Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik

What Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik does

Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned German manufacturer of high-precision grinding tools, founded in 1895 in Bad Karlshafen and currently led by Managing Director Florian Riedel. The company produces ceramic-bonded grinding wheels, superhard CBN and diamond abrasive tools (now offered in ceramic, resin, metal, hybrid, and electroplated bonds), silicon carbide wheels, PU-bonded fine grinding and polishing systems (achieving surface roughness ≤ Ra 0.1 micrometers at up to 1500 mesh), double disc grinding wheels up to 1500 mm in diameter, and complementary dressing equipment including the KREBSDRESS mobile dressing spindle and diamond form/profile rolls. Its proprietary vitrified bond technology enables free-cutting, porous structures with claimed productivity gains and zero grinding burn.

The business sells exclusively to B2B industrial customers on a quote, EXW Incoterms basis with 30-day net payment terms; pricing is custom and not publicly disclosed. Distribution runs through a network of qualified German sales representatives, wholly-owned subsidiaries in Shanghai (covering East/Southeast Asia) and Bangalore (India), and a global network of 30+ distributors spanning Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. End markets are diversified across automotive (the primary vertical covering engine, turbo, injection, and valve train grinding), aerospace, wind power (large gear grinding), medical technology (implants and surgical rasps), and general mechanical engineering.

Revenue is approximately EUR 32 million against a headcount of 250+ employees, with the company celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025. Recent strategic activity includes the formation of the PROTEUS ABRASIVES joint venture for ceramic grinding wheel production, four distinct 2025 product launches spanning PU-bonded fine grinding, expanded CBN/diamond bond variants, SiC wheels, and the KREBSDRESS mobile dressing spindle, plus active recruitment of new B2B sales representation in Austria, Netherlands, and Belgium. Certifications include DIN ISO 9001, EMAS (since 2022, valid to 2028), oSa, REACH, RoHS, and PFAS compliance, underscoring regulatory and quality positioning in safety-critical industrial markets.

Name

Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik

Legal name

Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://krebs-riedel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik is a 130-year-old German family-owned manufacturer of high-precision ceramic-bonded grinding wheels, CBN/diamond superabrasive tools, and PU-bonded fine grinding systems, serving automotive, aerospace, wind power, medical, and mechanical engineering customers across 30+ countries via direct sales and subsidiaries in China and India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Abrasives

NAICS

Abrasive Product Manufacturing (32791), Abrasive Product Manufacturing (327910), Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Grinding, Honing & Superfinishing Equipment (IMAHADAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Precision grinding wheels
• Bonded abrasive tools
• CBN diamond grinding
• Dressing spindle systems
• Industrial abrasive manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Bad Karlshafen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Grinding Tool Manufacturing and Sales: Manufacture and sale of high-precision grinding tools including conventional grinding wheels, CBN and diamond tools, cut-off wheels, and specialized grinding solutions. Products are sold directly through sales representatives and distributors to industrial customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik manufactures and sells precision bonded abrasive grinding tools, including conventional grinding wheels, CBN and diamond grinding tools, cut-off and rough grinding wheels, fine grinding and polishing tools, and silicon carbide grinding wheels. The company also offers dressing tool systems, most notably the proprietary KREBSDRESS mobile dressing spindle, and produces application-specific grinding solutions for the medical technology, automotive, and wind power industries through specialized product lines and brands such as PROTEUS Abrasives and Blue Moon TZ.

Product overview

Krebs & Riedel is a German precision grinding tool manufacturer founded in 1895, producing high-precision ceramic and superhard abrasive tools "Made in Germany." The product portfolio centers on three main categories: conventional grinding wheels in ceramic and resin bonds; CBN and diamond tools now expanded with ceramic, resin, metal, hybrid, and electroplated bonds; and specialty products including fine grinding/polishing tools with PU bonding systems, silicon carbide wheels, and mobile dressing equipment. The company operates a joint venture (PROTEUS Abrasives) for ceramic grinding wheel production and serves industrial applications in automotive, aerospace, medical technology, wind power, and general machinery. Product delivery includes standard catalog items, custom-specified wheels, and application-specific solutions with technical consulting and worldwide support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PROTEUS ABRASIVES: Joint venture focused on production of ceramic grinding wheels including grinding segments, mounted points, centerless grinding wheels, and wheels for linear guides, ball and roller bearings.
• Blue Moon TZ
• KREBSDRESS

