NRU

What NRU does

NRU GmbH is a German precision-casting foundry headquartered in Neukirchen, Saxony (Chemnitz region), established in 1992 and operating with approximately 30 employees from a single ISO 9001-certified facility at Südstraße 3. The company produces prototypes and small-series components using investment casting (steel, aluminum, cast iron, and special alloys up to 35 kg and 500×500×500 mm), additive 3D printing (over 20 material variants), and PUR vacuum casting (over 30 material variants up to 3 kg and 900×600×400 mm), with lead times of 2–15 working days from quantity one. Since 2020 it has been wholly owned by EMK Industriebeteiligungen GmbH, a holding/investment company.

The integrated value chain runs from CAD design and reverse engineering through casting, CNC machining, heat treatment, and surface finishing, all backed by in-house quality assurance (visual inspection per DIN EN 13018, dimensional inspection, 5 bar leak testing, dye penetrant testing, X-ray, chemical analysis, and Brinell hardness testing). This single-source responsibility model is positioned as the company's core differentiator versus fragmented job-shop competitors. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time manufacturing fees for prototypes and small series, supplemented by professional services to coordinate price-sensitive series production via an extended workbench in European and non-European countries; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Go-to-market is sales-led direct B2B, relying on a German/English website, LinkedIn and Xing presence, and personal consultation guiding customers from initial inquiry through prototype to optional serial production. Customer segments are automotive and plant/mechanical engineering (primary), with electrical engineering (electromobility), medical and rehabilitation technology, art casting, and research institutions as secondary verticals. Geographic focus is the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with international sales conducted via web inquiry. Since 2022 the firm has operated a series-components trading business within the EMK group, extending its commercial surface beyond prototyping into recurring serial distribution.

Name

NRU

Legal name

NRU GmbH

Website

https://nru-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NRU GmbH is a German precision-casting foundry in Saxony providing investment casting, 3D printing, and PUR vacuum casting for prototypes and small series. It serves B2B customers across automotive, plant engineering, electrical, medical, art, and research sectors from single-piece quantities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Casting & Prototyping Services

NAICS

Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) (331524), Steel Foundries (except Investment) (331513), Other Nonferrous Metal Foundries (except Die-Casting) (331529)

SIC

Nonferrous Foundries (Castings) (3360)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Precision casting services
• Investment casting foundry
• Rapid prototyping
• Additive manufacturing
• Small series production

Headquarters

HQ city

Neukirchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Prototype Manufacturing Services: One-time manufacturing fees for prototypes and small series using investment casting, 3D printing, and vacuum casting. Customers pay per part or project based on material, complexity, and additional services like CNC machining, heat treatment, or surface treatment.
2. Series Production Coordination: Coordination and project management for price-sensitive components produced via extended workbench in European and non-European countries, providing seamless transition from prototype to serial production

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

NRU GmbH operates a precision casting foundry in Neukirchen, Saxony, Germany, providing custom manufacturing of prototypes and small series for industrial customers. Core offerings include investment casting in steel, aluminum, cast iron, and specialty alloys (up to 35 kg and 500x500x500 mm), 3D printing/additive manufacturing (over 20 material variants, 2-day delivery), and PUR vacuum casting (over 30 material variants, 5-day delivery). The company supports customers from initial inquiry and CAD design through casting, CNC machining, heat treatment, surface treatment, and quality inspection under one roof, with seamless transition from prototype to serial production.

Product overview

NRU GmbH is a precision casting and prototyping service provider offering an integrated portfolio of manufacturing services, from prototype development to small series production. The core offering comprises metal investment castings (steel, aluminum, cast iron, and specialty alloys) and plastic prototyping technologies (3D printing and PUR vacuum casting), all supported by complementary value-add services including CAD design, CNC machining, heat treatment, surface treatment, reverse engineering, and comprehensive quality assurance. The company operates from its production facility in Neukirchen, Saxony, and provides services starting from single-piece production with lead times as fast as 2-15 working days depending on material and process.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Steel Investment Castings (Stahl Feinguss)
• Aluminum Investment Castings (Aluminium Feinguss)
• Cast Iron Manufacturing (Gusseisen)
• Specialty Alloys (Sonderlegierungen)
• 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing (3D-Druck)
• PUR Vacuum Casting (PUR-Vakuumguss)
• CAD Design Service (CAD-Konstruktion)
• Heat Treatment (Wärmebehandlung)

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivery times from 2 working days for 3D printed parts, 5 working days for vacuum casting
• +2 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• ARRK: Global product development and prototyping company offering 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding, and low-volume production services. Direct competitor in product development and prototyping services for industrial and automotive customers.
• Protolabs: Global leader in on-demand digital manufacturing services offering 3D printing, CNC machining, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication for prototypes and low-volume production. Direct competitor in instant-quote prototype and small-series manufacturing services with similar customer base of industrial product developers.
• Materialise: Industrial 3D printing service bureau and software provider offering additive manufacturing for prototypes, production parts, and medical applications. Direct competitor in 3D printing services for industrial customers with similar focus on bridging prototyping and production.
• Xometry: On-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting customers with manufacturing partners for CNC machining, 3D printing, sheet metal, and casting services. Direct competitor in digital manufacturing and instant-quoting services for prototypes and small series.
• Hubs: On-demand manufacturing platform (now part of Protolabs Network) offering CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, and sheet metal services globally. Direct competitor in digital manufacturing services and instant quoting for prototypes and small batches.
• voxelker: German precision casting company specializing in 3D-printed investment casting patterns for prototypes and small series. Direct regional competitor in precision casting for industrial customers in the DACH market with similar hybrid additive/conventional approach.
• Stratasys Direct Manufacturing: 3D printing service bureau part of Stratasys, offering additive manufacturing for prototypes and production parts across plastics and metals. Direct competitor in 3D printing services for prototype and small-series production in industrial markets.

Broad incumbents

• voestalpine: Large Austrian steel and metal processing group with significant casting capabilities serving automotive, railway, and industrial markets. Broad overlap with NRU's casting work but at much greater scale and across multiple metal categories.
• Teksid: Large iron and aluminum casting company, part of Stellantis, supplying components for automotive and industrial applications. Operates in the same casting space at much larger scale with mass-production focus rather than prototype and small-series work.
• GF Casting Solutions: Division of Georg Fischer providing precision iron, steel, and aluminum castings for automotive, industrial, and aerospace applications. Broad overlap with NRU's precision casting work at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nru-gmbh
• Facebookfacebook.com/NRU-GmbH-990900211018647

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 NRU