Glave group

What Glave group does

Glave Gruppe GmbH is a family-owned German industrial group headquartered in Norden (Ostfriesland) that operates as a stainless steel service center and automation machinery producer, serving European industrial manufacturers and steel service centers. The group comprises four wholly-owned operating companies: Norder Band AG (the largest, providing slit coil, sheet and bar steel from stainless steel with slitting, cross-cutting, surface and edge processing), Norder Band und Blech GmbH (NBB) running 10 slitting lines and 15 additional machines for toll processing of stainless steel, aluminum and titanium, NLT Automation GmbH (developer of knife-building portal robots, strip separators, packaging technology and slitter-setup software for coil processing lines), and NORICS GmbH (IT services including the proprietary NBS ERP system for metal-strip service centers). The group employs over 300 people, is led by managing directors Stefan Glave, Micha Glave and founder Volker Glave, and reports more than 100 successful NLT robot installations worldwide across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

The group's core technology is centered on stainless steel coil processing and production automation. NLT Automation designs and builds all key robot components in-house — control software, mechanical structures and electrical systems — including the PRCS20, PRCS30 (with Double Tower Technology) and OCTO40 portal robots, the ASS10 automatic strip separator with pneumatic shaft spreading, ASCOspeed optical slip-free speed measurement, ECU10/ECU20 knife-edge inspection, fully automatic tool washing systems, and the NLT Slitter Setup calculation software. NBB's Packenwicklung coil winding technology can produce up to 24 coils simultaneously with running lengths up to 50,000 m, and slitting tolerances of 0.3 mm are achievable. NORICS's NBS is a proprietary ERP/warenwirtschaftssystem originally developed for Norder Band AG and offered externally as a branch solution for metal-strip service centers. The group's sustainability positioning includes the Vireo CO2-reduced stainless steel brand (sourced from Outokumpu's Circle Green, claimed 93% lower CO2 footprint vs. global industry average) and an automated product carbon footprint calculation co-developed with Tanso.

Glave Gruppe operates a B2B, quote-based revenue model with three primary streams: (1) toll processing fees for stainless steel band, sheet and bar production (transaction-fee model); (2) hardware sales of NLT automation machinery including robots, separators, packaging equipment and revamps of existing systems; and (3) professional services and software licensing through NORICS, including NBS ERP and IT consulting. Distribution is direct sales-led via field engagement and trade shows (Blechexpo, Stainless), with marketing supported by LinkedIn, Facebook, video content, CSR reports and a dedicated career portal. Anchor customers include NORMA Group (23-year supply relationship, three-time Supplier Recognition Award winner), Siegenia (Supplier of the Year 2020), and ArcelorMittal/Gonvarri (PRCS30 Double Tower installation). The group holds AEO certification (December 2023) for Norder Band AG and NBB and the NLT trademark registered with the DPMA.

Name

Glave group

Legal name

Glave Gruppe GmbH

Website

https://glave.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Glave Gruppe is a family-owned German industrial group operating stainless steel service centers and proprietary automation machinery (knife-building portal robots and slitter-setup software), serving European manufacturers and steel service centers with 300+ employees across four operating companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stainless Steel Service Center and Metal Processing

NAICS

Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing (331110)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Steel Service Centers & Processing (Slitting, Cut-to-Length, Blanking, Leveling) (IMAKABAL)

Keywords

• Stainless steel processing
• Metal slitting services
• Automation machinery
• Knife-building robots
• Industrial ERP software

