What Novapax does

NOVAPAX Kunststofftechnik Steiner GmbH & Co. KG is a Berlin-based, family-owned plastics manufacturer founded in 1949 by Johann Steiner (with his brother Walter) as NOVAPAX Apparatebau GmbH. Operating as a German GmbH & Co. KG limited partnership across 101-250 employees, it integrates three historically intertwined capabilities under one roof: mold construction, injection-molding production, and a proprietary surface/polishing technology. Its mold-making discipline supports higher-than-average cavity counts (e.g., 16-cavity vs. standard 8-cavity) while maintaining tight tolerances, enabling serial volumes exceeding 20 million parts per year on flagship safety programs. The proprietary NOVAPAX Poliersystem, a diamond-paste-based polishing system patented and refined over decades, allows optical-quality finishes on metal and steel molds and is itself a product line exported to more than 30 countries, distinct from the contract manufacturing business.

The company is a Tier-2/3 automotive supplier whose primary customer relationship is with Autoliv — producing seat-belt retractors, tensioners, height adjusters, buckles, release buttons and airbag housings at high volumes — and HELLA (around 100 different articles including hybrid parts with overmolded contacts, sockets, magnets, laser labeling, and ultrasound welding). Secondary customer relationships span Brose (window regulators and door lock systems since 2012), Knipex (3K plier-grip components since 2005), Volkswagen (since 1955, latterly through the BRUSS Kunststofftechnik JV), and Schwarzkopf/Guhl (sealing caps via Weener Plastics). Beyond automotive, the company serves electronics and electrical, construction (fire-prevention systems with 20-year warranties), medical technology (lotion dispensers), and industrial/consumer goods (water fittings, e-bike motors, ventilator parts).

Revenue mechanics combine per-part hardware sales (injection-molded components, OEM assemblies), mold-construction services for both in-house and external customers, and sale of the proprietary polishing-systems product line. Distribution is direct enterprise field sales targeting Tier-1 automotive OEMs and global manufacturing facilities, supplemented by sales representatives for the polishing product line internationally. Production runs out of Berlin (headquarters since 1985), the wholly-owned Leer-Heisfelde subsidiary (since 1961), the Brașov, Romania joint venture (since 2008, producing safety parts), with prior joint-venture operations in Shenzhen (Greenpoint, c.2000) and Faridabad (NOVAPAX Venus Polymers, 2008-2019) exited over time. Certifications (IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, SpaEfV, CO2-free hydropower 2024) and German apprenticeship pipelines anchor the operating model. Current management is led by managing director Heinrich XVI. Prinz Reuß alongside the Steiner family ownership following the unexpected 2023 death of Wolfgang Steiner, who had led the business for over 50 years.

Name

Novapax

Legal name

NOVAPAX Kunststofftechnik Steiner GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://novapax.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

NOVAPAX is a Berlin-based, family-owned plastics manufacturer founded in 1949 that integrates mold construction, injection-molding production and proprietary diamond-paste polishing technology to supply serial safety, lighting and electronics parts to Tier-1 automotive customers including Autoliv, HELLA, Brose and Volkswagen.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Injection Molding Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Industrial Mold Manufacturing (333511)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089)

akta.pro primary industry

Custom Injection Molding & Contract Manufacturing (Job Shops/CMs) (IMANAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medical & Life Sciences Injection Molding (Devices, Diagnostics, Cleanroom) (IMANAFAC), Industrial & Machinery Injection Molded Components (Gears, Wear Parts) (IMANAFAF), Consumer Products Injection Molding (Housewares, Toys, Personal Care) (IMANAFAE)

Keywords

• Injection molding services
• Plastic parts manufacturing
• Mold construction
• Surface polishing technology
• Automotive plastic components

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Injection Molding Production: Manufacturing and supply of technical plastic parts from thermoplastics through injection molding processes. Parts are produced for automotive, electrical/electronics, construction, medical, and other industries. Volume production with high cavity molds enabling economies of scale.
2. Mold Construction Services: Design and construction of injection molds for in-house production and customer orders. Highly complex and accurate injection molds built using CNC-controlled machines and manual craftsmanship.
3. Polishing Technology Products: Sale of polishing systems, diamond pastes, and polishing tools under the Novapax brand. Products exported to over 30 countries through distribution partners and direct sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Novapax is a family-owned plastic injection molding company that develops, designs and produces technical plastic parts and assemblies, offering an integrated service concept combining mold construction, injection molding production, and surface/polishing technology. The company manufactures precision thermoplastic components primarily for the automotive, electronics, medical, construction, and industrial sectors. It also sells its proprietary diamond-paste polishing systems and pastes under the NOVAPAX brand to tool and mold construction companies in over 30 countries.

