What IHT Automation does

IHT Automation GmbH & Co. KG is a German manufacturer of industrial cutting automation systems headquartered in Baden-Baden, Germany, founded in 1990 and operating as a privately held limited partnership. The company designs, manufactures, and sells plasma and oxy-fuel (autogen) cutting machines and automation components to machine manufacturers and system integrators globally, with end applications in automated mild-steel cutting of 3–300 mm thickness. The company is managed by Sabine Nachbargauer and Kurt Nachbargauer and reports a headcount of 1–10 employees, consistent with a focused, owner-operated niche manufacturer.

The core technology is the APC (Autogen Process Control) system — a fully integrated oxy-fuel cutting solution combining cutting torches (FIT+ family), gas control, flame ignition, capacitive torch height control, and an integrated cutting database, available in configurations for 2D cutting tables (APC M 4000) and 3D robot cutting. Supporting product lines include the M 4000 CAP, M 4000 PCS (plasma height control), M 4000 TWIN (combined plasma/autogen), CSC 500 external sensor, M 4000 BAS, and M 4000 MAN, plus accessories such as guiding rails, torch clamps, and contact sensors. The portfolio is differentiated by tool-free nozzle change, digital/analog CNC communication variants, flashback/ignition/slag detection, and integration with Eckelmann's E°CUT CNC solution via the ECO-e operating interface.

IHT Automation generates revenue through hardware sales of automation systems, torch systems, height control systems, and individual components. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; customers transact through direct sales from the Baden-Baden headquarters and through regional representatives covering North America, China, Romania, Turkey, South Korea, and India. Marketing is delivered through the company website, an active YouTube channel ("Ask Kurt"), industry exhibitions, an email newsletter, and partnership with the SCHNEIDFORUM industry knowledge center. No external funding, AI/ML capabilities, or M&A activity is disclosed.

Name

IHT Automation

Legal name

IHT Automation GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://iht-automation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

IHT Automation is a German manufacturer of plasma and oxy-fuel cutting automation systems, selling the APC (Autogen Process Control) product line and FIT+ torch family primarily to machine manufacturers and system integrators worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cutting Automation Equipment

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

Keywords

• Industrial cutting automation
• Oxy-fuel cutting systems
• Plasma cutting equipment
• Torch height control
• CNC cutting machines

Headquarters

HQ city

Baden-baden

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Automation Systems Sales: IHT Automation generates revenue through the sale of complete automation systems (APC M 4000, APC for Robot), torch systems (M 4000 FIT+, M 4000 CAP, M 4000 TWIN), and individual components including torches, sensors, gas controllers, height control systems, and accessories. The company sells to machine manufacturers and system integrators globally.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IHT Automation designs, manufactures and sells industrial automation systems for oxy-fuel (autogen) and plasma cutting of mild steel up to 300mm thickness. Its flagship APC (Autogen Process Control) system integrates gas control, flame ignition, height sensing, and the FIT+ intelligent torch family into a plug-and-play solution for CNC cutting tables and robotic cutting cells. Supporting products include M 4000 height control systems, capacitive and contact sensors, plasma distance controls, and accessories sold to machine manufacturers and system integrators worldwide.

