What Schindler & Wagner does

Schindler & Wagner (operating as SCHIWA) is a German family-owned manufacturer of high-performance slicing and portioning systems for the food processing industry, founded in 1966 in Haubersbronn and headquartered in Plüderhausen, Baden-Württemberg since 1975. The company designs and builds custom-engineered slicing lines in single-spindle, 2-spindle, and 4-spindle configurations, with throughput up to 11,000 slices per minute, serving two primary verticals: protein processing (sausage, ham, bacon, fresh meat) and dairy processing (cheese block and loaf). Core technology centers on a proprietary self-learning weighing system—refined over roughly 20 years—that detects product variation (holes in cheese, fat density in sausage) and adapts slicing parameters slice-by-slice to minimize give-away; the control architecture runs on Windows-based interfaces networked via CAN-BUS (introduced 1997) and integrates upstream with robotic handling and X-ray scanning (added 2020) and downstream with weighing, labeling, and packaging. Recent product additions include the Yield Gripper (2025), a patent-pending handling module that reduces end-piece trimming by up to 60% and delivers up to 2.0% yield improvement, offered exclusively as a rental subscription.

The business operates as Dipl.-Ing. Schindler & Wagner GmbH & Co KG, an owner-managed family limited partnership with approximately 125 employees, over half of whom are engineers, and a single integrated site in Plüderhausen housing development, software, design, and assembly. Revenue is generated primarily through capital equipment sales of custom slicing lines, supported by a long-tail spare parts and wear-component stream (blades, PKC/PKS) tied to a 20-year minimum machine service life guarantee, plus a nascent recurring revenue line from Yield Gripper rentals. Distribution is exclusively direct enterprise sales via a named sales team (e.g., Head of Sales Sascha Richter), with no reseller or channel partner model; the customer base includes named food processors such as Handl Tyrol, Wiesbauer, Gossner Foods, and Scan Servige across Austria, the US, and other markets. Governance is family-controlled, with second-generation leadership under CEO Bernhard Kraus (joined 2021) and the recent appointment of Patricia Heider as Director of Finance and Administration in November 2025, signaling incremental professionalization of an otherwise founder-led organization.

Name

Schindler & Wagner

Legal name

Dipl.-Ing. Schindler & Wagner GmbH & Co KG

Website

https://schiwa.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SCHIWA is a German family-owned manufacturer founded in 1966 that builds custom high-performance slicing systems for protein and dairy food processors globally, combining proprietary self-learning weighing technology, multi-spindle slicers, and modular line integration with long-term service support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Plüderhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. High-performance slicing machines and systems: Custom-built and standardized high-performance cutting/slicing machines for food processing, sold as complete lines or individual units. Revenue from initial capital equipment purchase. Machines are designed for minimum 20-year service life with full support.
2. Spare and wear parts: Long-term supply of spare parts, wear components (blades, PKC/PKS), and consumables throughout the machine lifecycle (minimum 20 years). Revenue stream from aftermarket sales.
3. Yield Gripper rental model: The Yield Gripper is available exclusively as a rental (subscription) model, generating recurring rental revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

SCHIWA designs, develops, manufactures, and assembles custom-built high-performance slicing machines and complete slicing lines for the food processing industry. Core offerings are organized around two product families — Protein (sausage, ham, bacon, fresh meat) and Dairy (cheese) — featuring 1-, 2-, and 4-spindle configurations that reach up to 11,000 slices per minute, with proprietary self-learning weighing technology, hygienic stainless steel design, and long-term service and spare parts support guaranteed for 20+ years.

Product overview

Schiwa is a German manufacturer of high-performance slicing/cutting machines for food processing, specializing in custom solutions for the protein (sausage, ham, bacon, fresh meat) and dairy (cheese) industries. Their product portfolio centers on modular slicing systems available in 1-spindle, 2-spindle, and 4-spindle configurations, with throughput ranging up to 11,000 slices per minute. The core offering includes the Self-Learning Weighing System as the intelligent platform layer that continuously optimizes precision through real-time product variation detection. Add-on modules include the Yield Gripper (for reduced trimming), X-ray Scanner (inspection), Robot Handling (automation), Cracker Grabber (product handling), Block Divider (precision cheese cutting), Checkweigher Systems (weight control), and Guillotine Systems (precision cutting). All systems are developed and manufactured in Germany with a focus on 20+ year machine lifespan and are supported by long-term service and spare parts availability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Protein Slicing Systems High-precision slicing machines for sausage, ham, bacon, and fresh meat products, available in 1-spindle, 2-spindle, and 4-spindle configurations delivering up to 11,000 slices per minute. Designed for industrial food processors handling uniform caliber goods and variable natural products.
• Dairy Slicing Systems Customized slicing machines for cheese and dairy products with flexible modular design, delivering up to 9,000 slices per minute and supporting diverse portioning and packaging concepts. Built for cheese processors handling variable-density natural products.
• Yield Gripper Patented product handling solution for food slicing lines that reduces end-piece trimming by up to 60%, delivers 2-4 additional slices per end piece, and improves overall yield by up to 2.0%. Features CIP (Clean in Place) compatibility and adjustable clamping direction. Offered exclusively as a rental model.
• Self-Learning Weighing System Proprietary self-learning technology platform that detects variations in natural products (holes in cheese, fat density variations in sausage) and continuously adapts slice-by-slice to improve weighing accuracy and reduce product give-away. Underpins SCHIWA's slicing lines and has been in continuous refinement for nearly 20 years.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Weber Maschinenbau: Germany-based manufacturer of industrial slicing systems for food processing, including meat, cheese, and sausage. Direct competitor to SCHIWA in the high-performance slicer category with overlapping customer base in European protein and dairy processors.
• Provisur Technologies: US-headquartered manufacturer of food processing equipment including slicing, forming, and separation systems for meat, poultry, and seafood. Direct competitor in industrial slicing and forming lines for protein processors.
• Handtmann: German family-run manufacturer of food processing equipment specializing in portioning, forming, and slicing for meat and sausage producers. Direct peer in the protein processing category serving similar European food manufacturers.
• Reiser: US-based supplier of processing and packaging equipment for meat, poultry, seafood, and dairy. Direct competitor in slicing, portioning, and forming lines, particularly in the North American protein processing market.
• TREIF: German manufacturer of food cutting and slicing machines for meat, cheese, bread, and vegetables. Direct competitor in industrial slicing systems, with similar German mid-market positioning to SCHIWA.

Broad incumbents

• Marel: Iceland-listed global leader in food processing equipment covering meat, poultry, fish, and dairy. A broad incumbent that competes with SCHIWA in slicing and portioning for protein processors, while also offering end-to-line solutions at much larger scale.
• Bizerba: German family-owned provider of weighing, slicing, labeling, and inspection solutions for food and retail. Both a SCHIWA technology partner (Warsaw Pack 2026 integration) and a competitor in slicing and downstream weighing/labeling for food processors.
• JBT (John Bean Technologies): US-listed global provider of food processing and air transport solutions. Competes in protein and dairy processing equipment at scale, with broader portfolio and larger service network than SCHIWA.
• GEA Group: German-listed global engineering group serving food, dairy, and beverage processors with separation, homogenization, and processing equipment. A broad incumbent with overlap in dairy/cheese processing and adjacent slicing/portioning applications.
• Multivac: German family-owned global leader in packaging solutions and processing equipment for food, medical, and consumer goods. A broad incumbent in food packaging lines that often integrate with or compete against slicing systems like SCHIWA's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/dipl-ing-schindler-wagner-gmbh-co-kg

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Schindler & Wagner