Products and services

• Conventional Grinding Wheels Conventional bonded grinding wheels using aluminum oxide and silicon carbide abrasives in vitrified and resin bonds, designed for general-purpose grinding of metallic and non-metallic workpieces in industrial production.
• CBN and Diamond Grinding Tools Superabrasive grinding tools using cubic boron nitride (CBN) and diamond abrasives for high-performance grinding of hardened steels, carbides, and other hard-to-machine materials.
• Cut-off and Rough Grinding Wheels Trenn- und Schruppscheiben — cut-off and rough grinding wheels for separating workpieces and high-stock-removal grinding operations in metalworking.
• Fine Grinding and Polishing Tools PU-bonded fine grinding and polishing tools for achieving high surface quality and precision finishes in serial production.
• Silicon Carbide (SiC) Grinding Wheels Silicon carbide grinding wheels designed for grinding carbide, ceramic, glass, and other non-ferrous hard materials.
• Double Disc Grinding Wheels Double disc grinding wheels (Doppelseitenschleifscheiben) for simultaneous grinding of both faces of flat components in high-volume production.
• KREBSDRESS Mobile Dressing Spindle KREBSDRESS — a proprietary mobile dressing spindle system used on machine tools to dress and true grinding wheels in-process, enabling higher accuracy and reduced downtime.
• Blue Moon TZ Grinding Wheels Branded grinding wheel product line (Blue Moon TZ) for specific precision grinding applications.
• PROTEUS Abrasives PROTEUS Abrasives — a jointly developed abrasive product line created in cooperation with another grinding wheel manufacturer, extending the company's product portfolio.
• Grinding Wheels for Medical Technology Application-engineered grinding wheels specifically designed and qualified for medical technology components and implants requiring certified precision and surface integrity.
• Grinding Wheels for Automotive Applications Application-engineered grinding wheels for automotive component production, including gears, bearings, crankshafts, and other transmission/powertrain parts.
• Grinding Wheels for Wind Power Industry Application-engineered grinding wheels for wind turbine component manufacturing, including large bearings and gear grinding.

Quantifiable outcome

• Surface roughness values of Ra 0.1 micrometers achievable with PU-bonded fine grinding systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• PROTEUS ABRASIVEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partnership for the production of ceramic grinding wheels. Product range includes grinding segments, mounted points, centerless grinding wheels, and grinding wheels for linear guides, ball and roller bearings, and tools. Also covers cylindrical and surface grinding, external and internal cylindrical grinding, and gear grinding applications.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Saint-Gobain (Norton Abrasives): Saint-Gobain's Norton Abrasives is one of the world's largest manufacturers of bonded and superabrasive grinding wheels, directly competing with Krebs & Riedel in ceramic, resin, and CBN/diamond grinding products for automotive, aerospace, and industrial customers.
• Tyrolit: Austrian-headquartered manufacturer of grinding, dressing, and cut-off wheels with a strong European industrial customer base, overlapping with Krebs & Riedel in gear grinding, tool grinding, and precision metalworking abrasives.
• Klingspor: German family-owned manufacturer of grinding wheels, cut-off wheels, and abrasive tools, similar in heritage and specialty focus to Krebs & Riedel, serving overlapping automotive, metalworking, and general industrial customers.
• Hermes Schleifmittel: German-based manufacturer of coated and bonded abrasives with a long heritage, directly comparable in product portfolio (grinding wheels, finishing tools) and customer segments to Krebs & Riedel.
• Noritake Coated Abrasive & Super Abrasive: Japanese manufacturer of grinding wheels, superabrasives (CBN/diamond), and fine finishing tools, with comparable specialty focus in gear grinding, bearing, and precision metalworking applications served by Krebs & Riedel.
• Carborundum Universal (CUMI): Indian manufacturer of bonded, coated, and superabrasive products, with a strong presence in automotive and engineering applications; directly comparable to Krebs & Riedel's Indian subsidiary and global abrasive portfolio.
• Asahi Diamond Industrial: Japanese specialist in diamond and CBN superabrasive tools, directly overlapping with Krebs & Riedel's superabrasive and precision grinding product lines, particularly in electronics, automotive, and precision component grinding.
• VSM Abrasives: German manufacturer of coated abrasives and grinding products with overlapping industrial customer base, comparable heritage, and similar specialty focus to Krebs & Riedel in metalworking applications.

Broad incumbents

• 3M Abrasive Systems: 3M's Abrasive Systems division produces a comprehensive range of bonded and coated abrasives, with significantly greater scale and global reach than Krebs & Riedel; competes broadly in the same end markets and channels.

Emerging players

• Mirka (KWH Group): Finnish-based abrasive manufacturer known for coated abrasives and surface finishing, with a growing presence in precision industrial markets adjacent to Krebs & Riedel's fine grinding and polishing segment.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/krebs-riedel

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 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 Krebs & Riedel Schleifscheibenfabrik