What Kählig Antriebstechnik does

Kählig Antriebstechnik GmbH (KAG) is a Hannover, Germany-based manufacturer of customer-specific small electric drive systems, founded in 1967 and operating as a privately held GmbH with more than 160 employees. The company designs and produces brushed DC motors and brushless EC motors, integrating them with planetary, worm, and spur gearboxes; optical and magnetic encoders; spring-applied and power-on brakes; and proprietary control electronics to deliver complete mechatronic drive solutions. KAG targets enterprise B2B customers across five primary application areas: agricultural technology, bus and railway technology, medical technology, access automation, and aquarium technology (the last served through its Panta Rhei sub-brand).

The company's technical capability is anchored in fully in-house development and production at its single Hannover facility, including custom winding design (wire diameter, turn count, armature geometry with optional skew), mechanical attachment customization, and protection classes up to IP69. KAG operates proprietary motor controllers for EC motors and dedicated electronics for brushed DC motors, with CAN-bus integration supporting CANopen and J1939 protocols. The quality infrastructure includes EMC pre-compliance testing, climate chamber testing for extreme temperatures, and an electrodynamic oscillation system for vibration resistance in bus and rail applications. Production capacity spans small series (50–500 units), medium volume (up to 20,000 units), and high-volume series (up to 200,000 units).

KAG operates a project-based, full-cycle sales model — from initial concept and consulting through engineering, prototyping, and series production — with no standard catalog or published pricing; all engagements are quoted per application. Distribution combines direct enterprise field sales in Germany with an international representative network covering Austria, Finland, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, the UK, the USA, India, Australia, Korea, Turkey, and Brazil (the latter via Kählig do Brasil). The company is family-controlled under Managing Director Matthias Kählig, with no external institutional investment disclosed, and maintains partner affiliate KEG Kählig Elektrotechnik GmbH for cable technology solutions bundled into the drive package.

Name

Kählig Antriebstechnik

Legal name

Kählig Antriebstechnik GmbH

Website

https://kag-hannover.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kählig Antriebstechnik GmbH is a Hannover-based German manufacturer of custom small electric drives integrating DC and EC motors with gearboxes, encoders, brakes, and proprietary control electronics. It serves enterprise OEMs across agricultural, bus and rail, medical, access automation, and aquarium sectors via project-based engineering.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electric Drive Systems

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

DC Motors (Brushed, Brushless DC) (IMAGACAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Brakes, Clutches & Couplings (Electromagnetic Brakes, Torque Limiters) (IMAGACAK)

Keywords

• Custom electric drives
• Brushless EC motors
• Brushed DC motors
• Planetary gearboxes
• Industrial drive solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Hanover

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

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. Custom Drive System Development & Production: Project-oriented development and production of customer-specific electric drive systems. Revenue generated through development fees, prototyping, and series production contracts. Focus on applications where standard products do not meet technical requirements.
2. Series Production Contracts: Volume production of customized drives in medium (up to 20,000 units) and high volume (up to 200,000 units) segments, as well as small series of 50-500 units on request.
3. Component Sales (Motors, Gearboxes, Electronics, Add-on Components): Sale of individual components including DC motors, EC motors, planetary gearboxes, worm gearboxes, spur gearboxes, optical encoders, magnetic encoders, and brakes as part of complete drive solutions.
4. Engineering & Consulting Services: Technical consulting, requirements analysis, concept development, and optimization services as part of the full-cycle development process for custom drive solutions.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Kählig Antriebstechnik develops, produces, and markets customized small electric drive systems for industrial OEMs. The portfolio centers on brushed DC motors and brushless EC motors, combinable with planetary, worm, and spur gearboxes, optical and magnetic encoders, and spring-applied or power-on brakes, along with proprietary motor controller electronics. Customers receive individually tailored drives with customized dimensions, windings, mechanical attachments, protection classes up to IP69, and application-specific cable solutions.

Product overview

Kählig Antriebstechnik (KAG) is a manufacturer of customized small electric drives based in Hannover, Germany. The product portfolio centers on two core motor types — brushed DC motors and brushless EC motors — which can be combined with three gearbox types (planetary, worm, and spur gearboxes), two encoder types (optical and magnetic), and two brake types (spring-applied/power-off and power-on/working current brakes). All components can be customized individually (winding, dimensions, protection classes, mechanical attachment, cables) and integrated into complete customer-specific drive systems. The company also operates a secondary brand, Panta Rhei, for aquarium flow pump products. KAG positions itself as a development partner rather than a catalog supplier, offering engineering services from concept through series production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Panta Rhei: Secondary brand of Kählig Antriebstechnik GmbH for the aquarium technology sector. Operates through the Panta Rhei brand for flow pumps and aquarium solutions.

