PxT Web Sizing Portal, digital type plate service). Koch serves industrial OEMs and machine builders across diverse verticals including packaging, food processing, marine/electric propulsion, aerospace manufacturing, die casting, machine tools, and infrastructure (e.g., gas pipeline valve actuators). The business model is direct sales-led with a dedicated sales team, complemented by an international channel partner network (AC Sinergie in Italy, ControlEng in Canada, Elincom with a 50-year relationship) and a certified Siemens Product Partner for Drives Options. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contracts for custom solutions. The firm employs approximately 60 people, is co-managed by three Geschäftsführer (Michael Koch, Christine Lieber-Koch, Fabian Hofmann), and is recognized as a German Mittelstand company with certifications including DEKRA, EMAS, and the Großer Preis des Mittelstandes award.
Michael Koch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Michael Koch
- Legal name
- Michael Koch GmbH
- Website
- https://bremsenergie.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Michael Koch GmbH (Bremsenergie) is a privately held German industrial manufacturer founded in 1997 that designs and produces safe brake resistors and active energy management devices for electric drive systems, serving OEM machine builders across packaging, food processing, marine, aerospace, and other industrial verticals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Michael Koch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Drive Energy Management Hardware
- NAICS
- Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313)
- SIC
- Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Power Quality & Conditioning (PFC units, active filters, voltage regulators, surge protection) (IMAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Charging Infrastructure Components (connectors, cables, dispensers, payment/controls) (IMAGAHAH), Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Resistors (Fixed/Variable/Network) (HDAHANAA)
Keywords
Where Michael Koch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ubstadt-weiher
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Michael Koch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Active Energy Management Devices and Systems: Sale of proprietary active energy management devices including PxtFX, PxtRX, PxtKX, and PxtTX models. Systems range from individual components to complete control cabinet solutions with peak power up to 200 kW.
- Safe Brake Resistors: Sale of safe brake resistors in wire and PTC technology. Product range spans from 10W single modules to 7.2 kW combinations, available as standard models or custom-configured for specific applications.
- Custom Solutions and Systems: Application-specific complete systems in control cabinets. From pilot phase to series maturity, providing customer-specific solutions with highest quality standards and short delivery times.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom quotation-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Michael Koch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Michael Koch GmbH manufactures and sells active energy management devices and safe brake resistors for electric drive technology. The product portfolio spans from 10W single brake resistor modules to 7.2 kW resistor combinations and active energy management systems with peak power exceeding 200 kW, including proprietary Pxt variants (PxtFX, PxtRX, PxtKX, PxtTX). The company also delivers application-specific complete systems in control cabinets and custom solutions developed from pilot phase through series maturity.
Product overview
Michael Koch GmbH (Bremsenergie) offers a product portfolio consisting of two main product lines: Safe Brake Resistors and Active Energy Management Devices. Safe Brake Resistors range from 10W to 7.2kW and safely dissipate braking energy in electric drive systems. Active Energy Management Devices and systems achieve peak powers up to more than 200 kW, with the Pxt product family including PxtKX (short-term UPS with capacitors), PxtTX (for contaminated air environments), PxtFX (for controlled stops during power failures), and PxtRX (with external storage for higher loads). The company also provides complete systems in control cabinets, accessories, and custom solutions. A web-based design portal (PxT-Auslegungsportal) and PxtTerminal software tool support product configuration and optimization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Fabrikle: Internal term used by employees for the company/factory location in Ubstadt-Weiher.
Products and services
- Safe Brake Resistors (Sichere Bremswiderstände) Safe brake resistors available as single modules in wire and PTC technology and as combinations, with a power range from 10W to 7.2 kW for safely dissipating braking energy in electric drive systems.
- PxtFX Active Energy Management Device Active energy management device with integrated storage capacitors for frequent short cycles, enabling controlled machine stops during power failures, bridging short-term power outages, and compensating for voltage dips in electric drive systems. Features multiple LEDs, two push buttons, and a plug strip for enhanced control capabilities.
- PxtRX Active Energy Management Device Active energy management device with external storage for higher loads, designed for managing energy in electric drive intermediate circuits in industrial applications with frequent, short cycles.
- PxtKX Short-term UPS Active energy management device serving as a short-term UPS specifically designed for voltage dips and power failures in the DC intermediate circuit of frequency converters and servo controllers. Features optimized power electronics and robust storage capacitors.
- PxtTX Active Energy Management Device Active energy management device protected against suspended matter in air, suitable for woodworking and textile industries. Scalable design with adjustable configurations for various applications.
- Active Energy Management Complete Systems (Komplettsysteme) Application-specific complete systems in control cabinets for active energy management solutions, with peak power up to more than 200 kW. Provided as customer-specific solutions from pilot phase to series maturity with short delivery times.
- Custom Solutions (Sonderlösungen) Customized special solutions for active energy management devices and safe brake resistors tailored to specific customer applications, developed from pilot phase to series maturity.
Quantifiable outcome
- Production capacity can be increased through extended acceleration and braking cycles using stored braking energy
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Michael Koch
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Michael Koch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Michael Koch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and regional.
