What Kloska Group does

Kloska Group is a family-owned technical trading company founded in 1981 in Bremen, Germany, by Uwe Kloska. It operates as a multi-vertical system supplier and service partner for the maritime, shipyard, on-/offshore, industrial, and craft and construction sectors, with approximately 18 wholly-owned subsidiaries, 30 locations across Germany and the Netherlands, 800+ employees, 130,000 products in stock, and a throughput of roughly 8,000 ships supplied annually.

The company's offering combines physical product distribution (mooring ropes, hydraulic systems, lifting equipment, PPE, quality tools, welding consumables, maritime provisions, sea-rescue equipment) with technical services (engine maintenance, gas engine service, governor technology, ship and industrial repair, conveyor belt vulcanization, hose assembly, and net manufacturing) and a dedicated digital services suite. The digital layer centers on the Kloska Webshop and includes Kloska E-Business (EDI), OCI punch-out for SAP, SAP Ariba, and CommerceOne, mobile MDE scanner software, warehouse management (Magazinsoftware), full-supply concepts (Vollversorgung), tool management with SupplyPoint vending machines, and a catering-software module for international menu planning.

The revenue model blends transactional product sales, recurring digital services and E-Procurement subscriptions, managed logistics services (airfreight, cruise line supply, owner's goods logistics), and professional service fees. Go-to-market is hybrid: 30 field-sales offices serve enterprise customers (exemplified by a five-year AIDA Cruises fleet contract), inside-sales teams handle mid-market accounts, a 24-hour emergency hotline serves urgent maritime needs, and the Webshop plus OCI/EDI integrations enable self-service B2B procurement for distributed customers. The group is family-controlled, with founder Uwe Kloska and daughter Nadine Kloska serving as Managing Directors, and is supported by ISO 9001, 14001, 50001, and 22000 certifications across operating entities.

Name

Kloska Group

Legal name

Kloska Management GmbH

Website

https://kloska.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Kloska Group is a German family-owned technical trading company and service partner for maritime, shipyard, offshore, industrial, and construction sectors, distributing 130,000 SKUs from 30 locations across Germany and the Netherlands to roughly 8,000 ships annually, complemented by an integrated digital procurement platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical Ship Supply and Marine Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423830), Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods (423)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Provisions, Stores & Bonded Supplies Coordination (TLAHAJAC)

Keywords

• Technical ship supply
• Maritime logistics services
• Ship chandlery supply
• Industrial equipment supply
• Offshore catering provisioning

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Technical Ship Chandlery: Sale of technical products and equipment to shipping, shipyards, and industrial customers including mooring ropes, hydraulic equipment, safety equipment, tools, and maritime supplies.
2. Logistics and Supply Services: Airfreight, logistics, cruise line supply, and just-in-time delivery services for maritime and offshore sectors.
3. Digital Services and E-Procurement: E-commerce platform access, EDI services, ERP integration, and digital catalog services for B2B procurement optimization.
4. Technical Services: Engine maintenance and repairs, ship repair, welding technology, governor technology, gas engine service, and quality tool services.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Kloska Group is a technical trading company and system supplier providing approximately 130,000 stocked products and technical services to the maritime, shipyard, on-/offshore, industrial, craft, and construction industries. Operations span technical ship chandlery, cruise line supply logistics, provisions and bonded stores, engine maintenance and repairs, welding and governor technology, hydraulic systems, lifting equipment, ropes, and PPE, complemented by an integrated B2B e-commerce platform with EDI and ERP integration. The group operates 30 locations across Germany and the Netherlands, supplying roughly 8,000 ships per year with 800+ employees.

