What KORDEL does

KORDEL Antriebstechnik GmbH is a German privately held manufacturer of custom gear mechanisms and drive systems, founded in 1879 as a blacksmith workshop and headquartered in Dülmen, Germany. The company designs and produces special gearboxes, including helical, planetary, angular, bevel-helical, pump transfer case, and wheel hub drives, organized around three primary end-markets: agricultural machinery (combine and forage harvesters, potato/beet harvesters, tillage equipment), construction machinery (road pavers, cold milling machines, mobile crushers, rollers), and material handling/intralogistics (industrial trucks, forklifts). The product portfolio combines standardized branded lines (KORBASE, KORLINE, KORSYS, KORFRONT, KORGUIDE, KORDRIVE) with bespoke engineering services, and all production steps from gear blank to finished gearbox, assembly, and final inspection are carried out in-house across four ultra-modern facilities spanning approximately 60,000 m² of integrated floor space in Germany and Poland.

Revenue is generated through project-based B2B sales of custom-engineered hardware, with quote-driven pricing tied to specific customer requirements and yearly demand volumes. The go-to-market model combines direct enterprise engagement from design through delivery with a small network of international sales partners (CEP in the USA, Qingdao BRBC in China, Cimap in France) that handle regional relationships while production is centralized in Germany and Poland. The customer base comprises globally recognized OEMs such as Jungheinrich, Kion, Toyota Material Handling, Crown, Clark, Combilift, Claas, and Grimme, indicating a sales-led motion anchored in long-term supply relationships rather than volume distribution. In 2018, the company's shares were transferred in full to foundations, reinforcing a long-horizon ownership posture focused on continuity and capital investment rather than short-term returns.

Name

KORDEL

Legal name

KORDEL Antriebstechnik GmbH

Website

https://kordel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1879

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

KORDEL Antriebstechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of custom gear mechanisms and drive systems serving agricultural machinery, construction machinery, and material handling OEMs across more than four integrated production facilities in Germany and Poland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Gear and Drive Systems

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Gearmotors, Gearboxes & Speed Reducers (IMAGACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Equipment Vehicle Manufacturing (Earthmoving/Loaders/Excavators/Dozers) (IMACAFAA), Axle, Differential & Final Drive Manufacturing (Front/Rear/E-axle housings) (IMACAHAG)

Keywords

• Industrial gear systems
• Drive technology manufacturing
• Agricultural machinery gearboxes
• Construction equipment gearboxes
• Material handling drives

Headquarters

HQ city

Dülmen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Gear and Drive System Manufacturing: KORDEL designs, develops, and manufactures innovative gear and drive systems tailored to individual customer requirements. Revenue is generated through custom project-based manufacturing from small-scale to large-scale series production. All production steps from design to final inspection are completed in-house.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KORDEL designs, develops, and manufactures custom gear and drive systems for agricultural machinery, construction machinery, and material handling (industrial trucks) OEMs. The company operates fully integrated in-house production from gear blank to finished gearbox, supporting both small-scale and series production. Its product lines include specialized branded drive systems (KORBASE, KORLINE, KORSYS, KORFRONT, KORGUIDE, KORDRIVE) as well as helical, planetary, angular, bevel, and pump transfer gearboxes engineered to individual customer specifications.

Product overview

KORDEL offers a comprehensive portfolio of gear and drive systems primarily for three industry segments: agricultural machinery, construction machinery, and material handling (industrial trucks). The product lineup includes specialized branded product lines for material handling applications (KORBASE, KORLINE, KORSYS, KORFRONT, KORGUIDE, KORDRIVE) and standard gear types (helical, planetary, angular, bevel gearboxes) for construction and agricultural machinery. All products are characterized by custom manufacturing, with design and production conducted under one roof, enabling individualized small and large-scale series production. The offering is structured around physical drive technology products rather than software platforms, with certifications including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KORBASE: Electrically steered traction drive for industrial trucks
• KORLINE
• KORSYS
• KORFRONT
• KORGUIDE
• KORDRIVE
• KORPO Sp. z o.o.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% Quality - Every component closely monitored throughout entire production process
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Cimap S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner representing KORDEL in France. Contact: 13, av. de la Porte de Champerret, 75017 Paris, Phone: +33 (0) 1 44 29 00 00, Fax: +33 (0) 1 46 22 26 10, E-Mail: [email protected]
• CEP Clausen Engineering PartnerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner representing KORDEL in USA. Contact: 1209 Jill Ave., Celina, OH 45822, Phone: +1 419-305-3982, E-Mail: [email protected]
• Qingdao BRBC Balls & Transmission Parts Co., LtdcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partner representing KORDEL in China. Contact: No. 921, Tuan Jie Road, Economic and Technical Development Area, Qingdao City, 266510, China, Phone: (+86-532) 8610 7681, Fax: (+86-532) 8610 7682, E-Mail: [email protected]
• SaphirIT GmbHminorOthersData protection officer (Datenschutzbeauftragte) provider. Contact: Sutthauser Straße 285, 49080 Osnabrück, Germany, E-Mail: [email protected]

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Flender (Siemens): Siemens-owned mechanical drives specialist producing gear units and couplings for industrial and wind applications. Much larger incumbent offering broader portfolio across industries including wind, oil & gas, and conveyors.
• Regal Rexnord: Global manufacturer of power transmission products including gear drives, bearings, and electric motors serving material handling and industrial markets. Broader portfolio but overlapping product lines.
• Nidec (Leroy-Somer): Global motor and drive specialist including the Leroy-Somer brand. Much larger incumbent offering drives and motors to industrial truck OEMs alongside broader industrial markets.
• ZF Friedrichshafen: Global drivetrain and chassis technology supplier with industrial gear and material handling exposure. Much larger player with broader automotive focus but overlapping product categories in drives.

Emerging players

• Bison Gear & Engineering: US-based manufacturer of fractional horsepower gear motors and custom gear drives for material handling and industrial applications. Comparable product category with narrower geographic focus.

Direct peers

• SEW-Eurodrive: German-based manufacturer of gear motors, electronic drives, and mechatronic drive systems. Closest direct competitor to KORDEL, serving intralogistics, automotive, and industrial customers with comparable product breadth.
• Nord Drivesystems: German family-owned manufacturer of gear drives, electric motors, and drive electronics. Directly comparable in customer base (intralogistics OEMs), product mix (gearboxes and drive systems), and Mittelstand ownership profile.
• Bauer Gear Motor: Manufacturer of gear motors and geared drives serving intralogistics and industrial applications. Directly comparable in product category (custom gear drives for material handling OEMs).
• Bonfiglioli: Italian manufacturer of gearmotors, drive systems, and planetary gearboxes serving material handling, construction, and agricultural machinery. Comparable product portfolio and customer overlap with KORDEL.
• David Brown (Sumitomo): Manufacturer of geared motors and gear units serving material handling, mining, and industrial markets. Comparable in custom gear manufacturing for industrial truck OEMs.

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/kordelantriebstechnik
• Instagraminstagram.com/kordel_antriebstechnik
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kordel-antriebstechnik-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 KORDEL