What C. Illies & Co. does

C. Illies & Co. (legal entity: C. ILLIES & CO. HANDELSGESELLSCHAFT MBH) is a privately held, family-owned German trading company founded in 1859 in Nagasaki, Japan, and currently headquartered in Hamburg. The firm functions as an exclusive sales and project partner for European industrial machinery manufacturers seeking to access Asian markets, operating through wholly-owned subsidiaries and field offices in Japan, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia. Its portfolio covers textile machinery (KARL MAYER, Rieter, Oerlikon, Thies), plastics and metal processing (GEISS, Dreistern), paper and printing technology (HP, Komori, Kodak, DURST, BW Papersystems), film and coating equipment (Windmoeller & Hoelscher, Nordmeccanica), chemical process technology (Uhde High Pressure Technologies, thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions), E-Mobility, pharmaceutical equipment (Groninger), and food processing machinery (WALTERWERK KIEL).

ILLIES generates revenue through commissions and service fees on European principal transactions, supplemented by after-sales services including commissioning, training, spare parts, and remote installation support. Its go-to-market is enterprise field sales, executed by local technical teams who manage the full project lifecycle from planning, marketing, financing, insurance, and logistics through to installation and after-sales. Customers are predominantly large Asian industrial manufacturers across textile, printing, packaging, chemical, automotive, food, and pharmaceutical verticals, with named references including LG Chem, Vinatex, Sungwoo, HU-CHEMS, and Zhejiang Wanjie Textile. The company employs 251-500 people, has no public listing, and has remained under continuous founding-family ownership for 165+ years, with C. Michael Illies serving as Managing Director and Robin Elias Carl Illies as Senior Executive Vice President.

Name

C. Illies & Co.

Legal name

C. ILLIES & CO. HANDELSGESELLSCHAFT MBH

Website

https://illies.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1859

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

C. Illies & Co. is a 165-year-old, family-owned German trading company headquartered in Hamburg that serves as the exclusive sales and project partner for European industrial machinery manufacturers across eight Asian markets, including Japan, China, Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Machinery Sales Facilitation: ILLIES facilitates the sale of European industrial machinery and systems to Asian markets as exclusive sales and project partner. Revenue is generated through commissions and service fees from European manufacturers.
2. After-Sales Services: The company provides commissioning, training, and ongoing after-sales support services to customers in Asia, maintaining customer relationships post-sale.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

C. Illies & Co. is a German trading and project partnership company that serves as the exclusive sales, project execution, and after-sales service partner for European industrial machinery manufacturers in Asian markets. The company represents European technology leaders across textile, plastics & metal, paper & printing, film & coating, process technology, e-mobility, pharma, and food & beverage verticals, providing end-to-end services including planning, marketing, sourcing, financing, logistics, installation, commissioning, training, and after-sales support.

