What FORMAT Tresorbau does

FORMAT Tresorbau (Format GmbH), operating under the brand "The Safe Company," is a German manufacturer of certified physical-security products founded in 1989 in Hessisch Lichtenau, Germany. The company designs and produces value-protection safes across resistance Grades 0–V per EN 1143-1, deposit safes, fire-protection safes (EN 1047-1, 30–120 minutes), security cabinets (EN 14450 S1/S2), gun cabinets compliant with the German Waffengesetz, key cabinets, and ATM hardware. Since 2011 it has operated within the DuTech-Unternehmensgruppe alongside sister companies ALMEX GmbH (retail/self-checkout technology) and Metric Safes (UK distribution).

The product portfolio is organized into physical-security hardware and integrated business solutions for retail cash management — including the MyCashier Modular automated payment system, NOTE Collect deposit systems, POS Cash Recycler, and the ScaMo Pro Safe co-developed with INSYS locks using EloStar® Master Scan technology for digitally logged safebag insertion. Manufacturing is in-house at a 4,500 sqm production and logistics facility opened in 2017, with proprietary capabilities including an on-site fire testing furnace (since 1994) and one of the world's first fully automatic ATM production plants (commissioned 2005).

The business model is B2B/B2C hardware sales with professional services (certified installation, maintenance, lock upgrades, safe opening) layered on top. Products are quote-based and distributed exclusively through a Fachhändler (specialty dealer) network in Germany and via Metric Safes in the UK; sales engagement also occurs at major international trade shows (SHOT Show Las Vegas, Security Essen, EuroCIS, EuroSHOP, MLA Expo). End customers span private homeowners, licensed firearm owners, retail/commercial businesses (cash-handling automation), data centers, and banking/financial institutions. Revenue is not publicly disclosed; the company is privately held under German GmbH law with Dr. Johnny Liu as sole Managing Director (Geschäftsführer) and no evidence of external institutional investment.

Name

FORMAT Tresorbau

Legal name

Format GmbH

Website

https://format-tresorbau.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

FORMAT Tresorbau is a German manufacturer founded in 1989 that produces ECB-S and VdS certified safes, gun cabinets, fire-protection cabinets, and integrated retail cash-management systems, distributing exclusively through specialty dealers to private, retail, and regulated-customer segments in Europe and the US.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Security Safes and Vault Equipment

NAICS

Security Systems Services (56162)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail Cash Deposit & Smart Safe / Cash Recycling Solutions (FSAMAOAG)

Keywords

• Certified security safes
• Cash management systems
• Fire protection cabinets
• Gun storage cabinets
• Retail deposit safes

Headquarters

HQ city

Hessisch Lichtenau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Safes and Security Products: Primary revenue from manufacturing and selling certified safes, security cabinets, weapon cabinets, key safes, and deposit systems. Products range from entry-level security cabinets to high-security vault-grade protection. Sales through dealer network.
2. Business Solutions - Cash Management Systems: Revenue from integrated cash management solutions including MyCashier Modular, POS Cash Recycler, NOTE Collect systems, and ScaMo Pro Safe. Complete systems with electronic locks and software integration for retail environments.
3. Professional Services - Installation, Maintenance, Repair: Service revenue from certified installation, technical customer service, lock conversions/upgrades, and certified safe opening services. Complete lifecycle support from consultation through disposal.
4. ATM Production: Automated Teller Machine production, with FORMAT operating one of the world's first fully automatic ATM production facilities since 2005.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

FORMAT Tresorbau manufactures ECB-S and VdS certified safes, fire protection cabinets, gun cabinets, deposit safes, and key cabinets for burglary and fire protection in grades 0 through V per EN 1143-1. The company also produces integrated cash management solutions for retail environments, including automated deposit safes, POS cash recyclers, and the MyCashier Modular payment system integrated with INSYS EloStar electronic locks. Products are distributed through a Germany-wide dealer network and exported via a UK sister company.

Product overview

FORMAT Tresorbau (Format GmbH — The Safe Company) is a German manufacturer of security products and solutions serving both private and commercial/industrial markets. The product portfolio is organized into three main pillars: (1) Physical Security Products — a broad range of certified safes including value protection safes (Wertschutzschränke, Grad N/0 to V per EN 1143-1), deposit safes, security cabinets, furniture-integration safes, wall-embedded safes, gun safes (Waffenschränke certified EN 1143-1 Grad 0/I), key cabinets, and dual-certified fire/theft protection safes; (2) Business Solutions — integrated cash management and retail process systems including MyCashier Modular (automated POS payment), NOTE Collect deposit systems, POS CASH Recycler, ScaMo Pro Safe, and parcel/pick-up stations; and (3) Services — certified manufacturer service, technical support, lock upgrades, and safe opening. The company integrates its safes with INSYS locks electronic high-security lock systems (EloStar series) to enable digital, process-controlled cash handling workflows. FORMAT operates from Hessisch Lichtenau, Germany, and participates internationally at trade shows including SHOT Show and Security Essen.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Insurance coverage up to €40,000 (Grade 0) to €65,000 (Grade I) for private use without alarm system
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and primary.