Products and services

• DC Motors (Brushed DC Motors) Brushed DC motors for industrial applications, customer-specifically designed with customizable winding, dimensions, protection classes, and mechanical attachment options. Targeted at industrial OEM customers requiring tailored drive solutions where standard catalog motors do not fit the application.
• EC Motors (Brushless DC Motors) Brushless DC motors (EC motors) for industrial OEM applications offering low-maintenance operation with high service life and reliability, available with integrated electronics and CAN-bus control for digitalization-ready drive packages.
• Planetary Gearboxes Compact planetary gearboxes for high torque requirements, sold as add-on components to complement KAG custom drive solutions and to be integrated into complete customer-specific drive systems.
• Worm Gearboxes Worm gearboxes for right-angle power transmission with self-locking functionality, sold as add-on components to complement KAG drive solutions.
• Spur Gearboxes Spur gearboxes for efficient speed and torque adaptation, sold as add-on components to complement KAG drive solutions.
• Optical Encoders High-resolution incremental optical encoders using light detectors, optical gratings, and light sources for precise position and speed detection, with TTL-compatible signals and 90° phase shift. Offered to industrial OEM customers integrating position feedback into KAG drive systems.
• Magnetic Encoders Robust magnetic incremental encoders using Hall sensors and permanent magnet pole wheels for demanding environmental conditions. Contactless and wear-free operation, intended for industrial OEM customers requiring durable position feedback in harsh settings.
• Spring-Applied Brakes (Power-Off / Quiescent Current Brakes) Safety and holding brakes that engage when no current is applied, available in spring-applied and permanent magnet versions. Braking torques range from 24 to 150 Ncm, suitable as fail-safe holding elements in industrial OEM drive systems.
• Power-On Brakes (Working Current Brakes) Electromagnetic brakes that engage when current flows, available as ASB32, ASB40, and ASB43 series with various torque ratings. Used where dynamic braking under power is required in industrial drive applications.
• Control Electronics (Regelelektroniken) Steering and control electronics for small electric drives, including proprietary integrated motor controllers for EC motors and dedicated controllers for brushed DC motors. Supports CAN-bus protocols (CANopen and J1939) for digitalization-ready drive packages supplied to industrial OEMs.
• Customized Drive Solutions Full-cycle engineering service for customer-specific drive systems, including individual winding design, mechanical attachment customization, protection classes up to IP69, custom cable solutions, and integration of motors, gearboxes, encoders, and brakes into a single drive system supplied to industrial OEM customers.
• Panta Rhei Aquarium Flow Pumps Secondary brand product line of flow pumps for aquarium and aquaculture applications, including Hydro Wizard, Hydro Tube, and Panta Surge models with true laminar flow technology developed by KAG. Targeted at public aquariums, zoos, research facilities, and aquaculture operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production volumes from small series (50-500 units) to medium volume (20,000 units) to high volume (200,000 units)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KEG Kählig Elektrotechnik GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership with affiliated company KEG Kählig Elektrotechnik GmbH for cable technology solutions. Enables special cable solutions for demanding applications and almost unlimited possibilities in cable assembly - from single strands to complex cable harnesses - customized to function, installation situation, and application environment.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Regional players

• Anaheim Automation: US-based supplier of motion control products including brushless DC motors, gearmotors, encoders, and integrated drives. Comparable in product mix and customization model, but primarily serves North American customers.

Direct peers

• Faulhaber: German manufacturer of miniature and micro DC, EC, and linear motors with integrated gearboxes and encoders. Closely comparable to KAG in customization, premium positioning, and regulated OEM end markets such as medical and optical equipment.
• Bühler Motor: German manufacturer of customized DC and brushless motors and mechatronic drive solutions for automotive, medical, and industrial applications. Directly comparable in custom-engineered, project-based drive manufacturing.
• maxon: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of high-precision DC, EC, and brushless motors plus gearheads and controllers. Directly comparable as a premium supplier of customized small drives to OEM customers in medical, robotics, and industrial automation.
• Servotecnica: Italian distributor and integrator of precision DC, EC, and servo motors from manufacturers including Faulhaber. Comparable as a customer-facing technical partner for customized small drives in southern Europe, and also a KAG international representative in Italy.
• Portescap: Swiss/US manufacturer of miniature DC, brushless DC, and stepper motors for medical, automation, and aerospace. Comparable to KAG in the niche of small, high-performance, application-engineered motors.
• Dunkermotoren: German (Black Forest) producer of brushless DC motors, gear motors, and integrated servo systems with in-house electronics. Comparable as a German Mittelstand competitor offering custom mechatronic drive solutions to industrial OEMs.
• Wittenstein: German manufacturer of precision servo gearboxes, motors, and mechatronic drive systems. Comparable in premium positioning and integrated drive solutions for demanding industrial and aerospace applications.

Broad incumbents

• ebm-papst: German global leader in fans, motors, and drive technology. Overlaps with KAG in EC motors and mechatronic drive systems but operates at significantly larger scale across ventilation, automotive, and industrial markets.
• Allied Motion Technologies: US-listed designer and manufacturer of precision motion control products including brushless DC motors, gearmotors, and integrated drives. Comparable as a multi-brand motion specialist serving similar OEM end markets, but with broader portfolio and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCndZWlpVRLTxGOwDXNry4kQ/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/KAGHannover
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/k-hlig-antriebstechnik-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/kag_hannover

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Kählig Antriebstechnik