FTW

What FTW does

Fertigungstechnik Weißenfels GmbH (FTW) is a German mechanical engineering firm founded in 2001 and headquartered in Weißenfels, Saxony-Anhalt, operating from an 8,000 sqm facility near Leipzig with approximately 100 employees. The company designs, manufactures, and supplies numerically controlled (NC) rotary table systems and related fixtures for the machine tool sector, organizing its portfolio into two main drive categories — torque (direct) drive and conventional worm/bevel gear drive — and offering customized systems, standard series, 2-axis tilting (swivel-rotate) units, Hirth-serration indexing tables, and multi-axis systems with up to 11 axes. Technical differentiators include a patented hydraulic clamping system, direct-drive external rotor technology, and torque motors reaching up to 1,500 rpm that enable combined milling, turning, and grinding in a single machine; positioning accuracy of less than one second of arc is achievable via numerical compensation. Products span faceplate diameters up to 1,600 mm and workpiece weights up to 5 tons, and the drives are prepared for integration with Siemens, Fanuc, and Mitsubishi servomotors.

FTW operates a B2B direct sales model targeting machine tool OEMs (where it is described as a long-standing principal supplier) and industrial manufacturers using rotary tables for 5-axis machining, milling, turning, grinding, and laser cutting. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of rotary tables, multi-axis systems, accessories, and aftersales service across the full product lifecycle. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is mediated via a catalogue-request system covering multiple product lines (Main, TG, TT, DR, MAS) with multi-year contracts typical for OEM engagements. The company is privately held by three Managing Directors (Timo Klement, Dr.-Ing. Marcus Queins, Carsten Hammer), holds DIN ISO 9001:2015 certification, claims a global footprint served from its single German manufacturing base, and participates in EU/ESF-funded workforce development programs in Sachsen-Anhalt.

Name

FTW

Legal name

Fertigungstechnik Weißenfels GmbH

Website

https://ftw.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Fertigungstechnik Weißenfels GmbH (FTW) is a German mechanical engineering firm that designs, manufactures, and supplies NC rotary table systems and fixtures for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers, specializing in torque and conventional drive technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

NC Rotary Tables for Machine Tools

NAICS

Cutting Tool and Machine Tool Accessory Manufacturing (333515), Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spindles & High-Speed Drives (Machine Tool Spindles, High-speed Motors) (IMAGACAL), Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

Keywords

• NC rotary tables
• Machine tool components
• Precision positioning systems
• Torque motor drives
• Multi-axis machining

Headquarters

HQ city

Weißenfels

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. NC Rotary Table Systems Sales: B2B manufacturer and supplier of NC rotary table systems including torque drive and conventional drive models. Revenue generated from sale of rotary tables, multi-axis systems, and related accessories/spare parts. Full product lifecycle coverage from production to aftersales service.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FTW designs, manufactures and supplies modular NC rotary table systems for machine tools, offered in two main drive variants: torque direct drive (DA, SDA, DA TG, MAS) and conventional worm/bevel gear drive (DR, SDR, TG, STG), plus Hirth-serration indexing tables (TT). Products enable precision workpiece positioning for multi-process machining including milling, turning and grinding within a single setup, with custom solutions supporting face plates up to 1,600mm and workpiece weights up to 5 tons.