Product overview

C. ILLIES & Co. is a German trading and project partnership company (founded 1859) that distributes European industrial machinery and technology to Asian markets. The company operates as a sales and project partner representing European manufacturers across multiple business units: Textile Machinery (KARL MAYER, Rieter, Oerlikon, itema, Terrot, Thies, BARMAG), Plastics & Metal Processing (GEISS), Paper & Printing Technology (HP, Komori, Kodak, DURST, GRAFOTRONIC), Film & Coating Technology (Windmoeller & Hoelscher, Nordmeccanica), Process Technology, and E-Mobility Solutions. The portfolio includes specific products like VeloVac vacuum packers, GEISS T11 thermoforming machines, precisioncut TBA cutting lines for transformers, Uhde high-pressure equipment, and E-passport production lines. The company provides comprehensive after-sales support through service stations, spare parts, remote installation services, and training across its regional offices in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Germany.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Textile Machinery Distribution Sales and project partnership for textile machinery including spinning, weaving, warp knitting, dyeing, and finishing equipment from European manufacturers, distributed to enterprise textile manufacturers across Asia.
• Plastics & Metal Processing Machinery Distribution of plastic processing and thermoforming machinery including GEISS T11 thermoforming machines for plastic and rubber industry applications across Asian markets.
• Paper & Printing Technology Printing and packaging machinery distribution including HP Latex printers, Komori offset printing presses, Kodak CtP systems, DURST digital label printers, and finishing equipment from European manufacturers for Asian markets.
• Film & Coating Technology Flexible packaging and functional film manufacturing equipment including Windmoeller & Hoelscher cast film technology, Nordmeccanica lamination systems, and solventless lamination solutions for Asian packaging manufacturers.
• E-Mobility Solutions Technologies for electric vehicle manufacturing including battery inspection, x-ray CT systems for gigacast parts, and production equipment for electric steel and magnetic components, including Dreistern Giga-Stahl profiling systems for tier-1 automotive suppliers.
• Process Technology Process technology solutions for chemical, pharmaceutical, and industrial applications including high-pressure pumps, valves, reactors, autoclaves (Uhde), and turnkey chemical plant projects (thyssenkrupp) for Korean and Asian chemical manufacturers.
• After-Sales Service & Support Comprehensive after-sales services including service stations, spare parts supply, remote installation support, on-site training, and technical consulting across all represented technologies, delivered through offices in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia.
• VeloVac Vacuum Packer Manual vacuum packing system for ultra-light powders such as carbon black, featuring dust-free and compact bagging with exceptional process reliability and sealing performance, developed by partner Greif Velox and facilitated by ILLIES for the Japanese chemical industry.
• HP Latex R530 Printer Versatile and sustainable large-format printing solution for packaging and display graphics applications, distributed by ILLIES in Asian markets.
• SUN SGM BoxMate Advanced automatic scrap separator that enhances efficiency in packaging and folding carton production, distributed by ILLIES in Asian markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wanjie Textile achieved 20% revenue increase in Q1 following investment in Karl Mayer machinery via ILLIES China
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• KARL MAYER GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive sales and project partner for KARL MAYER textile machinery (warp knitting, warp preparation) in Asian markets. ILLIES supports customer relationships and provides local sales, installation, and after-sales support. Joint participation in trade shows and customer events.
• RietercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive agent for Rieter textile machinery (spinning systems) in Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Illies Engineering Vietnam recognized with 'Commitment to Excellence in After-Sales' award in 2025. Facilitates partnership between Rieter and Vinatex for textile education in Vietnam.
• OerlikoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive sales partner for Oerlikon textile machinery in Asian markets. Joint participation at ITMA Asia + CITME 2024 showcasing energy-efficient and sustainable technology solutions.
• Heinrich Georg GmbH MaschinenfabrikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive representation for Georg transformer lamination cutting systems (precisioncut, TBA lines) in Vietnam and other Asian markets. Successfully delivered multiple cutting lines for power transformer production.
• BW PapersystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-term exclusive representative for BW Papersystems (Kugler-Womako) in Japan and Korea for e-Passport production lines and security document machinery.
• Thies GmbH and Co KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive agent for Thies textile finishing machinery (dyeing machines for yarn, fabric, fiber) in Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Expanded partnership effective July 1, 2024 to include Taiwan market.
• Uhde High Pressure Technologies GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for high-pressure technology (pumps, valves, reactors, autoclaves) supporting Korean chemical industry customers including LG Chem, HD Hyundai Chemical, Hanwha Solutions, and LOTTE Chemical.
• Dreistern GmbH & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for Giga-Stahl (ultra-high strength steel) profiling systems. ILLIES Korea connected Sungwoo (Tier-1 supplier for Hyundai) with Dreistern for EV battery housing components.
• GEISS AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive partnership for GEISS thermoforming and plastic processing machinery in China. Showcased T11 thermoforming machine at CHINAPLAS 2023 and 2024.
• Windmoeller & HoelschercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for flexible packaging equipment in Japan market. Showcased cast film technology at Tokyo Pack with focus on automation and IoT integration.
• RecovercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with global textile recycling leader Recover for market entry into Vietnam. Illies Engineering Vietnam serves as key market partner for Recover's recycling plant in Dong Nai province with 10,000 metric tons annual capacity.
• Greif VeloxcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for packaging technology including VeloVac vacuum packer systems. K.K. IRISU (ILLIES Japan) facilitates European manufacturers' entry into Japanese market.
• Durst Group AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership for DURST digital printing technology for label applications in Japan market. Exhibited TAU 330 RSC E label printer at Label Forum Japan.
• GroningercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for pharmaceutical injection filling and assembly equipment (Vial, PFS, cartridge, eye drops) in Korea market. Exhibited at COPHEX 2024.
• thyssenkrupp Industrial Solutions (tkIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with tkIS for chemical plant projects in Korea. KIECO (Korea Illies Engineering) serves as Korean agent for tkIS, successfully delivered Nitric Acid Plants No. 2-6 to HU-CHEMS.
• L.B. Bohle Maschinen + Verfahren GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for pharmaceutical machinery - mentioned in image credits on website
• WALTERWERK KIEL GmbH & Co. KGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for waffle and food processing equipment in China - mentioned in image credits on website
• VON ARDENNE GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for vacuum coating technology - mentioned in image credits on website
• Novaled GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for OLED and organic electronics - mentioned in image credits on website

