HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH

What HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH does

HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH is a privately held German agricultural machinery manufacturer headquartered in Schierling/Eggmühl, Bavaria, founded in 1974 and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the French-listed industrial conglomerate EXEL Industries. The company designs, manufactures, and services self-propelled agricultural equipment for the sugar beet value chain, with three primary product families: the Terra Dos series of self-propelled sugar beet harvesters (currently Terra Dos 5 in 5-30 and 5-40 configurations, 652 HP), the Terra Variant carrier vehicle platform for slurry application and field logistics (435 and 650 HP variants), and the Terra Felis 3 evo self-propelled beet cleaner loader. Adjacent offerings include the compact RRL 200 loader for small-scale and multi-crop operations and the Secatflex SL row-crop cultivator attachment, supported by the Comfort Cabin III, EasyTouch Connect terminal, SmartDrive operating system, and proprietary subsystems such as DynaCut, EasyLift, EasyConnect, EcoPower, and Adaptive Cleaning PLUS.

The business operates a high-touch enterprise sales model: directly from the Schierling headquarters and via wholly-owned subsidiaries in France, Poland, Czech Republic, Turkey, and Ukraine, plus a Beijing representative office and (as of 2026) full sales-and-service centers in Zhangjiakou (China) and Cairo (Egypt). Revenue is generated primarily through new machine hardware sales, with supporting streams from spare parts logistics (Schierling warehouse), certified driver training at the in-house Training Center, service contracts, and a used-machines program. Key component suppliers include Mercedes-Benz (engines), VOGELSANG (rotary lobe pumps and slurry distribution), ZUNHAMMER (slurry tank technology), Kessler (co-developed LV 3000 transmission), Michelin (CerexBib tires), GRAMMER (seats), and Hardox (wear-steel components). End customers are agricultural contractors, cooperatives, and large farmers across Europe and CIS markets, served by a multilingual digital presence (nine languages) and an annual cadence of product innovation including a 2015 world-record performance of 85.6 hectares harvested in 24 hours.

Name

HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH

Legal name

HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH

Website

https://holmer-maschinenbau.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH is a German manufacturer and global leader in self-propelled sugar beet harvesters (Terra Dos), carrier vehicles for slurry application (Terra Variant), and beet cleaner loaders (Terra Felis), serving agricultural contractors, cooperatives, and farmers across Europe and CIS markets as a subsidiary of EXEL Industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Agricultural Machinery

NAICS

Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42382)

SIC

Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Hay & Bale Handling Equipment (IMAHACAF)

Keywords

• Sugar beet harvesters
• Self-propelled agricultural machinery
• Carrier vehicles
• Beet cleaner loaders
• Slurry application equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Schierling

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

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. Agricultural Machinery Sales: HOLMER generates revenue through the direct sale of agricultural machinery including self-propelled sugar beet harvesters (Terra Dos), carrier vehicles (Terra Variant), beet cleaner loaders (Terra Felis), and compact loaders (RRL). The company operates as a manufacturer selling to agricultural contractors, cooperatives, and farmers through direct sales and distributor networks.
2. Spare Parts and Aftermarket: Revenue generated from spare parts sales through the logistics center/parts warehouse in Schierling, Germany, and service centers. Express order service available for multiple European countries.
3. Service and Support: Service revenue from customer support, workshop services, maintenance, inspections, repairs, and warranty services provided through HOLMER's service centers and service partners.
4. Training Services: HOLMER offers driver training programs including Terra Dos 5 Driver Training, delivering certified machine operator qualification. Training conducted at the Training Center Schierling.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH designs, manufactures, and sells self-propelled agricultural machinery, with a primary focus on sugar beet harvesters (Terra Dos series), self-propelled carrier vehicles for slurry application and field logistics (Terra Variant series), self-propelled beet cleaner loaders (Terra Felis series), compact transfer loaders (RRL 200), and row-crop cultivator attachments (Secatflex SL). The company sells directly and through a network of national subsidiaries and distributors in Europe and Asia, supported by spare parts logistics, certified driver training, and a global service-partner network.

Product overview

HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH is a global leader in agricultural machinery with over 50 years of experience, specializing in self-propelled sugar beet harvesters and carrier vehicles. The product portfolio centers on three core machine families: the Terra Dos series (Terra Dos 5) self-propelled sugar beet harvesters for high-capacity harvesting with advanced scalper and cleaning systems; the Terra Variant carrier vehicles designed for slurry spreading, beet transport, and tillage operations with flexible superstructure configurations; and the Terra Felis 3 evo self-propelled beet cleaner loaders for post-harvest picking, cleaning, and transfer loading. Supporting these core products are the compact RRL 200 loader for smaller operations, the Secatflex SL slurry cultivator attachment, and comprehensive service and training programs. The company also offers branded subsystems including the HOLMER Comfort Cabin III, EasyTouch Connect Terminal, SmartDrive operating system, DynaCut scalper, EasyLift depth control, EasyConnect quick coupling, and DynaProtect assistance systems. Slurry equipment integrates VOGELSANG rotary piston pumps and RotaCut cutting units.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Terra Dos: Self-propelled sugar beet harvester product line, currently in its 5th generation (Terra Dos 5) with models 5-30 and 5-40.
• Terra Variant
• Terra Felis
• RRL 200
• Secatflex SL

