What Bellmer does

Bellmer GmbH is a German family-owned high-tech engineering company founded in 1842 and headquartered in Niefern-Öschelbronn, Germany. It operates through two divisions: Paper Technology, which designs, manufactures, and commissions complete paper and board machines and their components under the proprietary TurboLine product family (including TurboPress shoe press, hydraulic and rectifier roll headboxes, TopFormer wire section components, TurboCalender, TurboCurtain Coater, stock preparation via Krima dispersers and Grubbens pulpers, and Air & Steam systems); and Separation Technology, which provides liquid-solid separation equipment such as the AKUPRESS screw press series, TurboDrain belt thickener, WinklePress belt press, and microfilters for municipal, industrial, paper, biogas, food, and pharmaceutical applications.

The company makes money through project-based capital equipment sales of custom-engineered machinery, complemented by recurring aftermarket revenue from spare parts, wear parts (such as Krima dispersing discs), consumables, 24/7 service contracts, BellCare remote support, and modernization/upgrades of installed machines. Bellmer distributes exclusively through direct enterprise field sales via a network of 17 wholly-owned international subsidiary and branch locations across Germany, Finland, Spain, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, the USA, Brazil, India, and China. It serves more than a dozen named end customers — including Smurfit Westrock, Ruchira Papers, Yangguang Specialty Paper, Fábrica de Papel da Lapa, Ecobulhart, and ARA Basel — across diverse geographies and verticals.

Growth is driven by ongoing global project commissions (e.g., PM3 at Ruchira Papers in India, PM2 modernization at Smurfit Westrock, TurboDrain TDC 5 deployment at ARA Basel), cross-vertical expansion of the separation technology product line (biogas, recycling, mining, pharma), and continued M&A (most notably Papcel in 2019, which became Bellmer Czech). Across both divisions Bellmer employs more than 900 people globally and emphasizes bespoke engineering, high in-house manufacturing depth at its German headquarters sites, and lifecycle service support anchored on the 24-hour, 365-day service offering.

Name

Bellmer

Legal name

Bellmer GmbH

Website

https://bellmer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1842

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Bellmer GmbH is a German family-owned engineering company that designs, manufactures, and services custom paper and board machines (TurboLine) and separation technology equipment for pulp and paper mills, municipal wastewater plants, and industrial customers worldwide, operating 17 international subsidiary locations with over 900 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paper Machinery and Industrial Separation Equipment

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)

Keywords

• Paper machinery manufacturing
• Separation technology equipment
• Sludge dewatering systems
• Pulp and board machines
• Screw press technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Niefern-öschelbronn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Paper Machine Sales and Manufacturing: Design, manufacture, and implementation of complete paper machines, paper machine components (headboxes, shoe presses, calenders, winders), and modernization/upgrades for existing paper machines. Project-based capital equipment sales with custom engineering.
2. Separation Technology Equipment: Sale of separation machinery including belt presses, screw presses, disc thickeners, microfilters, and complete dewatering/thickening plants for municipal, industrial, and paper industry applications.
3. Spare Parts and Consumables: Replacement parts, wear parts, dispersing discs, and components for Bellmer equipment. Ongoing revenue from maintenance and repair needs.
4. Service and Support: 24-hour service, remote support (BellCare), installation, optimization, maintenance contracts, repairs, and overhaul/rebuild services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Bellmer designs, manufactures, and implements complete paper & board production machines under its proprietary TurboLine brand, including wet-end (shoe press, headbox, wire section), dry-end (calender, dryer section, coating), and stock preparation (Krima Dispersers, Grubbens Pulpers) equipment for paper manufacturers. The company also produces separation technology equipment such as belt thickeners, belt presses, disc thickeners, and screw presses for municipal wastewater treatment and industrial sludge dewatering customers. Bellmer complements its machinery with aftermarket spare parts, BellCare remote support, 24/7 service contracts, and installation/commissioning services through a global network of 17 subsidiary locations.

