Franken Guss

What Franken Guss does

Franken Guss GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German foundry headquartered in Kitzingen, Bavaria, operating with a workforce of 501-1000 employees and drawing on more than a century of foundry tradition at the Kitzingen site. The company produces customized iron and aluminum castings (capacity of 80,000 tons of iron across 15 materials and 4,500 tons of aluminum) and operates an in-house additive manufacturing line using selective laser melting (SLM) on a Concept Laser M2 Cusing dual-laser system with a 250x250x350 mm build volume. Core process technologies include an exclusive laminar die casting process co-developed with a major automotive OEM for crash-relevant, weldable, heat-treatable aluminum components, proprietary cast iron grade GJS 450-350-18 developed for Mercedes-Benz Actros safety applications, and the StrengthAl aluminum alloy designed for additive manufacturing. The full internal process chain covers construction consultation, solidification and FEM simulation, casting, CNC machining, heat treatment, metallographic examination, spectral analysis, and mechanical testing.

The business operates as a B2B development partner to industrial customers rather than a commodity job shop, engaging from early product development through series production on a project-based, negotiated contract basis with direct enterprise sales. Its customer base is anchored in automotive OEMs (Daimler Trucks/Mercedes-Benz, unnamed BEV platform customers, SEG Automotive) and diversified into wind power, rail infrastructure, hydrogen production, agricultural machinery, and architectural applications (JPMorganChase global HQ facade elements). Go-to-market is driven by trade show presence at Euroguss and Agritechnica, direct customer engagement with sales and technical teams, and a proprietary digital collaboration platform (PROlution) developed through the Innovation Agent program.

Franken Guss is part of the JORA-Gruppe holding alongside sister company Sachsen Guss, with ownership retained by the Ramthun entrepreneur family. The company underwent a multi-phase restructuring starting with a Schutzschirmverfahren in April 2024, transitioning to an insolvency plan in October 2024, and concluding insolvency proceedings in November 2025, while maintaining operations and continuing to win new programs, including a BEV platform scheduled for 2027 series production start. Quality, environmental, occupational health, energy, automotive (IATF 16949), and information security (TISAX) certifications support its qualification as a tier supplier to German automotive customers.

Name

Franken Guss

Legal name

Franken Guss GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://frankenguss.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Franken Guss is a German foundry in Kitzingen providing customized iron casting (80,000 tons), aluminum casting (4,500 tons), and SLM additive manufacturing to automotive, wind, rail, hydrogen, agricultural, and architectural OEMs via long-term development partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metal Foundry Services

NAICS

Iron and Steel Pipe and Tube Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (33121)

SIC

Miscellaneous Primary Metal Products (3390)

akta.pro primary industry

Aluminum Casting & Ingot/Billet/Slab Production (IMAKACAE)

Keywords

• Iron casting services
• Aluminum die casting
• Additive manufacturing
• Metal foundry solutions
• Automotive casting components

Headquarters

HQ city

Kitzingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Iron and Aluminum Casting Services: Custom casting services processing 15 different iron materials at 80,000 tons capacity and aluminum at 4,500 tons capacity. Includes prototyping, series production, and value-added processing (CNC machining, heat treatment). Revenue generated through direct project contracts with industrial customers.
2. Additive Manufacturing Services: SLM (Selective Laser Melting) services for rapid prototyping, small series production, and specialized components. Internal full process chain from construction to testing enables comprehensive service offering.
3. Development Partnership Services: Engineering and development partnership services working alongside customers from early product development. Includes material development, topology optimization, simulation, and process engineering as part of casting project contracts.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Franken Guss is a German foundry providing customized iron and aluminum casting solutions with capacities of 80,000 tons (iron, 15 materials) and 4,500 tons (aluminum). Services include proprietary laminar die casting for crash-relevant automotive components, selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing for metallic prototypes and small series, plus full internal process chain from development through simulation, casting, and quality testing.

