DANNER + KNOSP

What DANNER + KNOSP does

DANNER + KNOSP Maschinenbau GmbH is a privately held German custom engineering and special machine builder founded in 2004 and headquartered at Max-Planck-Straße 1 in Offenburg. The company executes complete projects from initial concept through commissioning ('E bis I' — Entwicklung to Inbetriebnahme), delivering complex welded constructions, automation systems, measurement devices, and bespoke mechanical equipment for industrial customers in tunnel construction, steel production, hydropower, concrete manufacturing, aviation infrastructure, heavy press technology, wire rope production, and vertical drilling. It serves both as an engineering services provider and as the developer of select own-brand products, including the Self-Leveler automatic surveying-instrument leveller and the Stellplatzautomat cash terminal for motorhome and camping sites.

Technically, the firm is built around 3D CAD design using Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, and Creo Direct Modeling, accompanied by FEM-based design optimisation, servo linear motors, electric servo presses, robotics, image processing systems, and pneumatic measurement devices engineered for harsh industrial environments (tunnel dust, airport runway abrasion, hydroelectric debris). Named customers include VMT GmbH, Herrenknecht Vertical GmbH, Masa GmbH, Presstec Pressentechnologie GmbH, BGS Strate Wasserhochdruck GmbH, WIEGERT & BÄHR, Lothar Huck GmbH, and Hinn Kft (Hungary). The team of 17 — 8 engineers, 5 machine-building technicians, 1 draftsman, 2 commercial staff, and 1 apprentice — has accumulated over 600 completed projects and more than 500,000 engineering hours since founding.

The business model is project-based professional services plus custom hardware sales, priced via bespoke quotation with multi-year contract cycles and no public pricing. Go-to-market is exclusively direct enterprise field sales with a regional DACH focus (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) and select Central-European reach. All projects are delivered end-to-end with weekly transparent progress and budget reporting. The company is founder-controlled under Managing Director Hubert Danner (Dipl.-Ing.), with no disclosed institutional investors, venture capital, or external funding.

Name

DANNER + KNOSP

Legal name

Danner + Knosp Maschinenbau GmbH

Website

https://danner-knosp.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

DANNER + KNOSP Maschinenbau GmbH is a privately held German custom engineering and special machine builder founded in 2004 in Offenburg, delivering end-to-end projects (development through commissioning) in welded constructions, automation, and measurement devices for industrial customers across the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Engineering and Machine Building Services

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAHAEAH

Process Skids & Modular Process Systems (Packaged Units)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Industrial Machinery & Heavy Equipment/Process & Industrial Plant Equipment

SECONDARYIMAGAGAH

Test, Measurement & Calibration Equipment Manufacturing Services (ATE, DAQ, metrology electronics)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Electrical Equipment & Industrial Electronics/Industrial Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS/ODM for industrial electronics)

Keywords

• Custom machine building
• Industrial automation systems
• Measurement device engineering
• Special machinery construction
• FEM-optimized design

Headquarters

HQ city

Offenburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Construction Services: Complete project handling from development and construction to commissioning of machines and plants. Services include 3D construction, FEM analyses, manufacturing drawings, component procurement, assembly, and commissioning. Projects range from welded constructions to complex special machines.
2. Custom Mechanical and Electronic Devices: Custom-developed measurement devices, electronic systems, and mechanical devices. Includes products like distance measuring devices, leveling instruments, camera systems, parking automatons for camping sites, and mechanical handling equipment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

DANNER + KNOSP is a custom-engineered machine building and industrial automation firm that develops, designs, procures components, assembles, and commissions bespoke machines, plants, measurement systems, and mechanical devices. Its portfolio spans four service areas: Development and Construction (3D-CAD, FEM analysis, manufacturing drawings), Automation Technology (robotics, drive technology, image processing), Measurement Devices and Electronic Systems (sensors, cameras, cash terminals), and Mechanical Devices (custom fixtures, high-pressure cleaners, test stands). Projects are delivered end-to-end from initial concept through to commissioning, with a focus on heavy-duty applications such as tunnel boring, hydropower, forging presses, and airport runway cleaning.

