Kerschgens

What Kerschgens does

Kerschgens Werkstoffe & Mehr GmbH is a German, privately held, sixth-generation family business founded in 1876 and headquartered in Stolberg (Rhineland). The company is a one-stop solution provider for steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and non-ferrous metals, and claims to be one of Germany's leading suppliers of perforated plates. Its product portfolio spans steel, stainless steel, aluminum/non-ferrous metals, bright steel, quality steel, rebar, sheet metal, pipes, steel bars, grating, and formed steel sections, supported by an integrated 'preprocessing services' offering of approximately 15 capabilities — including cutting, bending, drilling, flame-cutting, milling, sawing, threading, contour marking, notching, multiple miter cuts, countersinking, abrasive blasting, and shop priming — plus complete assembly production (Baugruppenfertigung) following the 2022 acquisition of Carlier Blechbearbeitungs GmbH.

The company operates from four sites across North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate (Stolberg HQ, Bitburg, Aachen, Würselen), with a new 65,000 m² consolidated campus at Stolberg under construction for 2026 occupancy. It holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, Construction Steel (Baustahl), and DIN EN 1090 certifications, and serves B2B customers across four primary verticals: structural engineering and metal construction, construction industry, mechanical engineering, and metalworking industry. Distribution is conducted through direct enterprise field sales with named account representatives; marketing combines email newsletters, LinkedIn/Facebook/XING/Instagram presence, trade shows, and customer events such as the annual 'Kerschgens meets Ostbelgien'.

Revenue mechanics are quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with stainless steel alloy extras indexed monthly to LME metal exchange prices. The business model combines one-time materials sales with professional-services-style preprocessing and custom storage/logistics revenue. The company is a member of the NORDWEST steel/metal purchasing cooperative and several industry associations (BDS, BME, Wirtschaftsverband Großhandel Metallhalbzeuge), and collaborates with RWTH Aachen research institutes for co-engineering. Sub-brands include KPLUS for premium product lines. The firm is privately held with no institutional investors and is governed by four Managing Directors: Manfred Kerschgens, Heinz Herbort, Pierre Schlüper, and Felix Herbort (sixth-generation family, appointed 2021).

Name

Kerschgens

Legal name

Kerschgens Werkstoffe & Mehr GmbH

Website

https://kerschgens.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kerschgens Werkstoffe & Mehr GmbH is a German, sixth-generation family-owned steel and non-ferrous metal distributor offering integrated preprocessing services and assembly production to B2B customers in construction, mechanical engineering, metalworking, and structural engineering across four regional sites in NRW and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Metal Materials Distribution

NAICS

Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel (3312)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Long Products Manufacturing (Rebar, Wire Rod, Merchant Bar, Sections/Beams) (IMAKABAH)

Keywords

• Steel distribution
• Metal materials supply
• Perforated plates
• Metal preprocessing services
• Structural steel products

Headquarters

HQ city

Stolberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Steel and Metal Distribution: Sale of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and non-ferrous metals including bars, sheets, pipes, sections, rebar, grating, and perforated plates
2. Preprocessing Services: Value-added processing including cutting, bending, drilling, flame-cutting, milling, sawing, threading, marking, and abrasive blasting
3. Custom Storage and Logistics: Custom storage solutions and logistics services for steel materials

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kerschgens distributes a broad portfolio of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and non-ferrous metal products (bars, sheets, pipes, sections, rebar, grating, perforated plates, bright steel) to B2B customers across construction, mechanical engineering, metalworking, and structural engineering. It complements materials supply with in-house preprocessing services such as cutting, bending, drilling, flame-cutting, milling, sawing, threading, marking, and abrasive blasting, plus assembly production and custom storage/logistics.

Product overview

Kerschgens Werkstoffe & Mehr is a comprehensive steel and metal materials supplier offering a broad portfolio of steel, stainless steel, non-ferrous metals, and specialty products including perforated plates (one of Germany's leading suppliers), bright steel, quality steel, rebar, sheet metal, pipes, steel bars, grating, and formed steel sections. The company provides integrated preprocessing services (cutting, drilling, bending, milling, flame-cutting, sawing, threading, marking, abrasive blasting), assembly production, and customer services (custom storage, logistics, quality management, test certificates). A product configurator enables customers to select materials and services. The offering operates as a one-stop solution combining materials supply with value-adding processing services across four locations in North Rhine-Westphalia and Rhineland-Palatinate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KPLUS: A KERSCHGENS brand focused on premium/enhanced product lines.