• INSYS lockscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 February 2020Joint development partner for electronic lock systems integrated into FORMAT cash management safes. Development of ScaMo Pro Safe combining FORMAT safe manufacturing with INSYS EloStar® Master Scan technology for secure, digitally logged cash handling. Collaboration on EloStar® flexID and CombiLock products.
• ALME GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within DuTech corporate group. Co-exhibited at EuroCIS 2022 presenting combined retail solutions portfolio including deposit safes, automated cash management, and parcel pickup stations.
• ALMEX GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within DuTech corporate group. Partnered at EuroSHOP 2020 to present integrated retail solutions including info terminals, self-checkout systems, cash management, and cash recycling solutions alongside FORMAT products.
• Metric SafesprimaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-based sister company serving as distributor for FORMAT products in the United Kingdom through online shop metric-safes.co.uk. Represents FORMAT at UK exhibitions including MLA Expo.
• European Certification Body GmbH (ECB-S)coreOthersAccredited certification body providing ECB-S certification for FORMAT products. Certification covers EN 1143-1 (burglary), EN 1047-1 (fire protection), and other European security standards. ECB-S accreditation per ISO/IEC 17065.
• VdS SchadenverhütungcoreOthersGerman loss prevention certification body providing VdS certification for FORMAT security products since 1991. Conducts testing and ongoing production monitoring.
• Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB)coreOthersGerman national metrology institute providing type approval for safety devices including weapon storage equipment. PTB test mark appears on compliant products.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Fichet Group: Fichet Group provides safes, vaults, security doors, and high-security physical protection solutions for enterprises, banks, and institutions. It is comparable through certified physical-security storage and cash/asset protection, though it is a larger European incumbent.
• Gunnebo: Gunnebo operates globally in physical security, safe storage, entrance control, and cash-handling/security solutions. It overlaps with FORMAT in high-security storage and retail/banking cash-security use cases, but with a much broader international platform.
• Diebold Nixdorf: Diebold Nixdorf provides ATMs, retail checkout technology, cash automation, and banking/retail transaction infrastructure. It is comparable to FORMAT's ATM production history and retail cash-management solutions, although it is far broader and more technology-platform oriented.
• Chubbsafes: Chubbsafes is an international safe and vault brand offering certified safes, fire-resistant storage, data protection, deposit safes, and vault-room solutions. It is comparable to FORMAT's certified physical-security portfolio, but operates as a broader global incumbent.
• Glory Global Solutions: Glory Global Solutions supplies cash automation, cash recycling, and note/coin processing systems for retail and financial institutions. It is comparable to FORMAT's MyCashier, POS CASH Recycler, NOTE Collect, and cash-management systems rather than its core safe manufacturing line.

Direct peers

• BURG-WÄCHTER: BURG-WÄCHTER is a German security products company offering safes, cash boxes, locks, and access/security equipment. It overlaps with FORMAT in home and SMB secure storage, dealer/retail distribution, and certified physical-security products.
• Rottner Tresor: Rottner Tresor sells safes, fireproof cabinets, gun safes, key cabinets, and deposit safes across German-speaking markets. It is comparable to FORMAT through its broad DACH secure-storage portfolio for residential and commercial buyers.
• Hartmann Tresore AG: Hartmann Tresore is a German specialist in safes, gun cabinets, data/fire protection cabinets, and vault solutions. It is directly comparable to FORMAT as a DACH-focused certified safe and secure-storage provider serving private, commercial, and regulated use cases.
• Müller Safe GmbH: Müller Safe is a German safe and security-cabinet supplier with products such as value-protection safes, fireproof safes, deposit safes, and gun cabinets. It is a close peer because it competes in the same German certified safe and secure-storage market.

Regional players

• Wertheim Tresore AG: Wertheim is an Austrian manufacturer of certified safes, vault doors, and high-security storage systems. It is comparable to FORMAT in European certified safe manufacturing, although it is more geographically anchored outside Germany.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FORMATTresorbau
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 FORMAT Tresorbau