Product overview

Franken Guss is a specialist foundry offering iron casting (80,000 ton capacity, 15 materials), aluminum casting (4,500 ton capacity), and additive manufacturing via selective laser melting (SLM). The company operates laminar die casting for high-strength, crash-relevant components and has developed proprietary materials including StrengthAl alloy and GJS 450-350-18 ductile cast iron. Core products serve automotive (Mercedes-Benz Actros, electric vehicle platforms), wind power, rail infrastructure, hydrogen production, and architecture sectors. The PROlution digital platform supports customer inquiry processes as part of their Industry 4.0 initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eisenguss (Iron Casting Services) Custom iron casting services processing 15 different iron materials at 80,000 tons annual capacity, including specialized ductile cast iron (Sphäroguss) variants such as GJS 450-350-18 with extended yield strength and elongation properties for safety-critical components.
• Aluminiumguss (Aluminum Casting Services) Custom aluminum casting services at 4,500 tons annual capacity, producing high-strength, crash-relevant and weldable components using horizontal cold chamber die casting machines. Includes proprietary laminar die casting for components requiring superior mechanical properties.
• Additive Fertigung (Selective Laser Melting / SLM Additive Manufacturing) Selective laser melting (SLM) additive manufacturing service for metallic components from various alloys, including proprietary StrengthAl high-performance aluminum alloy. Uses dual-laser M2-Cusing system with full internal process chain from construction and 3D scanning through metallographic examination, spectral analysis, and mechanical testing. Used for rapid prototyping and small series production.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80000 tons iron casting capacity and 4500 tons aluminum casting capacity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sachsen GusscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within the JORA Group. Franken Guss and Sachsen Guss operate together as part of the JORA Group of companies. They jointly participate in events such as Agritechnica and the Innovation Agent program, sharing expertise and resources.
• JORA GroupcoreOthersParent holding company for Franken Guss and Sachsen Guss. The JORA Group underwent restructuring including insolvency proceedings which were successfully concluded in 2025, with the entrepreneur family remaining in control.
• Daimler TruckscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing development partnership with Daimler Trucks in Stuttgart. Franken Guss serves as development partner for new vehicle components from initial concept through series production. Example: safety reinforcement for Mercedes-Benz Actros fourth generation.
• SEG AutomotivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment partnership with SEG Automotive for generator cooling fan development. Franken Guss used additive manufacturing to produce prototypes for a new 20-gram lightweight fan generation. SEG operates 16 global locations including Stuttgart and Hildesheim.
• #openspaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDigitalization platform that conducted the Innovation Agent program (2017). Provided mentoring and training for Franken Guss employees in Berlin creative spaces, helping develop digital business models.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bharat Forge Limited: India-based global supplier of forged and cast components for automotive, energy, and industrial markets — comparable in product family (cast/formed metal structural parts for OEMs) but competes from a different geographic cost base than Franken Guss.

Broad incumbents

• GF Casting Solutions (Georg Fischer): Swiss-listed multi-material casting division of Georg Fischer AG, covering iron, steel, and superalloy castings across automotive and industrial end-markets — a much broader incumbent in the same automotive-foundry space as Franken Guss.

Direct peers

• Eisenwerk Brühl GmbH: German iron foundry specializing in complex castings for commercial vehicles, rail, and wind energy — overlaps with Franken Guss's iron-casting and rail/wind customer-segment footprint.
• Leiber Group GmbH: Specialty aluminum-silicon alloy and casting producer serving European automotive and industrial customers; comparable specialty-alloy and casting technology positioning relative to Franken Guss.
• Handtmann Group: German die-casting specialist in aluminum and magnesium for automotive lightweight applications, with development-partnership GTM similar to Franken Guss's laminar die-cast and BEV component offering.
• KSM Castings Group: German-based custom iron and aluminum foundry serving automotive and industrial OEM customers with development partnerships on structural and safety-critical components — the closest functional analogue to Franken Guss in size, technology scope, and customer mix.
• Voit Automotive GmbH: German aluminum die-casting supplier to automotive OEMs, focused on complex structural and powertrain components — directly comparable to Franken Guss's aluminum casting and BEV chassis work.
• ASCO Industries GmbH: European producer of cast-iron and steel cast components for automotive, commercial vehicle, and railway applications — directly comparable technical-material focus to Franken Guss's iron foundry line.
• Nemak S.A.B. de C.V. Global leader in aluminum automotive components (engine, transmission, structural, EV), supplying OEMs worldwide — directly comparable to Franken Guss's structural aluminum and BEV program work, but at substantially larger scale.

Others

• Brembo / LaUBER (Meissner) concept laser: GE Concept Laser (now part of GE Additive) supplies the M2 Cusing dual-laser SLM system installed at Franken Guss's Kitzingen site — an enabling-technology partner rather than a competitor, but representative of the SLM equipment peer set against which Franken Guss's AM service offering is benchmarked.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@frankenguss
• Facebookfacebook.com/frankenguss
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/franken-guss
• Instagraminstagram.com/frankenguss

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Franken Guss