Product overview

Bellmer is a global high-tech engineering company offering two main divisions: Paper Technology and Separation Technology. The Paper Technology division designs and manufactures complete paper machines and components under the TurboLine brand, including wet end equipment (TurboPress Shoe Press, Headbox, TopFormer), dry end systems (TurboCalender), coating solutions (TurboCurtain Coater), and stock preparation systems (Krima Dispersers, Grubbens Pulpers). The Separation Technology division provides equipment for liquid-solid separation including the TurboDrain belt thickener, WinklePress belt press, and comprehensive AKUPRESS screw press series (AS, AX, AP, AL, AM, AMX, BX, F) for municipal, industrial, paper, biogas, and food applications. Bellmer operates 17 international locations worldwide, providing equipment, installation, and 24h service support. The company also offers BellCare remote support services and hosts the annual PaperDays industry symposium.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• TurboLine Complete Paper & Board Machines Complete production lines for paper, board, and specialty fiber products, including fine paper, packaging paper, carton, specialty paper, nonwoven, and fiberboard. Designed, manufactured, and commissioned for paper manufacturers as turnkey systems.
• TurboPress Shoe Press Advanced shoe press technology for paper machine wet ends, delivering higher post-press dryness, improved runnability, and lower energy consumption compared to conventional roll presses. Sold to paper mill customers as a wet-end component or upgrade.
• Headbox Systems (Hydraulic TurboJetter, Rectifier Roll, Cylinder Former) Headbox systems for paper machines providing precise fiber distribution and sheet formation. Available in hydraulic, rectifier roll, and cylinder former configurations. Sold to paper manufacturers for new machines and modernization projects.
• TopFormer (Wire Section Former) Top former technology for multi-ply paper and board production ensuring excellent sheet formation and ply bonding. Sold to packaging and board manufacturers as a wire section component.
• TurboCalender Advanced calender system for paper machine dry-end modernization, providing improved paper surface smoothness and thickness control. Sold to paper manufacturers as new equipment or as a modernization upgrade for existing paper machines.
• TurboCurtain Coater Multilayer curtain coating system for contour coating applications in paper surface finishing, enabling high-quality coating application. Sold to paper mills for coating station installations and modernization.
• Krima Dispersers (HDS, CDS, UCD) Dispersing systems including Hot Dispersing System (HDS), Compact Dispersing System (CDS), and Ultra Compact Dispersing System (UCD) for stock preparation and contaminant removal. Sold to paper mills for pulp processing.
• Grubbens Pulpers (Horizontal & Vertical) Horizontal and vertical pulpers for fiber stock preparation in paper mills. Sold together with pulper rebuild services for existing equipment.
• Metrans Conveying Solutions Bale handling, recycled paper handling, and roll up conveyor systems for paper mill material handling operations. Sold to paper mills under the Metrans sub-brand.
• AKUPRESS Screw Press Series (AS, AX, AP, AL, AM, AMX, BX, F) Comprehensive screw press product line for mechanical dewatering, thickening, and processing applications across municipal wastewater treatment, industrial, paper, biogas, and food sectors. Configurations (AS, AX, AP, AL, AM, AMX, BX, F) tailored to specific applications, with AKUPRESS BX achieving 55-60% dry content.
• AKSE Disc Thickener Disc thickener for pre-thickening fiber stock and sludge, efficiently removing a large portion of free water. Sold to paper mills, wastewater plants, and industrial customers as stand-alone thickening equipment or as part of complete dewatering lines.
• TurboDrain TDC 5 Sludge Thickening Unit Belt thickener for sludge treatment, optimizing digestion efficiency and thickening sludge to 6% TR for biogas yield enhancement. Sold to municipal wastewater treatment plants and biogas facilities.
• TurboDrain Belt Thickener / WinklePress Belt Press Belt thickener (TurboDrain) and economical belt filter press (WinklePress) for sludge dewatering and fiber material thickening. Sold to municipal, industrial, and paper industry customers with low energy consumption and minimal polymer requirement.
• BellCare Remote Support Service Remote technical support and monitoring service enabling real-time diagnostics, optimization, and condition monitoring for Bellmer paper technology and separation technology equipment. Sold as a service subscription to existing customers.
• 24h Service & Spare Parts Round-the-clock service, spare parts, mounting, repairs, and overhaul support available 365 days a year for Bellmer paper technology and separation technology equipment. Sold as service contracts and one-off interventions to existing equipment owners.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sludge thickening to 6% TR dry content for optimized biogas yield
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• TSE TrollerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for coating technology presentations at industry conferences including PTS Coating Symposium 2019. Presented together on Multilayer Curtain Coating concept.
• FlowtecminorGTM or Marketing PartnerExhibition partner at Paper&Biorefinery Conference 2019 in Graz, Austria. Bellmer product information available at Flowtec exhibition stand.
• AmbiorminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner at EXPOBIOGAZ 2024 for Separation Technology products focusing on renewable gas industry.
• EcoverdeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner at MIAC exhibition in Lucca showcasing Separation Technology for pulp and paper industry.
• D&D EquipmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership at WPS Farm Show showcasing Separation Technology for agricultural digestion and bedding production from cow manure.
• BumtechnominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBusiness partner at PAP-FOR exhibition in St. Petersburg, Russia, representing Bellmer at this Eastern Europe B2B pulp and paper event.
• Saloni Paper MachinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on Ruchira Papers PM3 project, working closely together to deliver complete press section with state-of-the-art Shoe Press, Headbox, and TopFormer. Strong partnership combining global engineering expertise with local execution.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Valmet: Finnish global leader in paper machinery with fully overlapping offerings across paper machines, headboxes, presses, dryers, and stock prep. The largest and most direct competitor to Bellmer in the Paper Technology division.
• Voith: German family-owned industrial machinery group whose Voith Paper division competes directly with Bellmer across complete paper machines, paper machine components, service, and modernization programs for European pulp and paper mills.
• Andritz: Austrian manufacturer competing with Bellmer across both paper technology (stock prep, complete paper machines) and separation/dewatering technology, with comparable screw press, pulp processing, and separation equipment lines.
• Kadant: US-based supplier of stock prep, fiber processing, and paper machine components; competes with Bellmer Cellwood, Krima dispersers, and Grubbens pulpers in stock preparation and fiber-recovery equipment.
• Alfa Laval: Swedish separation equipment leader with broad liquid-solid separation, heat transfer, and fluid handling portfolios. Directly competes with Bellmer's Separation Technology division in sludge dewatering, thickening, and industrial separations.
• GEA: German separation, homogenization, and drying technology supplier offering comparable equipment in sludge dewatering, food processing, and industrial separation - directly overlapping with Bellmer's screw press and separation technology product families.
• HUBER SE: German municipal and industrial water/wastewater treatment equipment manufacturer with overlapping sludge dewatering, thickening, and separation offerings serving the same municipal and industrial customer base as Bellmer.
• Komline-Sanderson Engineering: US-based dewatering and separation equipment manufacturer offering screw presses, belt presses, and sludge processing systems that directly overlap with Bellmer's AKUPRESS and WinklePress product families in sludge and fiber stock dewatering.
• Sulzer: Swiss industrial separation and pumping equipment maker with comparable offerings in industrial liquid-solid separation, sludge treatment, and chemical processing used by paper, municipal, and industrial customers overlapping with Bellmer's customer base.
• Recard: Italian tissue and specialty paper machinery manufacturer competing with Bellmer in smaller-scale tissue, packaging paper, and specialty paper machine lines, particularly across European and Mediterranean markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bellmer

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries14 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 Bellmer