Product overview

Novapax Kunststofftechnik Steiner GmbH & Co. KG is a medium-sized family-owned plastic injection molding company founded in 1949 and based in Berlin, Germany. The company operates as an integrated service provider offering development, mold construction, injection molding production, surface technology/polishing, project management, and quality management under one roof. Their core product portfolio centers on Mold Construction (Formenbau), Mold Injection Production (Spritzguss), and Surface Technology/Polishing Technique (Oberflächentechnik). The company produces technical plastic parts from thermoplastics primarily for the automotive industry (safety belt components, airbag housings, door lock systems, valve covers) but also serves electronics, medical technology, construction, and household appliance sectors. Novapax also exports their proprietary polishing systems and diamond paste products to over 30 countries. The company operates production sites in Berlin (headquarters), Leer-Heisfelde (Germany), Romania (Brasov), and had a joint venture in China (Shenzhen) and India (Faridabad, ended 2019).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EnterTechnik: A vocational exploration program allowing people to discover what they enjoy before deciding on a career path.
• NOVAPAX Poliersystem

Products and services

• Mold Construction (Formenbau)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60% energy savings achieved with central material supply system compared to mobile drying units
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• GreenpointminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2000Joint venture with Taiwanese company Greenpoint in Shenzhen, China to produce circulation air switches for HELLA's Shanghai production facility.
• BRUSS DichtungstechnikcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1997Joint venture 'BRUSS Kunststofftechnik' created in Brieselang, Brandenburg with BRUSS holding 2/3 and NOVAPAX holding 1/3. Partnership lasted 14 years producing crankshaft gaskets and valve hoods for Volkswagen.
• EnterTechnikminorOthersNOVAPAX partners with EnterTechnik to provide career exploration opportunities for young people, allowing them to discover what they enjoy before deciding on a career path. This initiative supports youth career orientation.
• Oktavian TutureacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRomanian business partner for NOVAPAX Romania founded in 2008 in Brașov, Romania. Production of similar parts as in Berlin for automotive safety systems.
• AutolivcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAutoliv, market leader for restraint systems and airbags, initiated NOVAPAX's expansion into Romania. NOVAPAX produces safety system components for Autoliv's global operations, including over 20 million parts per year for seat belt systems.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Röchling: German-headquartered plastics processor with automotive, industrial, and medical divisions. Highly comparable to Novapax as a vertically integrated custom injection molder serving Tier-1 automotive customers across Europe.
• Gerresheimer: European plastics manufacturer specializing in pharmaceutical, medical, and cosmetics packaging including dispensing systems. Comparable to Novapax's medical/cosmetics dispenser lines and regulated-industry injection molding.
• Greiner AG: Austrian family-owned plastics and foam manufacturer serving automotive interior, packaging, and industrial customers. Comparable Mittelstand-style contract manufacturer profile with similar customer verticals.
• ElringKlinger: German automotive supplier with strong plastics and metal-plastic hybrid component portfolio, including gaskets, shielding, and structural parts. Comparable to Novapax's automotive gasket/valve hood and hybrid overmolded parts offerings.
• Kirchhoff Automotive: German family-owned Tier-1/2 supplier producing metal-plastic hybrid structural components for automotive safety and body. Comparable Mittelstand contract manufacturer with focus on safety-relevant parts for European OEMs.
• Weener Plastics: Dutch-headquartered plastics manufacturer of functional packaging, dispensing, and closures for personal care and FMCG. Explicitly named as Novapax's former partner for Schwarzkopf/Guhl sealing caps (1985), making it a directly comparable peer in cosmetics closures.

Broad incumbents

• Magna International: Global automotive Tier-1 with extensive plastics, seating, and exteriors operations. Competes with Novapax for automotive safety and interior programs at much larger scale and with broader geographic footprint.
• AptarGroup: Global dispensing solutions provider for beauty, personal care, food/beverage, and healthcare. Comparable to Novapax's lotion dispenser systems for medical institutions and cosmetics closures (Schwarzkopf/Guhl).
• Marelli: Global automotive supplier of lighting, electronics, and interior components. Comparable to Novapax's HELLA lighting-related work (signal lamps, headlight cleaning components, hybrid electronics parts).

Others

• Menzerna polishing compounds: German manufacturer of polishing compounds and surface finishing consumables for metal and mold surfaces. Directly comparable to Novapax's proprietary diamond-paste polishing systems business competing in the same niche tooling/mold finishing category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/novapaxberlin
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/novapax
• Instagraminstagram.com/novapax_kunststofftechnik

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Novapax