What GROB does

GROB GmbH Antriebstechnik is a German family-owned specialist in electromechanical linear drive technology, headquartered in Sinsheim-Steinsfurt, Germany, and operating internationally through a network of more than 20 regional distribution partners. The company designs and manufactures spindle lifting gears (Spindelhubgetriebe), push chains (Schubkette SK) and tower chain systems (TowerChain TC), electric cylinders, compact mini drives, electric actuators, and trapezoidal/ball screw drives, covering load capacities from approximately 0.5 kN to 2000 kN and applications from 100 kg to 200 tonnes. Its portfolio is anchored by proprietary architectures including a patented vertical push-chain design and what it describes as the world's only chain capable of both pushing and pulling, addressing applications where hydraulic systems are being replaced or where synchronization and high-cycle reliability are required.

The company serves industrial machinery and manufacturing, building and construction, food and packaging, scientific/astronomical equipment, and entertainment/theater customers, with named deployments at BMW, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol's House of Tulips, Siding Spring Observatory, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, and Theater Ehingen. Revenue is generated primarily through direct quote-based hardware sales of catalog standard products and custom-engineered solutions, supported by a 5-step consultative sales process and in-house ISO-certified manufacturing. Recent strategic activity has centered on product line extensions — the 2025 launches of the IP68-rated SANEU spindle actuator as a hydraulic/pneumatic replacement and a new high-precision ball screw line — alongside continued investment in a CAD configurator, technical Lerncenter, and a multilingual web presence to internationalize the demand funnel.

Name

GROB

Legal name

GROB GmbH Antriebstechnik

Website

https://grob-antriebstechnik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

GROB GmbH Antriebstechnik is a German family-owned manufacturer of electromechanical linear drive technology — spindle lifting gears, push chains, electric cylinders, and ball screws — serving industrial, building, food, scientific, and entertainment customers across more than 20 countries via a global distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Linear Drive Systems

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Ball & Roller Bearings (3562)

akta.pro primary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

Keywords

• Linear drive systems
• Spindle lifting gears
• Electromechanical actuators
• Ball screw drives
• Push chain systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Sinsheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Linear Drive Components and Systems: GROB generates revenue through the sale of electromechanical linear drive products including spindle lifting gears, push chains, electric cylinders, and actuators. The company offers both standard catalog products and custom-engineered solutions. Products are sold directly to industrial customers with a consultation-heavy sales process involving technical specification, design, manufacturing, and delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GROB GmbH Antriebstechnik designs and manufactures electromechanical linear drive technology including spindle lifting gears (Spindelhubgetriebe) in cubic, classic, high-performance, and quick-lift variants with load capacities from 2.5 kN to 2000 kN. The product portfolio extends to push chains (Schubkette SK), TowerChain systems for vertical applications, MINI drives, electric cylinders, electric actuators, and high-precision ball screw drives. The company delivers both standard catalog products and custom-engineered bespoke drive solutions via a 5-step consultative process from inquiry to delivery.

Product overview

GROB GmbH Antriebstechnik is a German company specializing in electromechanical linear drive technology. Their product portfolio centers on spindle lifting gears (Spindelhubgetriebe) available in cubic (MJ/BJ), classic (MC), high-performance (HMC), and quick-lift (KH) variants, covering load capacities from 2.5 kN to 2000 kN. The portfolio extends to push chains (Schubkette SK) and tower chain systems (TowerChain TC) for vertical applications, compact mini drives (MINI Antrieb) for space-constrained applications, electric cylinders (Elektrozylinder EZ), electric actuators (Stellantriebe), and high-precision ball screw drives. Recent additions include the spindle actuator SANEU (IP68) and new high-precision ball screws. All products support custom configurations through a modular kit system, with accessories including motors, gearboxes, and connection elements. The company serves industrial applications across material handling, food processing, stage equipment, renewable energy, and aerospace sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Spindelaktuator SANEU: Spindle actuator product line
• TowerChain TC
• Hochpräzisions-Kugelgewindetriebe