Headquarters

HQ city

Norden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Stainless Steel Toll Processing: Toll processing (Lohnarbeit) services for stainless steel bands, sheets, and rods. Services include slitting, cross-cutting, surface and edge processing, and packaging of stainless steel coils to customer specifications. Revenue generated through processing fees per unit processed.
2. Automation Machinery Sales: Sale of industrial automation machinery including knife-building portal robots (PRCS20, PRCS30, OCTO40), strip separation systems, packaging equipment, control systems, and custom constructions. Also includes upgrades and revamping of existing systems.
3. IT Services and Software (NORICS): NORICS provides hardware, software, consulting, networks, internet, and training services. The NBS (Norics Business Software) ERP system was originally developed for Norder Band AG and is offered as a branch solution for service centers and metal processing plants. Since June 2009, services are also offered outside the Glave Gruppe.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Glave Gruppe is a family-owned industrial group operating as a stainless steel slitting service center that processes coils into slit bands, sheets, and bar steel to customer specifications, while also developing and manufacturing automation machinery — including knife-building portal robots, strip separation systems, edge processing and packaging equipment — and offering a proprietary NBS ERP/warenwirtschaftssystem for metal service centers. Revenue is generated via toll processing fees, capital equipment sales, and IT/software services sold directly to industrial manufacturers and steel service centers in Germany and across Europe.

