IBG Group

What IBG Group does

IBG Group (legal name: IBG Industrie-Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG) is a privately held, family-owned German industrial conglomerate founded in 1921 and headquartered in Cologne. Operating through 72 consolidated subsidiaries and affiliated companies across 38-39 countries, the group is structured around three business divisions: welding and cutting technology (unified under the ABICOR GROUP umbrella brand since February 2024), construction chemicals (under KEMPER SYSTEM, including the category-defining KEMPEROL liquid sealant launched in 1969), and tungsten/refractory metal components. Across these divisions, the company produces and sells welding torches and consumables (ABICOR BINZEL, CANTESCO), cutting equipment (Thermacut), fume extraction systems (HERR Industry System), laser/photonic tools (PT Photonic Tools), tungsten heavy-metal alloys (ASTARAS, Weldstone), liquid waterproofing and coating systems (KEMPEROL, COELAN, STS Coatings, EasyGround), and cross-brand integrated system solutions (ABICOR SYSTEMS).

The group generates revenue primarily through B2B hardware sales of industrial products to enterprise customers in metalworking/manufacturing, automotive, medical technology, precision engineering, construction, and capital goods. Distribution combines direct sales via the group's own subsidiaries with exclusive distribution partners and qualified processing/trading companies, supported by 12 production sites in more than 50 countries (ABICOR GROUP alone). The company's go-to-market is enterprise field sales, with local customer proximity maintained through subsidiaries and partner networks in each region. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is negotiated bilaterally with B2B customers under the ABICOR GROUP and KEMPER SYSTEM brand portfolios.

IBG Group's strategic posture centers on long-term ownership, family-controlled continuity since the 1920s, category-leading brand assets accumulated over a century, and incremental expansion through a mix of organic capex (new US and Indian facilities opened in 2025) and bolt-on M&A in adjacent welding, cutting, and construction-chemical technologies. The ABICOR GROUP consolidation in February 2024 and ongoing investments in laser, cobot, and orbital welding applications suggest a deliberate shift toward integrated automation-oriented system solutions for industrial customers.

Name

IBG Group

Legal name

IBG Industrie-Beteiligungs-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KG

Website

https://ibg-cologne.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1921

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IBG Group is a privately held, family-owned German industrial conglomerate founded in 1921 that manufactures and sells welding and cutting technology (ABICOR GROUP), construction chemicals (KEMPER SYSTEM), and tungsten components through 72 subsidiaries in 38-39 countries. It serves enterprise B2B customers in metalworking, automotive, medical technology, precision engineering, and construction.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Welding & Cutting Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Welding, Joining & Soldering Equipment (Arc, Resistance, Friction, Brazing) (IMAHADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sheet Metal Machinery (Laser/Plasma/Waterjet Cutting, Punching) (IMAHADAD), Welding & Cutting Gases (IMAEACAH), Welding & Plasma Power Supplies (Industrial welders, cutting power sources) (IMAGADAI)

Keywords

• Welding equipment manufacturing
• Cutting technology systems
• Construction chemicals sealing
• Tungsten heavy metal alloys
• Industrial welding components

Headquarters

HQ city

Deutschlandberg

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Welding and Cutting Technology Products: Sale of cutting, welding, systems and components products through ABICOR GROUP brands including ABICOR BINZEL, Thermacut, HERR Industry System, PT Photonic Tools, Astaras, Cantesco and Weldstone
2. Construction Chemicals Products: Sale of sealing and coating products under KEMPER SYSTEM brands including KEMPEROL, COELAN decorative coatings, STS coatings for building insulation, CANTESCO welding chemicals
3. Tungsten Components: Production and sale of tungsten and refractory metal components for demanding customers and markets, especially foundry components for light-metal casting applications
4. System Solutions and Integration: Complete system solutions combining products from multiple ABICOR GROUP companies for individual customer applications including cobot applications, orbital welding, robot applications, laser applications, process monitoring and extraction technology

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IBG Group manufactures and sells welding and cutting technology products (torches, electrodes, cobot/robot welding systems, laser systems, process monitoring, extraction equipment) under the ABICOR GROUP umbrella, and construction chemicals (liquid sealants, decorative and insulation coatings, floor coverings) under KEMPER SYSTEM. It also produces tungsten and refractory metal components for industrial applications.