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sojitz Corporation: Japanese trading house with a machinery division that imports and sells industrial equipment to Asian manufacturers. Comparable cross-border trade model, though more diversified into automotive, energy, and resource projects.
• Marubeni Corporation: Japanese general trading company with industrial machinery, chemicals, and food divisions that connect Western manufacturers with Asian customers. Similar intermediary model but operates as a much broader conglomerate with commodity trading, resources, and financial services.
• ITOCHU Corporation: One of Japan's largest sogo shosha with machinery, textile, and chemicals trading operations that facilitate cross-border equipment sales. Performs a structurally similar role to ILLIES in connecting Western and Asian industrial markets, though with a much broader portfolio.
• Andritz AG: Austrian industrial machinery group serving pulp & paper, metals processing, and chemical industries with significant Asia-Pacific revenue. Comparable customer overlap (Asian paper, chemical, metal producers) and similar role as European technology provider for Asian manufacturers, though Andritz is a manufacturer rather than a sales agent.
• Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA: German industrial technology company with paper, hydropower, drive technology, and digital industrial divisions. Comparable as a major German industrial group with deep Asian customer relationships in textile, paper, and chemical machinery markets - overlapping directly with ILLIES' served verticals.
• Sumitomo Corporation: Japanese sogo shosha (general trading company) with a major industrial machinery and infrastructure business that facilitates sales of European and global capital equipment into Asian markets. Far larger and more diversified than ILLIES, but the machinery business unit performs a similar intermediary role connecting Western OEMs with Asian end customers.
• Bühler Group: Swiss manufacturer of food processing and advanced materials equipment with extensive Asia presence and own sales/service network. Comparable in serving Asian food, packaging, and processing manufacturers with European-origin technology, though Bühler is a manufacturer-owner rather than an intermediary representing multiple principals.
• WIKA Alexander Wiegand SE & Co. KG: German measurement instrument manufacturer with extensive Asia-Pacific sales and service network that operates on a similar pattern to ILLIES - German engineering company leveraging local presence and distributor relationships to serve Asian industrial customers.

Regional players

• Hanwha Corporation: Korean industrial conglomerate with machinery, defense, and chemicals businesses. Hanwha Solutions is one of ILLIES' end customers for Uhde high-pressure technology; comparable as a large regional industrial player but with vertical integration rather than a distribution/representation model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/c.-illies-&-co.-handelsgesellschaft-mbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries6 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 C. Illies & Co.