What KAUP does

KAUP GmbH & Co. KG, headquartered in Aschaffenburg, Germany, is a family-owned manufacturer of attachments for forklift trucks, operating as a German Kommanditgesellschaft (limited partnership) with Kaup Verwaltungs GmbH as general partner. Founded in 1962 by Otmar Kaup and his father Kilian Kaup, the company has grown to roughly 900 employees worldwide — approximately 700 of them at the 78,200 m² Aschaffenburg campus — and describes itself as the world's largest independent (OEM-agnostic) manufacturer of forklift truck attachments. Following Otmar Kaup's death in May 2025, the company is led by managing director Holger Kaup and continues under family control with no disclosed external institutional investors.

The product line spans more than 400 attachment types across approximately 20 hardware categories — sideshifters, fork positioners, multi-pallet handlers, rotating and tipping devices, fork clamps, bale, block, appliance/carton, drum, rotating, and rotating roll clamps, telescopic and push-pull forks, container spreaders (forklift and crane versions), load backrests, and forks — plus Material-Handling Solutions such as electrically operated (eop) attachments, AGV/driverless-transport-system attachments, stationary equipment, and construction-machine attachments. The proprietary technology centerpiece is Smart Load Control (SLC), a patented load-dependent hydraulic control system that automatically regulates clamping force based on load weight rather than type or dimensions, eliminates manual adjustment, documents each clamping cycle, and offers plug-and-play forklift interchange; the second generation, SLC 2.0, debuted at LogiMAT 2026 in Stuttgart. Quality is anchored in ISO 9001, with environmental and energy management certified to ISO 14001:2015 and ISO 50001:2018, plus Bureau Veritas and welding certifications, ÖKOPROFIT recognition, and adherence to the Bavarian Pact for Environmental and Climate Protection.

KAUP monetizes through direct B2B sales (private customer portal with account-based pricing and eQuotation) and an international distribution network across Germany, France, Spain and other markets, complemented by an annual International Sales Meeting. Revenue comes from hardware sales (attachment units, container spreaders, stationary equipment, construction-machine attachments) and a sizable service stream — more than 60 customer-service employees deliver on-site maintenance, repair, rental, used attachments, original spare parts, training, and warranty support — yielding a mix of one-time equipment revenue and recurring service/parts revenue across primary warehouse & logistics, manufacturing/industrial, and automated-material-handling customer segments.

Name

KAUP

Legal name

KAUP GmbH & Co. KG Gesellschaft für Maschinenbau

Website

https://kaup.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1962

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

KAUP GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned German manufacturer of forklift truck attachments — including clamps, sideshifters, positioners and container spreaders — serving warehouse, industrial and automated material-handling customers globally through direct sales and an international distribution network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Forklift attachments
• Material handling equipment
• Industrial clamp manufacturing
• Container spreader systems
• Automated guided vehicle attachments

Headquarters

HQ city

Aschaffenburg

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. Forklift Attachments Sales: KAUP generates primary revenue from manufacturing and selling forklift truck attachments including sideshifters, fork clamps, bale clamps, drum clamps, rotating clamps, reach forks, telescopic forks, push-pulls, and other specialized attachments. Sales occur through direct sales force and distribution partners.
2. Material Handling Solutions: Customized solutions including container spreaders for forklifts and cranes, stationary equipment, and construction machine attachments. Higher-margin specialized products with project-based sales.
3. Service, Maintenance & Spare Parts: Over 60 customer service employees provide on-site maintenance, repair services, rental equipment, used attachments, and original spare parts. Additional revenue stream from training and support services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KAUP GmbH & Co. KG is the world's largest independent manufacturer of forklift truck attachments, producing over 400 different attachment types including sideshifters, fork positioners, fork clamps, bale clamps, drum clamps, rotating clamps, telescopic forks, push-pulls, and container spreaders. The company also provides stationary equipment, construction machine attachments, original spare parts, and customized material handling solutions including electrically operated (eop) and AGV-compatible attachments. KAUP sells its products through direct sales, an international distributor network, and a B2B customer portal, complemented by on-site maintenance, repair, and rental services.

