What PFEIFER does

PFEIFER Seil- und Hebetechnik GmbH is a privately held, family-owned German industrial company headquartered in Memmingen, Bavaria, with origins documented to 1579. The company designs and manufactures wire ropes, rope-based systems, and lifting/connecting equipment across five primary segments: industrial ropes (for cranes, mining, maritime), elevator ropes, precast concrete lifting and connecting systems, cable structures for lightweight architecture (stadium and large-span roofs), and lifting accessories/cargo securing. Notable engineered products include patented items such as the Waved Anchor for precast transport, the ISODISK brake element for rockfall barriers, and high-performance elevator ropes used in the Burj Khalifa, One World Trade Center, and Petronas Towers.

Under Managing Director Gerhard Pfeifer (12th generation), the group operates 15+ country subsidiaries and certified manufacturing in three countries (Germany, China, Poland), with major units including PFEIFER DRAKO (elevator and industrial ropes), PFEIFER Bautechnik (building technology), PFEIFER Systems (drive technology), and PFEIFER ISOFER (rockfall protection). Revenue of approximately €292 million and roughly 1,350 employees place it firmly in the mid-market European industrial tier. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales plus OEM supply to global elevator and construction machinery manufacturers, complemented by a webshop for SMB lifting accessories and on-site Mobile Services plus the PFEIFER Academy for training and lifecycle support. In 2024, FLOWFRAME became a strategic shareholder to accelerate international expansion and innovation capacity.

Name

PFEIFER

Legal name

PFEIFER Seil- und Hebetechnik GmbH

Website

https://pfeifer.info

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

PFEIFER is a 444-year-old family-owned German manufacturer of wire ropes, elevator ropes, precast concrete lifting systems, and cable-supported roof structures, serving elevator OEMs, construction machinery manufacturers, and large architectural projects across 15+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Wire Ropes and Lifting Equipment

NAICS

Rope, Cordage, Twine, Tire Cord, and Tire Fabric Mills (314994), Spring and Wire Product Manufacturing (3326), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Ropes, Cords, Twines & Netting (Mooring/Lifting/Fishing/Load Restraint) (IMAOADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Elastic, Tapes & Webbing Manufacturing (Elastic Bands/Binding/Strapping/Webbing) (IMAOALAD)

Keywords

• Wire rope manufacturing
• Elevator ropes
• Lifting equipment
• Precast concrete systems
• Cable structures

Headquarters

HQ city

Memmingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Wire rope and elevator rope sales: Sale of manufactured steel wire ropes, elevator ropes, and rope accessories to industrial customers, construction companies, elevator manufacturers, and crane operators. PFEIFER operates as an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and supply chain partner to the world's largest construction machinery and elevator manufacturers.
2. Lifting equipment and connecting systems: Sale of lifting accessories, attachment devices, load lifting attachments, turnover devices, lashing equipment, and precast concrete connecting and lifting systems (anchor sockets, rope eyes, concrete loops, the patented Waved Anchor, hybrid beams).
3. Rope and equipment services: Comprehensive services including on-site rope service, work equipment testing, repair service, rope tension measurement, rope maintenance, and rental of lifting equipment. Services are provided through Mobile Services teams and service centres across Germany.
4. Cable structures and tension members: Design, supply, and assembly of cable support structures for stadiums, roofs, and architectural projects, as well as tension members for membrane roofing and structural applications.
5. PFEIFER Academy training: Technical training services offered through the PFEIFER Academy, providing know-how across all markets and products in the rope and construction industry.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PFEIFER manufactures and sells steel wire ropes (industrial, crane, elevator, mining and maritime), precast concrete connecting and lifting systems, load lifting attachments, cargo lashing and fall protection equipment, cable support structures for stadiums and architectural projects, and rockfall protection systems. The company supplements its manufactured products with comprehensive rope services (inspection, testing, repair, on-site mobile service), technical training via PFEIFER Academy, and operates as an OEM supplier to the world's largest construction machinery and elevator manufacturers.