Product overview

IBG Group is a diversified, globally active industrial conglomerate operating in three core business sectors: (1) Welding Technology under the ABICOR GROUP umbrella brand — which unites cutting (Thermacut), welding (ABICOR BINZEL, Astaras, Cantesco), systems (HERR Industry System, PT Photonic Tools), and components (Weldstone) — offering cobot applications, orbital welding, robot applications, laser applications, process monitoring, and extraction technology as integrated system solutions; (2) Construction Chemicals under the KEMPER SYSTEM brand — comprising the core KEMPEROL liquid sealant product, COELAN decorative coatings, STS Coatings building insulation, EasyGround floor covering, and CANTESCO welding chemicals; and (3) Tungsten Components for demanding industrial applications. The portfolio follows a multi-brand strategy where each brand maintains its own identity while sharing resources and synergies under the parent IBG Group holding.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ABICOR GROUP: Unified brand for cutting, welding, systems, and components, encompassing ABICOR BINZEL, Thermacut, HERR Industry System, PT Photonic Tools, Astaras, Cantesco, and Weldstone.
• KEMPEROL
• COELAN
• STS Coatings
• CANTESCO
• EasyGround

Products and services

• ABICOR BINZEL Welding Equipment

Quantifiable outcome

• Local Kemperol production investment achieved payback within 18 months
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

Feature9 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Pyrum Innovations AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIBG Group has investments in Pyrum Innovations AG, a company specializing in innovative recycling and plant construction. This investment in the sustainability/recycling market segment demonstrates IBG Group's openness to technological innovation beyond core business areas.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals leader with strong positions in roofing waterproofing, sealing, and bonding systems for construction. Direct competitor to KEMPER SYSTEM in liquid-applied membranes and construction sealants globally.
• Fronius International: Austrian-based family-owned welding technology specialist with strong positions in TIG/MIG welding, robot welding systems, and battery charging. Direct competitor to ABICOR BINZEL in premium welding equipment for industrial automation.
• EWM AG: German mid-market welding equipment manufacturer focused on MIG/MAG, TIG, and plasma welding systems. Direct European competitor in the same welding equipment category as ABICOR BINZEL, with overlapping industrial customer base.
• ESAB Corporation: Global leader in welding and cutting equipment with a broad product portfolio spanning manual and automated welding systems. ESAB competes head-to-head with ABICOR BINZEL and Thermacut across virtually every industrial welding and cutting application worldwide.
• Miller Electric Mfg. Major US-based manufacturer of arc welding and cutting equipment, owned by Illinois Tool Works. Competes directly with ABICOR GROUP in MIG/TIG welding systems, plasma cutters, and welding automation.
• Lincoln Electric Holdings: One of the largest welding equipment manufacturers globally, with strong positions in arc welding, cutting, and automation. Overlaps with ABICOR GROUP across welding torches, consumables, robotic welding systems, and process monitoring solutions.
• Plansee Group: Austrian-headquartered refractory metals specialist producing tungsten, molybdenum, and other high-performance materials for industrial, automotive, and medical applications. Direct competitor to ASTARAS/Weldstone in tungsten heavy metal components and foundry products.

Broad incumbents

• Air Liquide: Global industrial and specialty gas leader, including welding and cutting gas supply that overlaps with IBG's heritage in industrial gases and current welding chemicals portfolio (Cantesco). Adjacent competitor in the welding consumables ecosystem.
• Illinois Tool Works: Diversified industrial manufacturer whose portfolio includes Miller Electric (welding) and construction-related fastening and coating products. Operates broadly across the same end markets as IBG but with much greater scale and a multi-segment industrial model.
• Henkel AG: German multinational with construction chemicals, adhesives, and coatings businesses that overlap with KEMPER SYSTEM's waterproofing and decorative coating portfolio. Much larger and broader, but addresses similar construction-industry buyers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries11 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 IBG Group