FLEX

What FLEX does

FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH is a German manufacturer of professional-grade power tools, founded in 1922 in Bad Cannstatt near Stuttgart and headquartered in Steinheim/Murr. The company designs and produces corded and cordless tools across an 18V and 12V battery platform, with core product lines including angle grinders (a category FLEX effectively created with the DL 9 in 1954, leading to the brand becoming a Duden-listed generic term for the product class), the Giraffe long-neck wall and ceiling sander (pioneered in Europe in 1997), rotary and random-orbit polishers, circular and metal saws, drills and impact wrenches, safety vacuum cleaners, measuring instruments, and the VAC 800-EC building-site air purifier. Technical differentiators include brushless EC motors, the proprietary KEEP COOL active battery-cell cooling system, the Cordless Connect radio-triggered dust-extraction integration, and modular platforms such as the TRINOXFLEX stainless-steel finishing system and the PXE 80 smart polisher with tool-free drive interchangeability.

Since 2012, FLEX has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hong Kong-based Chervon Holdings Ltd., one of the top-ten global power tool manufacturers with roughly 5,000 employees, while retaining its German brand identity, R&D center, and Steinheim production site. Revenue is generated almost entirely from one-time hardware sales of power tools, accessories, and consumables (abrasives, batteries, chargers, drill bits, polishing pads), supplemented by warranty and repair services (3-year product warranty, ≥5-year spare-parts availability through an in-house service center). All sales flow exclusively through authorized specialist trade dealers—no direct consumer channel—serving professional end users in building & renovation, metalworking, automotive refinishing, and stone finishing, with current emphasis on Europe and North America. The most recently disclosed revenue is approximately €80 million (2019) with 320 employees at headquarters as of January 2021; subsequent growth has been pursued through accelerating product launches, 18V/12V platform consolidation, and the acquisition of regional distribution entities in Scandinavia (May 2024) and Poland (announced November 2025, effective April 2026).

Name

FLEX

Legal name

FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH

Website

https://flex-tools.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH is a German professional power tools manufacturer (founded 1922) producing cordless and corded tools, sanders, polishers, and safety vacuums for professional tradesmen in building, metalworking, automotive, and stone finishing, sold exclusively through specialist dealers under its parent Chervon Holdings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Sulzbach An Der Murr

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

Revenue model

1. Power Tool Sales: FLEX generates revenue primarily from the sale of corded and cordless power tools (angle grinders, sanders, polishers, saws, drills, hammer drills, mixers), measuring instruments (lasers, rangefinders), safety vacuum cleaners, and air purifiers. Sales are conducted exclusively through specialist dealers (B2B distribution) on a one-time purchase basis.
2. Accessories and Consumables: FLEX sells accessories including abrasives, batteries, chargers, drill bits, polishing pads, and specialized accessories (e.g., bit sets, dust extraction guards, collets). Available through the same specialist dealer network.
3. Warranty and Repair Services: FLEX offers a 3-year warranty on products, with an own repair/service center. Spare parts are maintained for at least 5 years after product discontinuation. This supports long-term customer loyalty and recurring service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

FLEX (FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH) is a German manufacturer of professional-grade corded and cordless power tools, including angle grinders, sanders, polishers, saws, drills, measuring instruments, safety vacuum cleaners and air purifiers. Products are sold exclusively through authorized specialist trade dealers to professional tradesmen.

Product overview

FLEX is a German power tools manufacturer (FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH) specializing in professional-grade power tools and equipment. The product portfolio centers on four core voltage platforms: 18V (comprehensive professional range), 12V (compact applications), and 10.8V (light-duty tools), plus a full line of corded machines. Key product lines include angle grinders (the company's founding product since inventing the first high-speed angle grinder in 1954), Giraffe long-neck wall and ceiling sanders (pioneered in Europe in 1997), polishers for automotive and surface finishing applications, circular saws and mitre saws, drills and screwdrivers, safety vacuum cleaners with dust extraction systems, TRINOXFLEX metalworking systems, measuring/laser technology, garden tools, air purifiers, heated workwear, and work lights. FLEX also offers comprehensive accessories including battery packs, chargers, and specialized attachments. The company serves four core market segments: refurbishment/renovation, metalworking, automotive, and natural stone processing. Products are distributed exclusively through specialist dealers with a 3-year warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Giraffe: Long-neck wall and ceiling sander product line, first introduced in 1997 and continuously innovated since.
• TRINOXFLEX
• POLISHFLEX
• Vario-Giraffe