Product overview

PFEIFER is a full-service provider of wire ropes, lifting equipment, and construction systems. The company operates through two main divisions: Ropes & Services (covering industry ropes, elevator ropes, and rope services) and Lifting (covering precast lifting systems, building systems, lifting technology, and attachment/lashing equipment). The product portfolio includes high-performance wire ropes for elevators and cranes, transport systems for precast concrete construction, load lifting attachments, cargo lashing equipment, fall protection equipment, and comprehensive services including the PFEIFER Academy for technical training, on-site mobile services, and rope inspection/maintenance. The company also offers specialized tools like the DRAKO Rope Calculator for rope specification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industry ropes and accessories Wire ropes and rope accessories for industrial applications including construction machinery, cranes, mining equipment, and the maritime industry, supplied to industrial customers and OEM manufacturers.
• Elevator ropes and accessories High-performance elevator ropes including traction ropes for traction sheave elevators, ropes for roped hydraulic elevators, compensation ropes and chains, and governor ropes for elevator systems. Manufactured by PFEIFER DRAKO in Germany for some of the world's tallest and fastest elevator systems.
• Precast lifting systems Transport and composite systems for precast concrete construction, including anchor sockets, rope eyes, concrete loops, the patented Waved Anchor, the Column Shoe System, hybrid beams, Delta Anchor, and Alpha Traverse, supplied to precast concrete manufacturers and construction firms.
• Load lifting attachments and turnover devices Devices for lifting and turning loads and goods in industrial and construction applications, supplied to construction and industrial operators.
• Attachment devices and attachment points Lifting accessories and attachment points for securing and lifting loads, sold via the PFEIFER webshop.
• Hoists and winches Lifting devices and winches for various industrial lifting applications, sold via the PFEIFER webshop.
• Cargo lashing equipment Equipment for cargo lashing and securing loads during transport, sold via the PFEIFER webshop.
• Fall protection equipment Safety equipment for protection against falls in construction and industrial settings, sold via the PFEIFER webshop.
• PFEIFER Academy Technical training and education services for customers and employees on rope and lifting technology, providing expert know-how across all markets and products in the rope and construction industry.
• On Site Services Mobile services providing on-site testing, maintenance, repair, and inspection of ropes and lifting equipment at customer locations through service technicians and testing vehicles across Germany.
• Rope services Comprehensive rope services including inspection, testing, repair, maintenance, rope tension measurement, work equipment testing, and rental of lifting equipment delivered via service centres across Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• PFEIFER has supplied elevator ropes for buildings exceeding 500 metres in height, including the Burj Khalifa, Petronas Tower, and World Trade Center.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gleistein Ropery (Bremen, Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with Gleistein ropery from Bremen, a special manufacturer of all types of fibre ropes with high innovative potential. Joint developments focused on fibre rope solutions for industrial applications. Established in 2017.
• FabriTec Structures LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2016 with FabriTec Structures LLC to strengthen the Cable Structures business unit in North and Latin America. Combined with Guard-All Building Solutions LLC partnership, making PFEIFER the only fully integrated complete solution provider worldwide.
• Guard-All Building Solutions LLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership established in 2016 with Guard-All Building Solutions LLC to strengthen the Cable Structures business unit in North and Latin America. Combined with FabriTec Structures LLC partnership, making PFEIFER the only fully integrated complete solution provider worldwide with production capacities for cables, stainless steel components, steel construction, movable systems, and membrane assembly.
• ISOFER AG (Switzerland)coreOthersAcquired in 2008, ISOFER AG was a Swiss company that became the foundation of the new rockfall protection business unit (PFEIFER ISOFER). Developed the patented ISODISK brake element for rockfall barriers.
• Covertex Membranes (China)minorOthersAcquired in 2015, Covertex Membranes was a membrane manufacturing company in China that expanded PFEIFER's capabilities in membrane production for cable structures.
• ErneuEner plus GmbH / PFEIFER Systems GmbH (Austria)minorOthersAcquired in 2016 and renamed PFEIFER Systems GmbH. A specialist in drive technology for mobile and convertible structures, control technology for cable cars and small hydroelectric power plants.
• Jordahl (Berlin, Germany)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJ&P cooperation with Jordahl of Berlin established in 1993 to strengthen sales in Germany. Basis of international sales cooperation under the J&P logo. Joint venture companies established in Great Britain (1993), Poland (1997), Czech Republic (1997), Denmark (2002), Romania (2007), and Singapore (2003). J&P cooperation dissolved in 2017.
• Goldhofer and Dachser (Germany)minorOthersPartnership with neighbouring companies Goldhofer and Dachser to implement the 'Memminger Heizwerk' local heating concept, providing innovative and environmentally friendly energy supply. Established around 2010.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SpanSet: German-rooted global specialist in cargo lashing, lifting, and height safety equipment. SpanSet directly competes with PFEIFER's lashing and fall protection product lines and shares a similar enterprise-direct distribution model.
• WireCo WorldGroup: WireCo WorldGroup is one of the world's largest producers of wire rope, synthetic rope, and engineered products serving the oil & gas, mining, crane, and industrial markets. It is a direct competitor to PFEIFER in crane and mining ropes.
• Fatzer AG: Swiss specialist in high-performance cable structures, particularly for stadium roofs and architectural cable-supported structures. Fatzer is a direct competitor to PFEIFER's cable structures division in landmark architectural projects.
• Carl Stahl: German lifting technology specialist offering chain hoists, rope hoists, load securing, and personal protective equipment. Carl Stahl is a direct competitor to PFEIFER's lifting accessories and cargo lashing portfolio.
• Verope: Specialist in high-performance wire ropes for crane applications, particularly heavy-duty and mobile harbour cranes. Verope competes with PFEIFER's industry rope division in the same crane OEM supply chain.
• Vollmann Industries: German manufacturer of synthetic fibre ropes, cordage, and net systems for industrial, climbing, and marine applications. Vollmann is a regional peer that overlaps with PFEIFER's synthetic and fibre rope product range.
• Bekaert (Bridon-Bekaert): Bekaert is the world's largest independent steel wire rope and advanced cordage manufacturer after acquiring Bridon in 2015. It directly competes with PFEIFER across elevator, crane, mining, and industrial wire rope segments, and operates a comparable global manufacturing footprint.
• Gustav Wolf: German specialist in steel wire ropes for elevator, mining, and crane applications. Gustav Wolf directly competes with PFEIFER DRAKO in elevator ropes and serves the same European OEMs.
• Teufelberger: Austrian-headquartered manufacturer of fibre and steel wire ropes with a global presence. Teufelberger directly overlaps PFEIFER's industrial, crane, and fibre-rope offerings and is a strategic partner of PFEIFER since 2017 for industrial fibre rope solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus McKinnon: US-listed broad incumbent in lifting and rigging technology (hoists, cranes, chain, attachment products). Columbus McKinnon offers overlapping capabilities to PFEIFER's lifting and attachment products but at much larger scale across a broader portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pfeifer-group

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries15 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 PFEIFER