STiMA GmbH & Co. KG

What STiMA GmbH & Co. KG does

STiMA GmbH & Co. KG is a German special-purpose machine builder (Sondermaschinenbauer) founded in 1996 by Karl Stieler and headquartered in Breitenbach am Herzberg, Hesse. The company designs and builds custom automation systems, robotic cells, control systems, jigs and fixtures, and contract-manufactured parts for mid-market and enterprise manufacturers across industries including metals, plastics, medical technology, sanitary/roofing products, die casting, and lifting technology. It positions itself as a single-source 'Alles aus einer Hand' engineering and manufacturing partner covering concept, mechanical and electrical design, assembly, and commissioning.

Technically, STiMA combines mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and robotic engineering on a project-by-project basis, integrating multi-brand robot platforms (ABB, FANUC, Universal Robots, Kassow Robots) and using Siemens MCD/NX-based digital twin simulation to validate cycle times and reduce virtual commissioning effort by up to 30%. The portfolio spans Sondermaschinenbau, Robotertechnik, Steuerungsbau, Systembau (item MB aluminium profile systems), Vorrichtungsbau, Maschinen Retrofit, and CNC Lohnfertigung, with named solutions for die-casting robot cells, pressure test stands, bitumen-membrane sintering plants (built under patent), assembly systems, machine loading, and cobot welding.

Commercially, STiMA operates a project-based, consultative sales motion — primarily direct enterprise field sales supplemented by an inside-sales channel via website project-inquiry forms and event-driven lead generation (notably the Cobot-Forum). Revenue is one-time project pricing with multi-year implementation cycles, complemented by hourly-billed service and maintenance (e.g., 93.85 EUR/hr field service, 136.90 EUR/hr design and programming). Customer concentration is diversified across roughly 8-10 named enterprise logos (Freudenberg, Hailo, LINAK, ABUS, MöllerMedical, formaplan, CEKA, Groß Druckguss) plus mid-market accounts (e.g., METEC). The firm is privately held and family-run, with no external institutional investors or M&A activity identified.

Name

STiMA GmbH & Co. KG

Legal name

STiMA GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://stima-m.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

STiMA GmbH & Co. KG is a German special machine builder and multi-brand robot integrator that designs, engineers, and commissions custom automation systems, robotic cells, and fixtures for mid-market and enterprise manufacturers across medical, industrial, and consumer-product industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Factory Automation Cells & Integrated Systems (Assembly, Welding, Painting Lines) (IMAHAHAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Robotics & Cobots (IMAIAMAB), Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK), Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Special machine construction
• Industrial automation systems
• Robot integration services
• Control system engineering
• Machine retrofit modernization

Headquarters

HQ city

Breitenbach Am Herzberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Special Machine Construction (Sondermaschinenbau): STiMA designs and builds custom special machines and automation systems tailored to individual customer requirements. This is the primary revenue stream, covering the entire process chain from concept and design to construction, assembly, and commissioning. Revenue is generated on a project-by-project basis, with pricing based on complexity, scope, and engineering hours.
2. Mechanical Contract Manufacturing (Lohnfertigung): STiMA offers contract manufacturing of turned and milled parts using its own CNC turning and milling machines. The company manufactures parts for external customers using surplus machine capacity, covering batch sizes from 1 to small and medium series.
3. Machine Retrofit & Modernization: STiMA provides retrofit services for existing production equipment, including replacement of mechanical, electrical, and control components. This extends the service life of customer machines at lower cost than new equipment purchases.
4. Technical Support & Maintenance Services: STiMA provides ongoing technical support, maintenance, and service for installed systems, charging hourly rates (e.g., 93.85 EUR/hr for field service technicians, 136.90 EUR/hr for design and programming). Support includes remote assistance via TeamViewer and on-site service visits.
5. Jig and Fixture Construction (Vorrichtungsbau): STiMA designs and manufactures custom jigs, fixtures, and handling devices for manufacturing process optimization. These are typically bespoke tooling solutions to improve precision, ergonomics, and efficiency in production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

STiMA GmbH & Co. KG is a Sondermaschinenbauer (special machine builder) that designs, engineers, and builds custom automation systems and production machines for industrial manufacturers. The company integrates collaborative robots (cobots) and industrial robots (ABB, FANUC, Universal Robots, Kassow Robots) into customer-specific cells and assembly lines, and builds decentralized control systems, jigs/fixtures, aluminium profile frameworks, and CNC-machined parts. It also offers retrofit modernization, contract CNC manufacturing, and ongoing service.