Product overview

Glave Gruppe is a family-owned industrial group consisting of four companies: Norder Band AG (largest company, stainless steel slit coil, sheets, bar steel products with processing services), Norder Band und Blech GmbH (contract processing with 10 slitting lines and 15 machines for stainless steel, aluminum, titanium), NLT Automation GmbH (automation systems including knife-building robots, strip separators, packaging technology, and software), and NORICS GmbH (IT services including NBS ERP system). The portfolio centers on stainless steel processing, automation machinery, and related software/systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stainless Steel Slitting and Processing Services Toll processing (Lohnarbeit) services for stainless steel coils, including slitting, cross-cutting, surface and edge processing, and packaging to customer specifications. Delivered to industrial manufacturers and steel service centers on a just-in-time basis with cutting tolerances as tight as 0.3 mm.
• Stainless Steel, Aluminum, and Titanium Contract Processing Contract slitting, cutting, coiling, and grinding services for bands, sheets, and bars in stainless steel, aluminum, and titanium. Operated on 10 slitting lines and 15 additional machines at the Norder Band und Blech GmbH (NBB) facility in Norden.
• NLT Portal Robots (PRCS Series) Automated knife-changing portal robots for slitting lines, including PRCS20, PRCS30, PRCS30-DT (Double Tower) and OCTO40 models. Replace manual knife handling with compact, mobile, and efficient robot operation in confined spaces, with over 100 successful installations worldwide and Double Tower technology enabling one robot to operate two production lines.
• NLT Automatic Strip Separator (ASS10) Custom-made automatic strip separation systems that can be integrated into new or existing slitting lines. Uses a two-finger gripper to position separator discs fixed by pneumatic shaft spreading.
• ASCOspeed Optical Speed Measurement Technology Optical, slip-free speed measurement technology that provides exact band speed in real time to the machine control system, enabling optimal cutting edge quality and knife life on slitting lines.
• NLT SLITTER SETUP Calculation Software Market-leading calculation program for slitter setup, used in conjunction with NLT knife-building robots.
• NLT Packaging Technology (Kippstuhl, Waage, Abbindetisch, Palletierung, Einstretchen) Components for material removal and packaging including tilt chairs, scales, binding tables, palletizing, and stratching machines, all equipped with fully automatic NLT control systems.
• Edge Processing Equipment (Arrondier- und Walzanlagen) Edge processing equipment enabling sharp, rolled, brushed, and rolled-rounded edges on slit coils, with edges configurable to round, square, or sharp depending on requirements.
• NBS (Norics Business Software) ERP System Warehouse management system with production control developed as an industry solution for service centers and plants processing metal coils. Maps all processes from quote to invoice and supplies approximately 200 employees with information at Norder Band AG. Offered externally to metal service centers since June 2009.
• NLT Tool Washing System Automatic tool cleaning system that removes dust, dirt, oils, and scale from slitting knives, enabling continuous operation without production interruption. Tools can be handed over directly by the robot or by an additional industrial robot.
• NLT ECU10/ECU20 Automatic Knife Edge Inspection Automatic knife edge inspection systems for checking knife condition after slitting operations.
• Vireo CO2-Reduced Stainless Steel Products Sustainable stainless steel product brand offering CO2-reduced stainless steel from various manufacturers (Circle Green from Outokumpu), reducing the CO2 footprint by 93% versus the global industry average and enabling customers to build a reduced CO2 supply chain.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cutting tolerances as tight as 0.3mm achievable (compared to average A4 sheet thickness of 0.15mm)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TansocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2025Norder Band and Tanso developed a joint solution for automatic product carbon footprint calculation. This partnership enables automated CO2 footprint calculation for stainless steel products, supporting sustainability reporting and green procurement requirements.
• OutokumpucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOutokumpu supplies Circle Green, a stainless steel product that reduces CO2 footprint by 93% compared to global industry average. Glave Gruppe offers this as the Vireo brand, their CO2-reduced product line, enhancing supply chain sustainability for customers.
• Uns Leegemoor (Business Community)minorOthersGlave Gruppe was instrumental in founding the 'Uns Leegemoor' business community, which brings together companies from various industries in the Leegemoor industrial area. Glave provided the logo and website. The community aims to strengthen connections, shorten paths, and build a strong economic community.
• FARSminorOthersFARS provides first aid training courses for employees of all Glave Gruppe companies. Training covers both theoretical knowledge and practical exercises including emergency response, casualty rescue, and heart attack recognition.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kohler Maschinenbau GmbH: German manufacturer of slitting lines, cut-to-length lines, and strip-processing equipment for steel service centers. Direct equipment peer to NLT Automation — both supply automated slitting-line machinery and compete for the same service-center modernization budgets.
• Wickeder Edelstahlwerke GmbH: Specialty stainless steel processor focused on cold-rolled strip and profiled sections for automotive, industrial, and consumer applications. Closely mirrors Norder Band AG's stainless steel service-center activities in both product mix and German industrial customer base.
• Kloeckner & Co SE: One of Europe's largest steel and metal service-center networks with distribution and processing of stainless, aluminum, and carbon steel. Directly comparable business model to Norder Band AG's toll processing activities, though at vastly greater scale and broader geographic reach.
• BILSTEIN GROUP: Family-owned German producer and processor of cold-rolled steel strip, with deep slitting and finishing capabilities serving automotive and industrial customers. Highly comparable operating model to Norder Band AG/NBB on the stainless steel service-center side, with similar Mittelstand profile.
• Hegla GmbH & Co. KG: German Mittelstand manufacturer of automated cutting, sorting, and material-handling systems, initially for flat glass but extending into metallic and special materials. Closely comparable to NLT Automation in size, customer profile (industrial processors), and integrated hardware/software automation approach.
• voestalpine Steel Service Center: voestalpine's downstream service-center division operates precision slitting, cut-to-length, and surface processing of high-quality steel strip across Europe. Directly comparable toll-processing activities and customer segments to Glave's stainless slitting operations.
• Andritz Soutec Kaiser: Andritz's slitting and coil-processing technology business supplying strip-processing lines and automation to metal service centers worldwide. Direct competitor to NLT in slitting-line automation, though operating at larger corporate scale within Andritz.

Broad incumbents

• ThyssenKrupp Materials Services: The materials distribution and service-center arm of ThyssenKrupp, operating hundreds of service centers globally across carbon steel, stainless, and aluminum. Overlaps with Glave's stainless slitting and processing but at significantly larger scale and as part of a much broader industrial portfolio.
• Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH: Salzgitter AG's flat-steel division producing and processing hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and coated steel strip for European industrial customers. Overlaps with Glave's downstream stainless processing via its strip product portfolio and processing services.
• Aperam Stainless Steel Services: Stainless steel producer with European service-center operations providing slit, cut, and finished stainless products to industrial customers. Overlaps with Glave's stainless service-center business, including the sustainability/green-stainless positioning that competes directly with Glave's Vireo/Circle Green offering.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GlaveGruppe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/glave-gruppe-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Glave group