Products and services

• Steel (Stahl) Standard steel products supplied to B2B customers in construction, mechanical engineering, metalworking, and structural engineering for industrial and building applications.
• Stainless Steel (Edelstahl) Corrosion-resistant stainless steel materials distributed to B2B customers with monthly alloy extras tied to LME metal exchange prices.
• Aluminum / Non-ferrous metals Aluminum and other non-ferrous metal products distributed to industrial and construction customers.
• Perforated Plates (Lochbleche) Kerschgens is one of Germany's leading suppliers of perforated plates, offering specialized inventory and expertise to metalworking and construction customers.
• Bright Steel (Blankstahl) Bright steel products supplied for precision industrial applications including mechanical engineering.
• High-Grade Steel (Qualitätsstahl) High-quality steel materials for demanding industrial use cases, including precision-machined components.
• Rebar / Construction Steel (Betonstahl) Reinforcement and construction steel supplied to building and infrastructure construction firms with Baustahl certification.
• Sheet Metal (Bleche) Sheet metal products in various grades and dimensions supplied to metalworking and fabrication customers.
• Pipes (Rohre) Steel pipes and tubular products supplied to industrial and construction customers.
• Steel Bars (Stabstahl) Steel bar products supplied for various industrial applications.
• Grating (Gitterroste) Steel grating products supplied for industrial flooring, platforms, and walkways.
• Formed Steel / Steel Sections (Formstahl / Stahlprofile) Custom formed steel sections and profiles supplied to construction, structural engineering, and metalworking customers.
• Preprocessing Services

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• astedis (Association of Steel Distributors)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association of steel distributors providing networking, best practices, and market intelligence for steel distribution businesses
• Bundesverband Deutscher Stahlhandel (BDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman Federal Association of Steel Trade representing and supporting steel trading companies
• Bundesverband Materialwirtschaft, Einkauf und Logistik e.V. (BME)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman materials management, purchasing and logistics association for professional development and networking
• FIR e. V. an der RWTH AachencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch institute at RWTH Aachen University focused on production and logistics research, providing innovation and technology transfer
• Industrie- und Handelskammer Aachen (IHK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChamber of Commerce and Industry serving Aachen region, providing certification and networking services
• Lehrstuhl und Institut für Massivbau (IMB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitute for Structural Concrete at RWTH Aachen University for technical collaboration and research
• NORDWESTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading purchasing association for steel and metal distributors enabling bulk procurement and market access
• Stahlverbund PhoenixminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSteel industry network focusing on innovation and collaboration in the steel sector
• Wirtschaftsverband Großhandel Metallhalbzeuge e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for non-ferrous metal wholesale trade
• Ladies in Black (Aachen volleyball team)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSports sponsorship of local volleyball team in Aachen for brand visibility and community engagement
• Space Team AachenminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent aerospace initiative at RWTH Aachen University, sponsor providing materials and support for rocket development projects
• Carlier Blechbearbeitungs GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSheet metal processing company acquired in September 2022, expanding capabilities in sheet metal processing and module assembly

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• thyssenkrupp Materials Services: The materials distribution arm of thyssenkrupp, one of Germany's largest industrial materials service centers offering steel, stainless, aluminum and non-ferrous metals plus cutting, machining and just-in-time logistics. Comparable end markets (construction, mechanical engineering, metalworking) and value-added processing model, but as part of a much larger industrial conglomerate.
• Dillinger Hütte: Dillingen-based producer of heavy steel plate serving construction, line pipe, offshore and structural engineering customers. Compares to Kerschgens on the structural/construction steel side and on serving the same Benelux/NRW regional industrial base, though Dillinger is upstream primary steelmaking rather than distribution.
• Salzgitter AG: One of Europe's largest steel producers, headquartered in Lower Saxony, with extensive steel trading and processing activities through its Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel division. Overlaps with Kerschgens in steel distribution and structural steel products serving German construction and industrial customers.
• Voestalpine Steel & Service Center: Austrian integrated steel producer with downstream service centers offering cutting, blanking and just-in-time delivery of processed steel products. Comparable in serving construction and mechanical engineering customers with value-added services, but with vertically integrated upstream steelmaking and a much broader portfolio.
• ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions: European distribution arm of the world's largest steelmaker, operating a network of service centers for flat and long products with cutting, blanking and machining. Comparable product mix (rebar, sections, sheet) and B2B customer base, though at vastly larger scale and integrated with primary steelmaking.

Regional players

• BE Group AB: Malmö-based steel and metal distributor with service centers across the Nordics and Eastern Europe. Same distribution-plus-processing business model as Kerschgens serving construction and manufacturing customers, but focused on Northern Europe rather than the German Benelux region.

Direct peers

• Wieland-Werke AG: Ulm-based manufacturer and supplier of semi-finished non-ferrous metal products (copper, copper alloys, brass) with integrated processing services. Direct overlap with Kerschgens' non-ferrous metals and stainless steel distribution plus preprocessing offering, with similar B2B customer base in industrial applications.
• BILSTEIN GROUP: German family-owned producer and service center for cold-rolled steel strip and downstream processed products. Highly comparable mid-sized German industrial metals business with own processing capabilities and long-standing B2B customer relationships in industrial end markets.
• Klöckner & Co SE: One of the largest producer-independent steel and metal distributors in Europe, headquartered in Duisburg, Germany. Directly comparable to Kerschgens in multi-metal distribution (steel, stainless, aluminum) combined with in-house processing services, though at materially larger scale and with a pan-European footprint.
• Robert Zapp Werkstofftechnik GmbH: Ratinger (Düsseldorf) family-owned specialty distributor and processor of stainless steel, nickel alloys, titanium and other high-performance materials. Comparable as a German mid-sized metals service center with in-house processing capabilities serving demanding industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kerschgenswerkstoffe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kerschgenswerkstoffe
• Instagraminstagram.com/kerschgenswerkstoffe

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Kerschgens