Product overview

STiMA GmbH & Co. KG is a special-purpose machine builder and automation solutions provider offering a portfolio of custom-engineered machines, robotic cells, and production systems for factory automation. The core offering centers on Sondermaschinenbau (custom special machine construction) supplemented by Robotertechnik (robot integration), Vorrichtungsbau (fixture construction), Systembau (aluminium profile system construction), Steuerungsbau (control system engineering), and mechanische Lohnfertigung (contract machining). Key solutions include die-casting robot cells, pressure test stands, sintering plants, assembly systems, machine loading automation, and robot welding cells. The company also provides Maschinen Retrofit (machine modernization) and employs a Digitaler Zwilling (digital twin) approach using Siemens MCD/NX for virtual commissioning. The portfolio is delivered as a unified engineering and manufacturing service ("Alles aus einer Hand") rather than packaged software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sondermaschinenbau (Special Machine Construction) Custom-designed special-purpose machines and production systems engineered for factory automation, combining mechanical, electrical, pneumatic, and software engineering to solve individual manufacturing challenges for industrial customers.
• Robotertechnik (Robot Integration) Integration of collaborative robots (cobots) and industrial robots from ABB, FANUC, Universal Robots, and Kassow Robots into production processes, including robot programming, optical/vision systems, gripper technology, and handling solutions for manufacturing customers.
• Steuerungsbau (Control System Construction) Design and build of individualized decentralized control systems using modern PLC technologies including Profibus, AS-Interface, Profinet, and Modbus, with parallel mechanical and electrical development using modern E-CAD systems and virtual commissioning via digital twin.
• Vorrichtungsbau (Fixture/Jig Construction) Custom jig, fixture, and tool design and manufacturing for production process optimization, including turning, assembly, lifting, handling, and welding fixtures tailored to individual manufacturing requirements.
• Systembau (Aluminium Profile System Construction) Custom system solutions built using the item MB modular aluminium profile building kit system, ranging from simple machine frames and safety enclosures to fully automated production lines, delivered as a certified item pluspartner.
• Maschinen Retrofit (Machine Retrofitting and Modernization) Modernization of existing production equipment through replacement or supplementation of outdated mechanical, electrical, or control components, extending machine service life, improving energy efficiency, and avoiding the higher cost of full equipment replacement.
• Mechanische Lohnfertigung (Mechanical Contract Manufacturing) CNC machining services for turned and milled parts in lot sizes from 1 to medium series, using in-house 3-axis machining centers and CNC lathes, plus welding, processing, and assembly services offered to external customers using surplus machine capacity.
• Druckguss Roboterzelle (Die-Casting Robot Cell) Custom robot cells for automated loading and unloading of die-casting machines, featuring cobot-based handling with integrated optical quality inspection (Cognex vision), cooling, and part discharge for die-casting operations.
• Druckprüfstand (Pressure Test Stand) Leakage and pressure testing systems for quality control in medical technology, plastics, and automotive industries, available in semi-automated or fully automated configurations with integrated marking of defective parts.
• Sinteranlage (Sintering Plant for Bitumen Membranes) Sintering systems for applying fire-retardant graphite coating to bitumen roofing membranes, using heated friction rollers with PLC-based control, designed for the building materials industry.
• Montagesysteme (Assembly Systems) Assembly systems ranging from ergonomic manual workstations to fully automated assembly lines, incorporating joining processes (bonding, soldering, screwing, clipping), pick-and-place handling, testing, and adjustment for industrial assembly operations.
• Maschinenbestückung (Machine Loading/Unloading Automation) Automated loading and unloading solutions for CNC, injection molding, woodworking, and textile machines using robots, cobots, vision systems, and AGVs, enabling unmanned operation and additional production shifts.
• Roboterschweißen (Cobot Welding) Cobot-based welding cells combining robot, welding table, and welding equipment to reduce manufacturing costs, relieve workers from hazardous tasks, and increase capacity with consistent and reproducible welding quality 365 days per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% time savings in project execution through parallel mechanical and electrical planning using digital technologies
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABB (Asea Brown Boveri Ltd)coreTechnology or IntegrationABB is a key robot technology partner for STiMA. The company integrates ABB industrial robots (IRB series) and collaborative robots (GoFa, SWIFTI) into custom automation solutions. ABB robots are featured in multiple customer projects including CNC machine loading, polishing cells, and die-casting automation.
• FANUCcoreTechnology or IntegrationFANUC is a key robot technology partner. STiMA integrates FANUC CRX collaborative robot series (CRX-5iA, CRX-10iA, CRX-10iA/L, CRX-20iA/L, CRX-25iA) into automation solutions. These cobots are presented on STiMA's website as part of the robot portfolio.
• item Industrietechnik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationAs an item pluspartner, STiMA uses the item MB modular aluminium profile system for constructing machine frames and structural elements. The partnership provides access to item's component library and engineering support, enabling rapid construction of custom machine frameworks.
• Universal RobotscoreTechnology or IntegrationUniversal Robots is a key cobot brand integrated by STiMA. The company is an integrator for Universal Robots cobots, featuring them in die-casting automation, machine loading, and other applications. STiMA provides Magic File support resources for UR robots.
• Kassow RobotscoreTechnology or IntegrationKassow Robots is a robot technology partner. STiMA integrates Kassow's 7-axis cobot series (KR810, KR1018, KR1205, KR1410, KR1805) which are particularly suited for confined workspaces due to their extra axis enabling 'around-the-corner' gripping.
• SiemenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSiemens provides key software (MCD, NX) and automation technology (Siemens drive technology) that STiMA uses for digital twin simulation and drive systems in custom machines. Siemens NX is used for digital twin modeling, and Siemens Antriebstechnik is featured in cabinet assembly systems.
• IONOSminorOthersIONOS provides web hosting services for STiMA's website and online presence. This is a standard infrastructure partnership rather than a strategic commercial alliance.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Universal Robots: Global cobot OEM whose ecosystem of certified integrators — including STiMA — delivers turnkey cobot cells. Represents the productized, scalable alternative channel for the same end demand STiMA addresses.
• ABB Robotics: Global industrial and collaborative robot OEM that also delivers integrated cells and automation solutions. STiMA is itself an ABB integrator; ABB represents the upstream, productized counterpart of STiMA's custom integration work.
• KUKA Systems GmbH: Large incumbent in industrial automation and robotics, offering turnkey production systems and robot integration across automotive and general industry. A scaled alternative to STiMA's bespoke integration services, but with a much broader portfolio.