Products and services

• Spindelhubgetriebe (Hubgetriebe Kubisch MJ/BJ) - Cubic Spindle Lifting Gear Cubic spindle lifting gear with load capacity of 2.5 kN - 500 kN, featuring low mounting effort and versatile mounting options. Designed for industrial applications requiring linear motion.
• Hubgetriebe Klassisch MC - Classic Spindle Lifting Gear Classic spindle lifting gear with load capacity of 5 kN - 2000 kN, featuring easy attachment via housing plate. Designed for heavy-duty industrial linear motion applications.
• Hochleistungshubgetriebe HMC - High-Performance Lifting Gear High-performance lifting gear with load capacity of 5 kN - 1000 kN, high duty cycle, robust and wear-resistant design. Suited for demanding industrial applications.
• Schnellhubgetriebe KH - Quick-Lift Gear Quick-lift gear with load capacity of 15 kN - 90 kN, high cycle rate, and lifting speed of 50 - 200 mm/s. Designed for high-speed linear motion applications.
• Spindelaktuator SANEU - Spindle Actuator Spindle actuator with load capacity of 2.5 kN - 100 kN, IP68 protection class, designed to replace hydraulic and pneumatic systems on a 1:1 basis. New 2025 product launch.
• Schubkette SK - Push Chain Push chain with load capacity of 3 kN - 35 kN, space-saving design, suitable for extreme temperatures up to 1050°C short-term. World's only chain capable of both pushing and pulling linear motion.
• TowerChain TC - Tower Chain System Tower chain system with load capacity of 3 kN - 60 kN, allowing unguided strokes over 4,000 mm, specialized for vertical applications. Patented design for maximum buckling stability.
• MINI Antrieb - Compact Mini Drive Compact mini drive with load capacity of 1 kN - 26 kN, short design, IP65 protection class, designed for food industry and tight spaces. Stainless steel construction with hollow-shaft motor.
• Elektrozylinder EZ - Electric Cylinder Electric cylinder with load capacity of 3 kN - 40 kN, precise positioning, plug & play operation with integrated options. Designed for precise positioning applications.
• Stellantriebe - Electric Actuators Electric actuators with load capacity of 100 N - 6 kN, 24V drive, ready-to-use pre-engineered system. Compact linear actuator for general industrial use.
• Gewindetriebe - Trapezoidal and Ball Screw Drives Trapezoidal and ball screw drives available in sizes from TR10 to TR300, offered in rolled and ground versions, customizable to customer drawings.
• Hochpräzisions-Kugelgewinde - High-Precision Ball Screw Drives High-precision ball screw drives with accuracy class up to C1, long service life, and efficiency up to 98%. New 2025 product launch.

Quantifiable outcome

• Elimination of hydraulic oil leaks and associated environmental risks
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• SEW EurodrivecoreTechnology or IntegrationSEW Eurodrive supplies electric motors for GROB's lifting gear systems. SEW motors are integrated into custom lifting solutions such as observatory telescope positioning systems requiring 15,000 W drive motors.
• Framo MoratregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational distribution partner for GROB linear drive products in their sales territories.
• DriveLinesregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based distribution partner for GROB products.
• RA RodriguezregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based distribution partner for GROB products.
• AXIS and StuifmeelregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetherlands-based partner that implemented the House of Tulips greenhouse lifting system at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
• PM Design GroupregionalImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAustralian design firm that selected GROB for observatory telescope positioning system upgrade at Siding Spring Observatory.
• MädlerregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distribution partner for GROB products.
• Fritz KüblerregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGerman distribution partner for GROB products.
• CeticregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFrench distribution partner for GROB products.
• EIE MaskinregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNorwegian distribution partner for GROB products.
• VDMAminorOthersGerman Mechanical and Plant Engineering Association membership for industry representation and networking.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Festo: Global German automation leader offering electric linear actuators, cylinders, and drives across pneumatics and electric motion control. Comparable to GROB in product category (electromechanical linear drives) but with vastly larger scale, broader portfolio, and global direct sales footprint.
• Parker Hannifin: Global motion and control technologies leader offering electromechanical actuators, linear motors, and position-control systems. Overlaps with GROB in electric linear drive category as part of a much broader industrial portfolio including hydraulics and pneumatics.
• Bosch Rexroth: Major German manufacturer of linear motion technology including ball screws, linear guides, and electromechanical cylinders. Directly overlaps with GROB's ball screw and linear drive product lines but operates at much greater scale across industrial automation and factory machinery.
• SMC Corporation: Japanese pneumatics and electric automation giant with significant offering in electric actuators and linear motion products. Comparable to GROB in linear actuator space but operating at substantially larger scale and broader catalog.

Direct peers

• Nook Industries: Specialist manufacturer of screw jacks, ball screws, and electric linear actuators for industrial lifting and positioning. Highly comparable niche specialist to GROB with overlapping product lines in spindle lifting gears and ball screw drives.
• Thomson Industries: Specialist in linear motion technology including ball screws, lead screws, linear actuators, and electromechanical cylinders. Closely comparable to GROB in product scope (linear motion components) and customer base (industrial OEMs), serving similar load and precision applications.
• Tolomatic: US-based manufacturer of electric linear actuators, rod actuators, and integrated motion systems for industrial applications. Closely comparable to GROB in electromechanical linear drive offerings, serving factory automation and heavy machinery OEMs.
• Ewellix (formerly SKF Linear Motion): Manufacturer of linear actuators, ball screws, and electromechanical motion solutions across industrial automation. Highly comparable to GROB in product category — linear motion components for medium-to-heavy load applications — and serves similar industrial OEM customers globally.
• Rollco: European specialist supplier of linear motion components including linear guides, ball screws, and electric actuators. Closely comparable to GROB as a similarly sized niche distributor-integrated specialist serving industrial automation customers.
• HepcoMotion: UK-based specialist in linear motion systems including linear actuators, slides, and electromechanical drives. Comparable to GROB as a focused linear motion component manufacturer serving industrial automation customers with custom-engineered solutions.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 GROB