Product overview

IHT Automation is a manufacturer of industrial cutting automation systems headquartered in Baden-Baden, Germany. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products organized around two core cutting technologies: oxy-fuel (autogen) cutting and plasma cutting. The flagship product line is the APC (Autogen Process Control) system, which provides fully integrated oxy-fuel cutting solutions combining gas control, flame ignition, height sensing, and the intelligent FIT+ torch family. The product architecture consists of: (1) Core APC systems (APC M 4000 for 2D cutting tables and APC for Robot Applications for 3D robot cutting); (2) The FIT+ torch family (FIT+ three with integrated height sensing, FIT+ two with integrated ignition, and FIT+ one conventional torch); (3) Supporting autogen systems including M 4000 FIT+, M 4000 CAP, M 4000 TWIN, CSC 500, and Flame Ignition; (4) Plasma systems including M 4000 PCS, M 4000 BAS, and the combined M 4000 TWIN; (5) Accessories and consumables including height sensors, cutting/heating nozzles, spare parts, gas accessories, guiding rails, and torch clamps. All products are designed for machine manufacturers and system integrators to build automated cutting solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• APC M 4000 Oxy-fuel cutting system for 2D cutting on dry cutting tables. A plug-and-play solution designed for cutting mild steel from 3 to 300mm thick with up to 10 stations, featuring gas control, flame ignition, height sensing, and the FIT+ three intelligent torch with tool-free nozzle change. Sold to machine manufacturers and system integrators.
• APC for Robot Applications Oxy-fuel cutting system for 3D cutting on robots. A plug-and-play solution designed for cutting mild steel from 3 to 300mm thick, featuring gas control, flame ignition, and height sensing during preheating, piercing and cutting of straight cuts or for bevelling. Sold to machine manufacturers and system integrators.
• FIT+ three Advanced oxy-fuel machine cutting torch with integrated height sensing and integrated ignition. Available in two variants: FIT+ three DIG (integrated with IHT systems APC and M 4000 FIT+ using digital communication) and FIT+ three ANA (designed for individual use with analogue communication to CNC control).
• FIT+ two Single oxy-fuel torch with integrated automatic flame ignition. Provides gas savings as the flame can be switched off at the end of each cut without operator relighting. Features built-in flame adjustment valves and cutting oxygen pressure gauge.
• FIT+ one Advanced conventional oxy-fuel torch for automated or manually controlled machines. Suitable for heavy-duty 24/7 operation, slag splash, high temperature, and thick material piercing. Can be combined with M 4000 CAP height control or CSC 500 height sensing.
• M 4000 FIT+ Autogen cutting system with FIT+ three intelligent torch. Features integrated height sensor with compact M 4000 lifter for optimum height control, automatic flame ignition, and flashback detection for safe operation.
• M 4000 CAP Traditional autogen height control system with capacitive sensor (ring electrode). Modular M 4000 lifter for easy integration with various strokes and guide rail lengths. Suitable for multi-torch cutting tables and single torch machines, designed for dry cutting up to 300mm material thickness.
• M 4000 TWIN Automatic height control combined system for plasma and autogen cutting. Universal device designed to work alternately with plasma and/or autogen cutting, offering best features of both M 4000 PCS (plasma) and M 4000 CAP (autogen) systems.
• CSC 500 Most advanced and reliable external sensor system with ring electrodes for controlling torch height in autogen cutting. Can be connected to most torch lifters and allows non-contact precise clearance control on dry cutting tables.
• Flame Ignition Autogen (oxy-fuel) flame ignition system designed for use with cutting machines fitted with propane or acetylene torches. Fully compatible with CSC 500, M 4000 CAP, M 4000 ISC, M 4000 TWIN, and FIT+ one or any third-party torch.
• M 4000 PCS Modern automatic height control system for plasma cutting machines with modular M 4000 lifter. Controlled from dedicated operator terminal or centrally from CNC machine. Features arc voltage-based distance control in 0.1mm steps, integrated 3D collision detection, and optional CUTBUS signal transmission.
• M 4000 BAS Height control system providing all necessary functions for quality plasma cutting. Suitable for all welding tractors, integrable with all common CNC controls via own operator terminal or fieldbus connection (Cutbus). Features distance setting in 0.5mm steps, vertical collision detection with weight compensation.
• M 4000 MAN Manual height control system. Cost-effective solution for manually controlling up/down height of autogen or plasma torches. Suitable for new machines and retrofitting to existing equipment. Communicates via UP/DOWN control signals from machine's CNC.
• Guiding Rails Guide rails as components of M 4000 lifter types, available with different dimensions and strokes. Features optional air-cooling for heavy-duty applications to prevent material deformation and extend service life.
• Torch Clamps Various types of torch clamps for oxy-fuel or plasma cutting torches. Includes basic clamps and dual-axis bevel clamps for different torch diameters. Special clamps with collision detection available for IHT plasma height control systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• Low cutting cost per meter for best ROI
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BasiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting the new Autogen Cutting showroom in Baden-Baden, Germany, providing gases and central gas supply for demonstration equipment.
• GCEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing gases and central gas supply for IHT's new Autogen Cutting showroom. GCE holds the COOLEX trademark used in IHT torch products.
• KemperminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFilter system partner supporting the new showroom for Autogen Cutting technology in Baden-Baden.
• EckelmanncoreTechnology or IntegrationMachine CNC Control partner. IHT Automation offers complete integration of IHT APC system with Eckelmann's new E°CUT solution package with ECO-e operating interface.
• SCHNEIDFORUMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerKnowledge center partner for Autogen, Plasma, Laser and Water jet cutting technologies. Provides independent, pragmatic and competent presentation of the cutting industry.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Hypertherm: Hypertherm is a leading U.S. manufacturer of plasma and waterjet cutting systems, with height-control, CNC software, and torch products that overlap directly with IHT's plasma automation portfolio and compete for the same machine-OEM customers.
• Trumpf: Trumpf is a global leader in laser cutting machinery and CNC automation; while focused on laser rather than oxy-fuel, it competes for industrial cutting-equipment capex budgets and increasingly encroaches on IHT's addressable plate thicknesses.
• Bystronic: Bystronic makes laser and press-brake automation systems for sheet-metal fabrication, representing the laser-cutting substitute technology that pressures demand for oxy-fuel automation systems like IHT's APC.
• Lincoln Electric: Lincoln Electric offers plasma cutting systems, automation products, and torch consumables that overlap with IHT's plasma height-control and torch lines, while also serving industrial fabrication customers globally.
• ESAB: ESAB is a global welding and cutting equipment manufacturer offering oxy-fuel torches, plasma systems, and CNC cutting automation that compete with IHT's APC and FIT+ lines across both OEM and end-user channels.
• Messer Cutting Systems: Messer produces oxy-fuel, plasma, and laser cutting tables with integrated CNC and process-control software, making it a comparable broad-line cutting-automation incumbent serving the same machine-OEM and end-customer segments as IHT.

Others

• CGTech (Vericut): CGTech provides CNC simulation and process-optimization software for cutting and machining, representing the software/process-control layer of cutting automation that complements or competes with IHT's integrated cutting-database approach.

Direct peers

• Kjellberg Finsterwalde: Kjellberg is a German manufacturer of plasma cutting power sources, torches, and CNC automation components, making it a direct comparable peer in plasma cutting automation adjacent to IHT's M 4000 PCS product line.
• Koike Aronson: Koike Aronson manufactures oxy-fuel and plasma cutting machines, torches, and CNC height-control products very similar in scope to IHT's portfolio, targeting the same machine-builder and system-integrator customers worldwide.
• Eckelmann: Eckelmann supplies CNC controllers and software (E°CUT, ECO-e) specifically integrated with IHT's APC system; it is both a partner and a comparable player in cutting-machine automation and control software for machine OEMs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=hBbojM2iNsc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 IHT Automation