Product overview

FTW (Fertigungstechnik Weißenfels GmbH) is a German manufacturer specializing in NC rotary table systems for machine tools. The product portfolio consists of modular rotary table systems organized into two main drive categories: Torque Direct Drive (FTW DA, FTW SDA, FTW DA TG) and Conventional Drive with worm/bevel gear (FTW DR, FTW SDR, FTW TG, FTW STG), plus Hirth-serration tables (FTW TT) and multi-axis systems (FTW MAS). Products range from compact standard tables under 320mm faceplate diameter (TG series, DA TG series, ecoTG) to large customized tables up to 1,600mm for workpiece weights up to 5 tons. The portfolio includes single-axis rotary tables, 2-axis tilting rotary tables (swivel-rotate units), and multi-axis systems with up to 11 axes. An economy line (ecoTG) offers cost-optimized standard solutions, while comprehensive accessories including counter bearings, chuck systems, and clamping solutions complement the core offerings. The modular architecture allows customers to configure systems for specific machining requirements including 5-side and 5-axis simultaneous machining.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FTW DA - Rotary Tables with Torque Drive (Customized) Customized NC rotary tables with direct torque drive offering high speed up to 1,500 rpm, high stiffness, and multi-process machining combining 4- or 5-axis machining with milling, turning and grinding in one machine, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW SDA - 2-Axis Tilting Rotary Tables with Torque Drive Customized 2-axis tilting rotary tables combining DA torque drive modules to enable 5-axis simultaneous machining with high dynamics, available as high-speed tables up to 1,500 rpm with one or two drives in the swiveling axis, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW DR - Rotary Tables with Conventional Drive (Customized) Customized NC rotary tables with worm drive (Ott or Duplex) or bevel gear drive, offering high torque transmission, self-locking capability for A-axis applications and exact positioning under high machining forces, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW SDR - 2-Axis Tilting Rotary Tables with Conventional Drive Customized 2-axis tilting rotary tables based on DR modules enabling 5-side machining of workpieces in a single clamping position, driven by worm gear or bevel gear with high torque and exact positioning, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW TG - Standard Rotary Tables with Conventional Drive Standard series modular NC rotary tables with worm drive, available in three center heights (115, 160 and 220mm), designed for small and medium-sized machine tools with a compact design, high rigidity and extensive accessories, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW STG - Standard 2-Axis Tilting Rotary Tables with Conventional Drive Standard 2-axis tilting rotary tables based on TG modules, offering 5-axis machining for up to 4 spindles in the swiveling bridge and equippable with rotary couplings for hydraulic or pneumatic workpiece clamping, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW TT - NC Indexing Tables with Hirth-Serration NC indexing tables with Hirth-serrations combining high clamping force of Hirth-serrations with NC-clamping flexibility, with indexing steps of 1, 3 or 5 degrees, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers requiring extreme clamping forces.
• FTW MAS - Multi-Axis Systems Multi-axis systems with up to 11 axes combining turning, tilting and rotating capabilities for highly complex contour machining with high rigidity and precision, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• FTW DA TG - Standard Series with Torque Drive (Up to 320mm) Standard NC dividing heads with direct torque drive for faceplate diameters up to 250mm, offering high speeds up to 500 rpm and positioning accuracy from ±10 to ±2 arc seconds, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.
• ecoTG - Standard Rotary Tables (Economy Series) Economy line of standard rotary tables delivering an optimal price-performance ratio without sacrificing performance and accuracy, available in ecoTG 160 and ecoTG 220 sizes with worm gear kit and adjustable clearance, for machine tool OEMs and industrial manufacturers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Positioning accuracy of less than one second of arc achievable
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature4 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Haas Automation: Large US machine tool OEM with in-house rotary table lines — a major FTW target account that also represents a self-supplied alternative in its low-cost machining center platforms.
• Schunk SE & Co. KG: Large German workholding, clamping, and rotary axis supplier — broader portfolio than FTW but overlapping in workpiece clamping and stationary workholding systems sold into the same machine tool customer base.
• DMG MORI Co., Ltd. Global machine tool OEM with vertically integrated rotary axis subsystems — a principal FTW customer but also a long-term competitive risk as the OEM insources more motion components.

Direct peers

• Fritz WEISSER GmbH: German manufacturer of NC rotary tables and precision workpiece positioning systems — the closest direct competitor to FTW in the European machine tool accessory market, sharing the same OEM-supply go-to-market model and product taxonomy.
• Franz Kessler GmbH: German specialist in high-speed spindles, direct-drive motors, and motorized axes used in machine tools — a sibling technology stack to FTW's torque-motor rotary drives and a possible substitute or adjacent supplier to the same OEM customers.
• Tsudakoma Industrial Co., Ltd. Japanese producer of NC rotary tables, tilting rotary tables, and torque-driven indexing tables for the global machine tool industry, directly overlapping with FTW's DA/SDA and DR/SDR product families.
• Pibomulti S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of NC rotary tables, dividing heads, and multi-axis machining solutions, offering worm-drive and direct-drive variants comparable to FTW's conventional and torque portfolios.
• O.M.G. S.r.l. Italian specialist in NC rotary tables and multi-axis systems for machine tools, serving both OEMs and end users — comparable in scale, product breadth, and customer profile to FTW.

Emerging players

• BENZ GmbH Werkzeugsysteme: German supplier of tooling, workholding, and rotary solutions for machine tools; competing with FTW for OEM share on rotary and swiveling axis modules from a tooling-led base.
• Kitagawa Corporation: Japanese workholding and rotary table specialist with overlap to FTW's precision positioning product line; partial overlap in product offering while serving a broader base of machine tool builders globally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 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 FTW