Product overview

Kloska Group is a system supplier and service partner for maritime, industrial, and construction sectors, established in 1981 in Bremen, Germany. The company operates as a multi-service conglomerate with approximately 130,000 products across 30 locations serving 8,000 ships annually with 800 employees. The portfolio includes physical products (maritime supplies, industrial equipment, PPE, tools, ropes, hydraulics) and a comprehensive suite of Digital Services including the Kloska Webshop (e-commerce platform), Kloska E-Business (EDI integration), Kloska E-Katalog (electronic catalogs), Kloska OCI (ERP integration via SAP/Ariba/CommerceOne), Kloska MDE (mobile scanning), Kloska Vollversorgung (managed supply concepts), Kloska Lagersysteme (warehouse systems), Kloska Magazinsoftware (inventory management), Kloska Toolmanagement (vending solutions with SupplyPoint), Kloska Kennzeichnung (barcode/RFID marking), and Kloska Prüfsoftware (inspection management). The Digital Services portfolio is delivered as an integrated ecosystem with the Webshop as the customer-facing front-end, OCI/EDI for ERP connectivity, MDE for warehouse operations, and Toolmanagement for 24/7 self-service provision.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Airfreight & Logistics Comprehensive airfreight and logistics services for maritime customers across Europe and overseas, with worldwide delivery capabilities.
• C-Parts Management Analysis and optimization services for indirect materials (C-parts), enabling cost reduction and supply chain efficiency for industrial customers.
• Cruise Line Supply & Logistics End-to-end supply and logistics services for cruise line fleets, including provisions, consumables, technical equipment, and warehouse operations near Hamburg port with dedicated cruise ship supply infrastructure.
• Industrial Supplies Full-range technical supplier of industrial articles including chemical technical products, sealing technology, conveyor belt technology, and hydraulic systems for manufacturing and processing facilities.
• Engine Maintenance & Repairs Comprehensive engineering services including ship engine maintenance and repairs, gas engine service, governor technology, and welding technology with worldwide technician availability for emergency assistance.
• On-/Offshore Equipment & Service Specialized equipment and services for offshore platforms and wind energy installations, including supplies, equipment, and services for remote maritime locations.
• Provisions & Bonded Stores Global delivery of consumable provisions and bonded stores for shipping fleets, research stations, construction sites, and military bases, with ISO 22000:2018 food safety certification.
• Offshore Catering & Housekeeping Services Complete care packages for offshore platforms and special ships including catering, housekeeping, and digital menu planning with international recipe database accommodating diverse religious and cultural dietary requirements.
• Welding Technology Specialist dealer and full-range supplier in welding technology including autogas technology, equipment, and consumables for modern welding operations across maritime and industrial customers.
• Quality Tools Full-range supplier of brand-name quality tools from renowned manufacturers including Bosch, Makita, Metabo, Knipex, Gedore, Stanley and others, for trade, industrial, and maritime customers.
• Work Wear, Heat Protection & PPE Personal protective equipment including work wear, heat protection articles, and safety equipment from brands such as Helly Hansen, Ansell, Honeywell, Kimberly-Clark and others, with some items produced in Kloska's own manufacturing facilities.
• Mooring Ropes, Special Wire Ropes & Crane Ropes High-quality mooring ropes, cordage, special wire ropes, crane ropes, and lifting/lashing equipment with custom manufacturing capability for marine and industrial applications.
• Machinery Spare Parts Spare parts for 2- and 4-stroke diesel engines and auxiliary machines below and on deck, delivered with 30 years of experience and a worldwide service footprint.
• Ship & Industrial Repair Comprehensive ship and industrial repair services including ship repair, industrial repair, conveyor belt vulcanization, and custom hose assembly in Kloska Group workshops.
• Kloska Webshop (B2B E-Commerce Platform) Modern B2B online procurement platform providing personalized access to the full Kloska Group assortment or custom catalogs with negotiated pricing, supporting self-service ordering, multi-user buyer cockpits, and ERP integration.
• Kloska Vollversorgung (Full Supply Concepts) Managed full-supply concepts for industrial customers including C-parts management, procurement logistics, production stores, and last-mile logistics with risk-minimized spare parts and tool management.
• Kloska Toolmanagement Tool management system partnered with SupplyPoint providing modular vending machines with cloud-based software for 24/7 decentralized material provision via drawer, carousel, or locker systems.
• Yacht Supply Specialized yacht supply services for newbuild, refit, and operating yachts, providing materials, equipment, and consumables tailored to the yacht industry.
• Maritime Environment Protection Systems Waste management solutions for wet and dry waste processing on board all ship types, including mega-yachts, offshore platforms, and cargo ships, delivered through subsidiary Ocean Clean GmbH.
• Sea Rescue and Distress Equipment Sales and maintenance of sea rescue and distress equipment for maritime, inland, and sports shipping, including the SOLAS-range product line.