Product overview

DANNER + KNOSP is a custom engineering and machine construction company offering four main service areas: Development and Construction (3D-CAD, FEM analysis, manufacturing drawings), Automation Technology (robotics, drive technology, image processing systems), Measurement Devices and Electronic Systems (sensors, cameras, cash terminals), and Mechanical Devices ('unplugged' solutions). Their portfolio includes multiple own-brand and custom-engineered products such as the Self-Leveler (automatic surveying equipment levelling device), Stellplatzautomat (parking cash terminals), and various specialized machines including tunnel measurement systems, wire rope net machines, forging presses, and high-pressure cleaners. The company uses Autodesk Inventor, SolidWorks, and Creo for 3D modelling, and FluidDraw for schematics. All projects are handled from concept through to commissioning.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-Leveler Automatic self-levelling device for surveying equipment such as tachymeters, designed for deformation monitoring in construction projects. Can automatically level up to 10° with high precision and includes temperature compensation for harsh construction site conditions. Developed as an own product by DANNER + KNOSP.
• Stellplatzautomat (Parking Terminal) Cash terminal for motorhome pitches and camping sites, developed for customer Hinn Kft. Features license plate recognition, cash and cashless payment options, and remote monitoring via web console. Includes Alcor and Merak model variants.
• Hochdruckreiniger für Landebahnen (Runway High-Pressure Cleaner) High-pressure cleaner for removing rubber deposits from airport runways, developed for BGS Strate Wasserhochdruck GmbH. Working width of 1.75m and water pressure of 500 to 2,800 bar. Fleet of 8 large and 2 small cleaners delivered.
• Schildschwanzluftmessung (Tail Shield Air Measurement) Device for measuring the ring gap between tunnel boring machine and tunnel lining to calculate tunnel lining position. Developed for VMT GmbH with pneumatic drive and robust design for harsh tunnel conditions including dust, dirt, water, and grease.
• Schnellschmiedepresse (Fast Forging Press) Press for manufacturing large free-form forged parts, constructed for Presstec Pressentechnologie GmbH. Maximum press force of 31,500 kN (3,150 tons) and capable of 100 strokes per minute.
• Drahtseilnetzmaschine (Wire Rope Net Machine) Machine for manufacturing nets from galvanized wire ropes and stainless steel cables with aluminum or stainless steel knots. Delivered for Lothar Huck GmbH with cycle time of ≤2.0 seconds.
• Rechenreiniger Weserkraftwerk (Rake Cleaner) Rake system for a hydroelectric power plant with six rake cleaners, constructed for WIEGERT & BÄHR. Arm outreach of 10.5m and FEM-optimized welded construction.
• Styroporeinleger (Styropor Inserter) Machine for singulating, processing, and feeding styropor blocks for hollow block production plants. Delivered for Masa GmbH with cycle time of 1.5 seconds and precise positioning including rebar insertion.
• Teststand für Vertikalbohrantriebe (Test Stand for Vertical Drilling Drives) Tension machine of 10,000 kN with hydraulic brake for testing vertical drilling drives. Developed for Herrenknecht Vertical GmbH for functional tests of hook load classes 350 to 750 tons.

Named customers8 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• AutodeskcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware partner for 3D construction using Autodesk Inventor. Primary CAD tool for creating precise 3D models and technical drawings.
• SolidWorkscoreTechnology or IntegrationAdditional 3D CAD software used for construction and modeling tasks.
• Creo Direct Modeling (PTC)coreTechnology or Integration3D CAD software used alongside other tools for design and modeling.
• FESTO (FluidDraw)supportingTechnology or IntegrationUsed for creating pneumatic and electrical schematics as part of the design process.
• SafexpertcoreTechnology or IntegrationSoftware for CE marking and ensuring compliance with all relevant standards and directives.
• netmotion Internet-ServicessupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerWebsite hosting provider located in Kappelrodeck, Germany. Provides external hosting services for the company's website.
• CleverReachsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNewsletter service provider for email marketing and newsletter distribution to customers.
• Local Manufacturing PartnerssupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPriority on local partners for procurement and manufacturing components. Emphasis on customer proximity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Festo SE & Co. KG: Esslingen-based global automation technology leader. Danner + Knosp uses Festo's FluidDraw for schematics and overlaps on pneumatics-driven measurement systems (e.g., tunnel ring-gap measurement); broader incumbent with similar DACH Mittelstand DNA.
• Dürr AG: Bietigheim-Bissingen-based mechanical and plant engineering group, with strong automation and environmental technology businesses. Comparable in custom plant construction and automation, but operating at significantly greater scale and global reach.
• Schuler AG: Global press technology and automation leader based in Göppingen, Germany. Overlaps directly with Danner + Knosp's forging press (Presstec) and automation technology service lines, though at vastly larger scale.
• Herrenknecht AG: World leader in tunnel boring machines headquartered in Schwanau, Germany. Danner + Knosp has been a development partner and supplier to Herrenknecht since 2004, and serves the same heavy-machinery / tunnel-construction end market.
• SMS group: German family-owned plant engineering group for metals processing. Highly comparable in plant construction, complex welded constructions, and FEM-optimized heavy machinery, but at a much larger scale and broader international footprint.
• Liebherr-International AG: Swiss-German family-owned heavy machinery and construction equipment group. Overlaps with Danner + Knosp in complex welded constructions, heavy mechanical engineering, and the DACH Mittelstand DNA, but at vastly greater scale and product breadth.
• SICK AG: Waldkirch-based sensor and measurement instrumentation leader. Overlaps with Danner + Knosp's measurement device and electronic systems business line, though SICK is a much larger sensor manufacturer with global scale.
• KUKA AG: Augsburg-based robotics and automation specialist. Overlaps with Danner + Knosp's automation technology service line (robotics, image processing, modern drive technology) but is a much larger publicly listed competitor and supplier.

Direct peers

• HAHN Automation: German-based special-purpose machinery and automation builder. Most directly comparable in custom automation, assembly systems, and robotics integration, with similar customer base in industrial manufacturing.
• Masa GmbH: German-based machinery manufacturer for concrete block, aerated concrete, and paver production. Danner + Knosp built the Styropor inserter machine for Masa, and both firms serve the heavy concrete/building materials machinery end market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/danner-knosp-maschinenbau-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/dannerknosp

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 DANNER + KNOSP