SCHAEFER

What SCHAEFER does

SCHAEFER GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer founded in Sigmaringen in 1965 that produces, develops, and distributes operating and display elements for the global elevator industry. The company supplies Car Operating Panels (COPs), Landing Operating Panels (LOPs), pushbuttons (RT 42, VB 42, B 50 series), indicators, and large-format TFT displays (MediaTFT flex, 10.1"–38") to elevator OEMs, modernization contractors, architects, building operators, and public transit authorities across approximately 120 countries. Beyond standard catalog products, SCHAEFER designs bespoke fixtures in glass, brass, natural stone, and wood for prestige projects including Leipziger Platz Berlin, Schloss Elmau, and City Casino Basel. Proprietary innovations include the B 50 TL touchless button (capacitive proximity sensing), LiftBoy BLE-based smartphone control, HOLO holographic displays, and Class 3+ vandalism protection exceeding EN 81-71 standards.

SCHAEFER's technical platform centers on CANopen/CiA 417-compliant components, enabling plug-and-play interoperability across manufacturers, and integrates structured sensor data (cabin position, weight, speed) into display systems. The portfolio spans smart/connected elevator solutions including the LiftBoy retrofit, PREDMA predictive maintenance, and dual-sense emergency call systems co-developed with Bosch Service Solutions and Elfin Technology. Manufacturing and sales operations span six locations: Sigmaringen (HQ), Erfurt (webshop logistics), Milan, Barcelona, Shanghai, and Vancouver (SCHAEFER Elevator Components Inc., established 2014 for UL/CSA-compliant North American production).

Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of elevator components, distributed via direct sales teams, regional offices, an online catalogue (schaefer-products.com), a dedicated webshop (shop4lifts.com), and channel partnerships (most recently MASTER Elevator Parts for the US market). Pricing is quote-based for custom and prestige projects and transactional for standard catalog/webshop orders. The company employs approximately 250 people globally and was acquired Wallraff Lifttechnik in April 2020 to extend its lighting technology capability. SCHAEFER's leadership is headed by Managing Director Michael Gubisch, MBA, Dipl.-Ing., and the firm won the Ellies Award Europe 2025 (Best Supplier – Fixtures) among other industry recognitions.

Name

SCHAEFER

Legal name

SCHAEFER GmbH

Website

https://wsschaefer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SCHAEFER GmbH is a privately held German manufacturer of elevator operating and display elements (COPs, LOPs, pushbuttons, TFT displays) serving elevator OEMs, service contractors, architects, and public transit authorities across ~120 countries from six global locations, with proprietary smart-building innovations like LiftBoy, HOLO, and Class 3+ vandalism protection.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sigmaringen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 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. Elevator Component Sales: SCHAEFER generates revenue primarily through the sale of elevator operating and display elements including pushbuttons, car operating panels (COPs), hall stations (LOPs), indicators, and displays. Revenue is generated from both standard catalog products and highly customized bespoke solutions for prestige projects.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SCHAEFER develops, manufactures, and distributes high-quality operating and display elements for the global elevator industry, including car operating panels, hall stations, pushbuttons, indicators, and displays. It offers both standard catalog products and highly customized bespoke fixtures, plus smart/connected solutions such as touchless buttons, smartphone control, and TFT displays.

Product overview

SCHAEFER is a global technology leader specializing in elevator operating and display elements. The product portfolio centers on Tableaus/Fixtures (Car Operating Panels and Landing Operating Panels), Pushbuttons/Styles (RT 42, VB 42, B 50 series), and advanced Smart Elevator Solutions. Key innovations include LiftBoy smartphone control system using BLE for touchless operation, HOLO holographic projection displays, and MediaTFT flex large-format displays (10.1-38 inches). The company offers specialized solutions including Class 3+ vandalism protection exceeding EN 81-71 standards, CANopen/CiA 417 compliant components, EKS electronic key switches, PREDMA predictive maintenance, firefighter/evacuation elevators, and hygiene products including UV-C disinfection. SCHAEFER serves markets through facilities in Sigmaringen, Erfurt, Milan, Barcelona, Shanghai, and Vancouver, with products supplied to 120 countries. The company emphasizes engineered customization for modernization projects alongside standard solutions through Shop4Lifts.com webshop.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LiftBoy: Smartphone-based elevator call system enabling touchless, barrier-free elevator operation via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) modules; includes accessibility features for wheelchair users and visually impaired passengers
• MediaTFT flex
• Class 3+
• HOLO
• B 50 TL
• Shop4Lifts
• SCHAEFER Academy
• PREDMA