Regional players

• AWL Techniek B.V. Dutch supplier of welding automation, robotic cells, and special-purpose machines for industrial manufacturers. Comparable technically (welding, robot integration) but primarily Benelux-focused.
• Bachmann Engineering AG: Swiss engineering firm offering custom automation, special machine building, and production system integration. Comparable in custom-engineering DNA and end-market focus, with geographic concentration in Switzerland/Germany.
• Eberle Automatisation SAS: French-based custom automation and special machine builder serving European manufacturers. Comparable in offering scope but operates primarily in the French market, complementing STiMA's DACH concentration.

Direct peers

• HAHN Automation GmbH: German Sondermaschinenbauer and robot integrator headquartered in Rheinböllen, building custom automation cells and turnkey production systems. Directly comparable to STiMA in scope, customer profile, and engineering-driven go-to-market.
• b+i automation GmbH & Co. KG: Specializes in cobot-based automation, special machine building, and robotic cells for German Mittelstand manufacturers. Similar size, customer profile, and cobot-centric value proposition to STiMA.
• Romheld Automation GmbH: German provider of automation solutions, robotic cells, and special-purpose machinery, with comparable mid-market manufacturing focus and custom engineering orientation.

Others

• item Industrietechnik GmbH: STiMA's structural-component partner, supplying the item MB modular aluminium profile system used in STiMA's machine frames. Included as an ecosystem enabler rather than a competitor, illustrating the partner network STiMA depends on for modular construction.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC2zL16RV49NsBMmpAksWg3w
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stima-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/stima_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 STiMA GmbH & Co. KG