Products and services

• Cordless Tools 18V Platform Comprehensive 18-volt cordless power tool platform including drills, drivers, saws, grinders, sanders and impact wrenches with brushless motor technology, for professional tradesmen.
• Cordless Tools 12V Platform Compact 12-volt cordless power tool platform for light-duty applications including drills, jigsaws, reciprocating saws and angle grinders.
• Angle Grinders Professional angle grinders ranging from 710W to 2300W in corded and cordless variants with brushless motor technology. FLEX invented the first high-speed angle grinder in 1954.
• Giraffe Wall and Ceiling Sanders Long-neck sanders for walls and ceilings including the GE 6 R-EC (lightest ever) and GE 6 X-EC models. FLEX pioneered this category in Europe in 1997.
• Polishers Professional polishers including rotary polishers (PE series), random orbit polishers (XFE series) and the smart polisher PXE 80 with interchangeable drive system for car restoration.
• Saws Range of circular saws (CS series), mitre saws (SMS 305), metal circular saws (CSM 57), reciprocating saws and jigsaws in corded and cordless variants.
• Drills and Screwdrivers Hammer drills, drill drivers (DD series), drywall screwdrivers (DW series) and rotary hammer drills (FHE series) with SDS-plus compatibility.
• Safety Vacuum Cleaners Safety vacuum cleaners (VCE series) with HEPA filters including wet/dry models and the VCE CConnect system for intelligent dust extraction control.
• Measuring Technology/Lasers Laser rangefinders (ADM series), cross-line lasers (ALC series) and laser tripods for precise measurement and alignment on construction sites.
• Mixers Professional mixers for construction materials available in corded and cordless configurations.
• Metal Surface Treatment (TRINOXFLEX) TRINOXFLEX system for stainless steel finishing including pipe belt sanders, burnishers and interchangeable attachments for various metalworking applications.
• Garden Tools Battery-powered garden tools including hedge trimmers (GHT), grass shears (GCS, GLT) and blowers (GBL) utilizing the 18V platform.
• Air Purifiers VAC 800-EC building site air purifiers with HEPA H14 filters filtering 99.995% of virus and bacteria particles.
• Battery-Powered Heated Jackets TJ and FJ White heated jackets with 4 temperature levels and 3 heating zones, powered by 10.8V or 18V battery packs.
• Work Lights Battery-powered LED work lights including WL 2800 floodlight with 2800 lumens and CL 5000 building site spotlights.
• Impact Wrenches High-torque cordless impact wrenches including 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch variants with up to 1600 Nm torque.
• Pipe Presses Cordless pipe presses (PP series) for professional plumbing installations with smart power pack technology.
• Multitools MT 18.0-EC cordless multitool with oscillating head system for versatile applications.
• Straight Grinders DGE series straight grinders available in corded and cordless versions for precision metalworking applications.
• Metal Shears and Nibblers SHE series cordless metal shears and nibblers enabling cutting without sparks for metalworking applications.
• Edge Cutters and Routers CER 18.0-EC 2-in-1 cordless edge cutter and router with Quick-Lock spindle, toolless motor fixing and interchangeable milling units.
• Accessories and Consumables Comprehensive range of accessories including battery packs (2.5-8.0 Ah), chargers, abrasives, drill bits, saw blades, polishing pads and specialized attachments like the SAD BS drill dust adapter.
• Warranty and Repair Services 3-year warranty on products with an own repair/service center; spare parts maintained for at least 5 years after product discontinuation, supporting long-term customer loyalty.

Quantifiable outcome

• Vibration level as low as 3.5 m/s² on new palm sanders (vs. 8-hour unrestricted work threshold of 5 m/s² per Occupational Health and Safety Ordinance)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Makita: Japanese global professional power tool maker and one of the largest in the 18V LXT cordless platform. Direct competitor on cordless angle grinders, sanders, polishers, and rotary/impact tools across FLEX's segments. Both target professional tradesmen globally with dedicated dealer channels.
• Fein: German premium power tool maker (founded 1867) with strong overlap in metalworking, finishing, and professional construction — the inventor of the oscillating multi-tool. Very comparable on premium positioning, German engineering heritage, and Overlap Specialist-trade distribution.
• Hikoki (formerly Hitachi Power Tools): Japanese professional power tool maker and current owner of Metabo. Direct competitor on cordless grinders, hammer drills, and rotary tools. Overlap with FLEX on German-engineered professional positioning through Metabo and on cordless ecosystem competition via Hikoki's own multi-volt platform.
• Mafell: Premium German manufacturer of professional woodworking and construction power tools. Overlap in professional tools, German-engineered positioning, specialist dealer distribution, and similar pricing tier to FLEX. Both share the same Mittelstand premium-power-tool archetype.
• Hilti: Liechtenstein-headquartered premium professional tools and direct-fastening specialist. Direct competitor in the trades professional channel, with overlapping product categories (drilling, grinding, sawing) and high overlap in target customers (professional contractors, tradesmen). Differentiated by its direct sales/service model rather than dealers.
• Milwaukee Tool (Techtronic Industries): Leading professional cordless power tool brand owned by Techtronic Industries, dominant in the M18 cordless ecosystem. Direct competitor on cordless grinders, polishers, sanders, and impact wrenches serving the same professional tradesmen with an aggressive platform strategy.
• Festool: German premium professional power tools brand, owned by TTS Tooltechnic Systems. Closest direct peer: same German engineering heritage, same exclusive specialist dealer model, similar professional construction/renovation and finishing focus. Festool and FLEX routinely compete head-to-head on premium sanders, extractors, and saws.
• DeWalt (Stanley Black & Decker): Professional power tool brand of Stanley Black & Decker with strong 20V MAX cordless platform. Major competitor on cordless grinders, drills, impact wrenches and saws serving FLEX's professional contractor customer base, with especially strong US market footprint.
• Metabo: German-headquartered professional power tool maker (metalworking, renovation) now owned by Hikoki (formerly Hitachi). Closely comparable to FLEX on German engineering DNA, professional-grade positioning, metalworking and grinding/sanding overlap, and similar brand heritage and price positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Professional (Power Tools): The 'blue' pro trade line of Robert Bosch GmbH. Larger and broader incumbent competing across virtually every category FLEX serves — from angle grinders to cordless platforms (18V) to measuring tools. Operates both through dealers and direct, representing a much larger competitive threat across all categories.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/flex_tools
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FLEXTools
• Facebookfacebook.com/flexelektrowerkzeuge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/flex-elektrowerkzeuge-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/flex_tools

Compliance10 records

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 FLEX