Products and services

• Terra Dos 5
• Terra Variant
• Terra Felis 3 evo
• RRL 200
• Secatflex SL
• HOLMER Service
• HOLMER Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 85.6 hectares of sugar beets harvested in 24 hours with Terra Dos T4-30 and HR 12 (2015 world record)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature14 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG)coreTechnology or IntegrationMercedes-Benz provides engines for HOLMER agricultural machinery. Terra Dos 5 uses Mercedes-Benz engines with 652 HP (480 kW) meeting Stage V emissions standards. Terra Variant 435 uses Mercedes Benz OM 470 Stage V engines; Terra Variant 650 uses Mercedes Benz OM 473 LA engines.
• VOGELSANGcoreTechnology or IntegrationVOGELSANG supplies rotary lobe pumps and slurry equipment for Terra Variant machines. Terra Variant 435 uses VX 186-368 QD pumps; Terra Variant 650 optionally uses VX 215-320. Also provides slurry distribution technology for Secatflex SL.
• ZUNHAMMERcoreTechnology or IntegrationZUNHAMMER supplies slurry technology components including tank systems optimized for Terra Variant superstructures. Provides VAN-Control preparation for accurate nutrient measurement.
• KesslercoreTechnology or IntegrationKessler developed the LV 3000 transmission specifically for and with HOLMER for Terra Variant 650. This is a hydrostatic-mechanical power-split continuously variable transmission.
• Exel IndustriesflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerExel Industries is the parent company of HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH. The Exel Industries logo is displayed on HOLMER's website footer indicating the corporate ownership structure.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kverneland Group: Kverneland manufactures agricultural implements including sugar beet harvesting equipment and loaders. As part of Kubota's implement portfolio, it provides overlapping capability in beet harvesting and root crop handling equipment, directly competing with HOLMER in the European market.
• ROPA Fahrzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH: ROPA is the closest direct competitor to HOLMER, also a German manufacturer of self-propelled sugar beet harvesters (Tiger) and beet cleaner loaders. Both companies compete head-to-head in the European beet harvester market and are the two principal specialists in self-propelled beet harvesting technology.

Broad incumbents

• John Deere (Deere & Company): John Deere is the world's largest agricultural machinery manufacturer with a broad portfolio including tractors, harvesters, and precision agriculture technology. While not a specialist in self-propelled beet harvesters, its scale, dealer network, and precision farming platform represent the principal strategic threat to HOLMER's niche leadership.
• AGCO Corporation: AGCO manufactures agricultural equipment under brands including Fendt, Massey Ferguson, and Valtra, with tractors and harvesting equipment that overlap with HOLMER's customer base. AGCO's Fendt brand in particular is a strong premium competitor in the European agricultural machinery market where HOLMER operates.
• CNH Industrial: CNH Industrial (parent of Case IH and New Holland) is a major global agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer. It offers tractors, harvesters, and specialty crop equipment, competing with HOLMER at the broader agricultural machinery level and providing an alternative for beet-growing customers seeking multi-brand relationships.

Emerging players

• Pöttinger Landtechnik GmbH: Pöttinger is an Austrian agricultural machinery manufacturer specializing in hay/forage harvesting, tillage, and seeding equipment. While its core product mix differs from HOLMER's beet harvesters, it serves the same European agricultural contractor customer base and competes for capital equipment budgets.
• AGRIFAC Machinery B.V. AGRIFAC is a Dutch manufacturer of self-propelled crop sprayers with strong presence in sugar beet and potato growing regions. While its product is sprayers rather than harvesters, it serves the same large-scale European arable farming customers and competes for similar dealer/distribution relationships.
• Amazone GmbH & Co. KG: Amazone is a German manufacturer of agricultural machinery including soil tillage, seeding, fertilizer spreading, and crop protection sprayers. While not a direct competitor in beet harvesters, it competes in adjacent root crop and field logistics equipment categories with overlap in agricultural cooperatives and large farm customers.
• HORSCH Maschinen GmbH: HORSCH is a German manufacturer specializing in tillage, seeding, and crop protection equipment with a focus on precision agriculture. It shares HOLMER's German Mittelstand DNA and customer base of large-scale agricultural operations, though with different primary product focus.

Others

• VOGELSANG GmbH & Co. KG: VOGELSANG is a key technology partner and supplier of rotary lobe pumps and slurry equipment for HOLMER's Terra Variant. It is adjacent/complementary rather than competitive, but is an ecosystem participant in the same agricultural machinery and slurry application space.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HolmerMaschinenbau
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/holmer-maschinenbau-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 HOLMER Maschinenbau GmbH