Products and services

• Tableaus (Fixtures / COPs / Landing Operating Panels) Operating and display elements for elevator cabins (Car Operating Panels) and landings (Landing Operating Panels), including glass tableaus, brass cast call panels, and pointer displays in various styles and materials. For elevator manufacturers, architects, and building operators.
• Styles / Pushbuttons Pushbuttons for elevator operation including RT 42, VB 42, B 50, and B 45 series, available in vandal-resistant classes (0, 1, 2, 3+), water-protected versions, and touchless variants.
• LiftBoy Smartphone-based elevator control system using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) modules, enabling touchless call and floor selection via mobile app with VoiceOver/TalkBack accessibility. Retrofittable solution connecting in parallel to existing buttons without modifying elevator control.
• HOLO Holographic Display Holographic display system projecting virtual touchless buttons into the air, allowing passengers to trigger floor or elevator calls by touching the projected holographic button without physical contact.
• MediaTFT flex Large-format TFT displays ranging from 10.1 to 38 inches for elevator operation and information display, featuring optional touch interface, CANopen compatibility for sensor data access, web-based content management, and a visual emergency call system for accessibility.
• B 50 TL (Touchless) Touchless elevator button using proximity-sensing technology for hygienic, contactless operation in high-traffic areas, while still allowing traditional physical pressing. Part of the B 50 series available across all vandalism classes.
• EKS (Electronic Key Switch) Electronic key switch for elevator access control, enabling key-based or card-based floor authorization.
• Class 3+ Vandalism Protection Proprietary vandalism protection class exceeding EN 81-71 requirements. Components withstand a 5 kg impactor from 0.4 m (20 Joules), 180-second flame exposure, IP X5/X6 water protection, 10 million activation cycles, and -25C to +65C temperature range.
• Access Control Systems Access control solutions including keycard/fob integration and electronic key switches ensuring passengers only reach authorized floors, ideal for mixed-use buildings or residential complexes.
• PREDMA Predictive Maintenance Predictive maintenance solution using sensor data to assess current wear levels and make informed replacement or maintenance decisions based on actual equipment condition rather than fixed schedules.
• CANopen / CiA 417 Products Elevator components supporting the CANopen communication standard, enabling plug-and-play integration of components from different manufacturers, simplified diagnostics, and reduced wiring requirements.
• Firefighter and Evacuation Elevators Specialized elevator components for firefighter access and evacuation scenarios, meeting specific safety standards for emergency operations.
• Hygiene Products Hygiene-focused elevator components including UV-C cabin air disinfection, touchless buttons, and solutions addressing elevator hygiene concerns.
• MOD Components Component versions designed for modernization projects featuring large screw terminals for compatibility with legacy relay systems up to 120V, enabling straightforward replacement in service operations.
• Shop4Lifts.com Webshop SCHAEFER's online webshop for standard elevator components with rapid delivery times, fulfilled from a logistics center in Erfurt for commodity projects requiring short delivery times.

Quantifiable outcome

• LiftBoy deployed on 46+ elevators at Wiener Linien with goal of full network coverage by end of 2025
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• ALGI HydraulicsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 March 2020German hydraulic components manufacturer ALGI was partner and co-organizer of the first Lift Symposium in Johannesburg (March 6, 2020), which SCHAEFER organized to intensify its presence in the African market.
• MASTER Elevator PartscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNew strategic cooperation (announced 2025) with MASTER Elevator Parts, one of New York's most experienced elevator parts specialists. The partnership brings SCHAEFER's diverse product portfolio directly to the US elevator trade ecosystem, backed by MASTER's network servicing thousands of elevators across the New York metropolitan area.
• Elevator Forum (Meiler Türen, NEW-LIFT, CEDES, ALGI, ZIEHL-ABEGG)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerSCHAEFER is a co-organizer of the Elevator Forum, a traveling roadshow visiting 8+ locations across 5 countries annually. The consortium of leading elevator component manufacturers (Meiler Aufzugtüren, Ziehl-Abegg, Danfoss, ALGI Hydraulics, NEW LIFT Steuerungsbau, CEDES Group, and SCHAEFER) collaborates on educational events focused on modernization, sustainability, and innovation topics.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CEDES Group: CEDES is an Elevator Forum co-organizer alongside SCHAEFER and a specialist in elevator safety sensors, light curtains, and IoT/position systems — overlapping with SCHAEFER's smart elevator and CANopen/CiA 417 product stack.
• ZIEHL-ABEGG: ZIEHL-ABEGG manufactures elevator drives, motors, and ventilation — an Elevator Forum co-organizer with SCHAEFER and a comparable premium German/European component supplier serving OEM and modernization customers.
• Elfin Technology: Elfin Technology co-developed the dual-sense emergency call system alongside SCHAEFER and Bosch Service Solutions — a direct peer in elevator safety/communications electronics serving the same emergency-call and accessibility use cases.
• Avire (E-Motive Displays): Avire, parent of E-Motive Displays, manufactures TFT/LED displays, HMI indicators, and elevator communications equipment — directly competing with SCHAEFER's MediaTFT flex and indicator product lines across the European and global elevator market.
• Meiler Aufzugtüren: Meiler Aufzugtüren specializes in elevator doors and is an Elevator Forum co-organizer with SCHAEFER — both serve the same European elevator modernization, OEM, and installer customer base with adjacent (door + operating element) building interfaces.
• ALGI Hydraulics: ALGI produces hydraulic elevator components and is a long-standing partner and co-organizer with SCHAEFER on regional events (e.g., Johannesburg Lift Symposium) — a peer in the European elevator component ecosystem with similar customer targets.
• NEW-LIFT Steuerungsbau: NEW-LIFT designs elevator control systems and integrates CANopen/CiA 417 components — a core Elevator Forum partner and direct technical partner to SCHAEFER's HMI and CANopen product families.

Broad incumbents

• KONE: KONE is one of the four global elevator OEMs and a customer of SCHAEFER for operating panels/indicators — a broad incumbent whose in-house fixture capabilities and volume purchasing directly influence SCHAEFER's competitive landscape.
• WAGO Kontakttechnik: WAGO supplies industrial interconnection and control products (including elevator-control interfaces via CANopen) — a broader industrial electrical incumbent that overlaps with SCHAEFER's electronic/CANopen integration territory in adjacent use cases.
• TK Elevator (thyssenkrupp Elevator): TK Elevator is a global elevator OEM and modernization service provider with in-house component engineering — a broad incumbent that competes both as a customer for and a potential in-houser of fixtures like those SCHAEFER produces.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/wsschaefer
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schaefer-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 SCHAEFER