Quantifiable outcome

• Supply of 8000 ships per year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration5 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• AIDA CruisesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2025Five-year partnership extension for fleet supply and logistics services. Kloska Group, through Basté & Lange GmbH, provides seamless supply of the entire AIDA fleet of 11 ships, requiring meticulous planning, robust processes, and exceptional flexibility particularly during the double-loading period in October.
• TT Bau GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Joint investment with TT Bau Group to acquire the 95,000m² Elsfleth shipyard site on the Unterweser. Founded Neue Elsflether Werft GmbH for future management, with plans for repairs and services in industrial and shipping sectors.
• Multiple Supplier Partners (Abus, Afrisio, Allweiler, Ammeraal, Ansell, Artex, Bosch, BP, Draeger, Gates, Gedore, Helly Hansen, Honeywell, Kärcher, Kimberly-Clark, Knipex, Makita, Metabo, Nilfisk, Stanley, Trelleborg, and 50+ others)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEstablished network of national and international key suppliers and regular suppliers. Supplier categories include key suppliers and standard suppliers, selected for best delivery quality and guarantee.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GAC Group: GAC is a global provider of ship agency, husbandry, logistics, and maritime services operating across 50+ countries. It competes with Kloska in ship agency, port call services, and cruise line supply, but at much larger international scale.
• Würth Group: Würth is one of the world's largest wholesale suppliers of fastening, assembly, and MRO materials with a global footprint. It competes with Kloska in tools, PPE, lifting/lashing equipment, and industrial consumables, though Würth's scale dwarfs Kloska's industrial segment.
• Grainger: Grainger is a leading North American-based industrial distribution business serving MRO and supply chain needs. While geographically distinct, it is a useful comparable for Kloska's industrial supply, PPE, and tools business, illustrating the digital procurement model and scale economics of an industrial distributor.
• Wärtsilä: Wärtsilä is a global marine technology and service provider offering engine services, spare parts, and lifecycle support for the maritime industry. It overlaps with Kloska's engine maintenance, governor technology, gas engine service, and spare parts offerings, though at significantly larger scale.
• Wilhelmsen: Wilhelmsen is a global maritime products and services group with marine products (Unitor), ship management, and offshore services divisions. As a broad incumbent with significantly larger scale and global footprint, Wilhelmsen overlaps with Kloska across technical marine supplies, spare parts, and digital procurement (ShipManager platform).
• MacGregor: MacGregor is part of Cargotec and provides cargo and load-handling solutions for the maritime industry, including offshore and shipyard services. It overlaps with Kloska's lifting equipment, crane ropes, and shipyard supply offerings, though with significantly broader engineering scope.

Direct peers

• Unitor (Wilhelmsen): Unitor is Wilhelmsen's marine products brand for chemicals, maintenance, and ship supply consumables. It is a direct competitor to Kloska's chemical technical products, cleaning technology, and ship maintenance supplies lines.
• Britoil Marine Services: Britoil is a European-based provider of marine fuel, lubricants, and ship supply services to commercial vessels. It is a direct peer to Kloska in provisions, bonded stores, and technical ship chandlery, with overlapping cruise and offshore customer segments.
• Wrist Group: Wrist Group is one of the world's largest technical ship suppliers, providing provisions, bonded stores, deck and engine supplies, and ship agency services globally. It is the closest direct peer to Kloska in terms of product mix (technical ship chandlery plus provisions) and customer base (cruise lines, shipyards, offshore).

Regional players

• Belships (Brokers / ship supply intermediaries): Belships is a Norwegian-based shipping and ship supply group historically active in the Northern European maritime supply market. While primarily a shipowner, its ship supply operations overlap with Kloska's Northern European maritime customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries18 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 Kloska Group