- AC SinergiecoreItalian distribution partner for SPS Italia exhibitions and ongoing Italian market presence. Alberto Carrara represents the partnership, with support from Valeria Carrara. Long-term collaborative relationship.
- Siemens (Feature Days Program)minorJoint participation in Siemens Partnerprogramm Feature Days. Online presentation on optimal combination of brake resistors with Siemens converters.
- ElincomregionalLong-standing international partner celebrating 50 years of relationship in 2025. Represents one of company's most enduring distribution partnerships.
- ControlEngregionalCanadian distribution partner. Joint exhibition at Hannover Messe 2025 (Stand G39 in Halle 6). Partnership extends market reach to North American customers.
- Siemens AGcoreCertified Siemens Product Partner for Drives Options. Partnership provides technical competence certification, innovation recognition, and access to Siemens distribution ecosystem for brake resistors and energy management products combined with Siemens converters.
- 3zu0.de Training PortalminorDedicated training portal (3zu0.de) for apprenticeships, internships, and dual study programs. Provides information about career opportunities at Michael Koch GmbH.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Michael Koch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Bonitron: US-based manufacturer of braking resistors and ride-through/energy storage solutions for industrial drives (e.g., MHR, MLine). The closest direct competitor to Michael Koch's Pxt and brake resistor product lines, serving the same DC-link and power-quality use cases for variable-frequency drive installations.
- KEB Automation: German drive and automation specialist offering braking resistors and combinations as part of its drive accessory ecosystem, alongside frequency converters and servo controllers. Comparable through its co-development of drive peripherals and similar industrial customer base in Central Europe.
Broad incumbents
- SEW-EURODRIVE: Drive and mechatronics systems provider offering MOVITRAC/MOVIDRIVE converters with their own brake resistor portfolio. Comparable as a broad drive incumbent selling accessories into German machine-builder OEMs.
- Bosch Rexroth: Drive and control technology business offering IndraDrive converters with braking resistor and energy management accessories. Comparable through its European industrial customer footprint and focus on factory automation.
- Lenze: German drive and automation manufacturer (i500/i510/i550 inverters, servo) with related brake resistor and energy management accessories. Comparable through its Mittelstand positioning and focus on machine builders across industrial verticals.
- Yaskawa: Japanese drives and motion control manufacturer (A1000, GA700, Sigma-X servo) with associated brake resistors and DC-link modules. Overlaps with Michael Koch's customer profile in industrial automation, packaging, and machine tools.
- ABB: Global incumbent in industrial drives (ACS series) and power electronics. Although ABB drives ship without a dedicated energy-management accessory brand, its scale, R&D resources, and converter roadmap define the competitive ceiling for niche players like Michael Koch.
- Schneider Electric: Industrial automation and power management major (Altivar drives). Relevant as a broad incumbent whose power-quality and energy-management portfolio defines buyer expectations around integrated solutions.
- Eaton: Industrial power management company offering drives, power quality, and electrical components. Comparable through its broad portfolio that overlaps with Koch's energy-management and power-conditioning positioning in industrial facilities.
- Siemens (Drive Technology division): Maker of SINAMICS converters; both a strategic partner (Product Partner for Drives Options) and the dominant broad incumbent whose converter base Michael Koch's accessories are designed to complement. Relevant because any in-house DC-link UPS would directly threaten Koch's value proposition.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Michael Koch social profiles
Digital presenceMichael Koch compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Michael Koch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Michael Koch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Michael Koch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Michael Koch M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Michael Koch
What does Michael Koch do?
Michael Koch GmbH manufactures and sells active energy management devices and safe brake resistors for electric drive technology. The product portfolio spans from 10W single brake resistor modules to 7.2 kW resistor combinations and active energy management systems with peak power exceeding 200 kW, including proprietary Pxt variants (PxtFX, PxtRX, PxtKX, PxtTX). The company also delivers application-specific complete systems in control cabinets and custom solutions developed from pilot phase through series maturity.
Is Michael Koch a public or private company?
Michael Koch is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Michael Koch founded?
Michael Koch was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Michael Koch based?
Michael Koch is headquartered in Ubstadt-weiher, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Michael Koch make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Active Energy Management Devices and Systems are the primary driver. The others are safe Brake Resistors and custom Solutions and Systems.
Who are Michael Koch's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Bonitron and KEB Automation. Broad incumbents are SEW-EURODRIVE, Bosch Rexroth, Lenze, Yaskawa, ABB, Schneider Electric, Eaton and Siemens (Drive Technology division).
Does Michael Koch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Michael Koch.
What industry is Michael Koch in?
Michael Koch's product category is Industrial Drive Energy Management Hardware. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAGADAG, Power Quality & Conditioning (PFC units, active filters, voltage regulators, surge protection), with a secondary code of IMAGAHAH, Charging Infrastructure Components (connectors, cables, dispensers, payment/controls). Its NAICS code is 335313 and its SIC code is 3613.