Product overview

KAUP GmbH & Co. KG is the world's largest independent manufacturer of forklift truck attachments, operating as a diversified product portfolio company. The core offering centers on over 20 categories of forklift attachments including sideshifters, fork positioners, clamps (appliance, bale, block, drum, carton), rotators, telescopic forks, push-pulls, and container spreaders. Key technology products include the Smart Load Control (SLC) system for intelligent weight-dependent clamping force regulation, eop electrically operated attachments, and AGV-compatible solutions. The T413G & T414 series provides the hardware foundation for SLC-equipped clamps. KAUP also offers stationary equipment, construction machine attachments, original spare parts, and assistance systems, supported by a global service network. The company is headquartered in Aschaffenburg, Germany, with over 900 employees worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Seitenschieber (Sideshifters) Lateral displacement attachments that enable side shifting of loads on forklift trucks for precise load positioning. Used by warehouse and logistics operators needing flexible load placement.
• Zinkenverstellgeräte (Fork Positioners) Fork positioning attachments with hydraulically adjustable fork width for handling different pallet sizes. For warehouse operators handling mixed pallet dimensions.
• Klammergabeln (Fork Clamps) Combination fork and clamp attachments enabling simultaneous forklift fork utilization and clamping operations. For logistics operations handling palletized and non-palletized loads.
• Ballenklammern (Bale Clamps) Specialized clamps for handling bales of cotton, wool, paper, and other compressible materials. Used in agriculture, recycling, paper, and textile industries.
• Geräte-/Kartonklammern (Appliance-Carton Clamps) Clamps designed for handling appliances, cartons, and boxed goods with controlled clamping force. Used in appliance manufacturing, distribution, and white goods logistics.
• Fassklammern (Drum Clamps) Specialized clamps for handling cylindrical drums and barrels safely. Used in chemical, pharmaceutical, and oil & gas industries.
• Drehbare Klammern (Rotating Clamps) Clamps with rotation capability for turning loads during handling operations. Used in manufacturing and logistics operations requiring load orientation changes.
• Teleskopgabeln (Telescopic Forks) Extending fork attachments enabling handling of long loads and double-deep pallet racking applications. For warehouse and distribution operations with deep racking systems.
• Schubgabeln (Push-Pulls) Attachments that push or pull loads using slip sheets instead of pallets, eliminating pallet requirement. For distribution operations in pallet-less handling environments.
• Container Spreader für Gabelstapler (Forklift Container Spreader) Container handling attachments for forklift trucks for stacking and destacking shipping containers. For logistics hubs, ports, and intermodal facilities.
• Container Spreader für Krane (Crane Container Spreader) Container spreaders designed for crane-mounted operations, customizable for individual requirements. For port operations, shipping terminals, and heavy industrial applications.
• eop: Anbaugeräte (Electrically Operated Attachments) Electrically powered versions of standard forklift attachments enabling independent operation without forklift hydraulics. For facilities needing electrified attachment solutions.
• Fahrerlose Transportsysteme (Automated Guided Vehicle Attachments) Attachments specifically designed for integration with driverless transport systems and AGVs. For automated warehouse and production facilities.
• Stationäre Geräte (Stationary Equipment) Fixed-position material handling equipment for plant automation applications. For industrial plants with stationary handling requirements.
• Anbaugeräte für Baumaschinen (Construction Machine Attachments) Attachments adapted for construction equipment beyond forklift applications. For construction companies and heavy equipment operators.
• Smart Load Control (SLC) Intelligent load-dependent clamping force control system for equipment clamps that automatically regulates clamping pressure based on load weight rather than load type or dimensions, eliminating manual adjustments and reducing product damage. Patented system with plug-and-play integration for flexible forklift switching.
• Original Ersatzteile (Original Spare Parts) OEM replacement parts maintaining equipment quality and warranty compliance for KAUP attachments.
• Wartung & Instandhaltung (Maintenance & Service) On-site maintenance, repair services, rental equipment, and used attachments provided by 60+ customer service employees. For KAUP attachment owners requiring ongoing support.

Quantifiable outcome

• Several hundred SLC-equipped clamps already in use by renowned companies
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• B&B AttachmentsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorB&B Attachments is listed as part of KAUP's Material Handling Solutions portfolio, suggesting a distribution or resale relationship for product sales in certain markets.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Bolzoni S.p.A. Italian manufacturer of forklift attachments with a wide product range parallel to KAUP, including clamps, forks, and positioners; competes head-to-head especially in Europe on independent attachment supply.
• Camlift Ltd: UK-based independent manufacturer of forklift attachments including bale clamps and specialized forks; comparable as a smaller independent player targeting similar independent aftermarket customers.
• Cascade Corporation: Cascade is the historical global leader in forklift attachments (forks, clamps, sideshifters, paper roll clamps) and is the closest direct competitor to KAUP, serving OEMs and the aftermarket across similar verticals.
• Meyer (part of KION Group): Meyer manufactures forklift attachments and is integrated within KION/Linde Material Handling, making it a direct product competitor with OEM-channel advantages versus KAUP's independent positioning.
• Auramo (Toyota Material Handling): Finnish attachment maker (now part of Toyota Material Handling) producing clamps, rotators, and forks; competes directly with KAUP, particularly for paper/roll handling applications.

Broad incumbents

• Jungheinrich AG: German intralogistics major offering forklifts, warehouse equipment, and proprietary attachments; relevant competitor for indirect as well as direct attachment tenders in Europe.
• Linde Material Handling (KION Group): Major forklift OEM with broad material handling portfolio including proprietary attachment offerings; competes with KAUP both as a manufacturer of attachments and a forklift supplier bundling its own attachments.
• Toyota Material Handling: Global forklift OEM with significant captive attachment production (including via Auramo); competes with KAUP across both forklift sales and integrated attachment bundles.

Emerging players

• Manitou Group: French manufacturer of material handling and construction equipment that is expanding into attachment-style products for telehandlers; overlapping with KAUP's construction machine attachments line.

Others

• B&B Attachments: UK attachment specialist that is now a wholly-owned KAUP subsidiary brand; relevant as a distribution channel and product-line peer for the UK market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kaup-gmbh-co-kg

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 KAUP