GEWES
GEWES is a German family-owned manufacturer of high-torque universal joint shafts, double Cardan shafts, precision turned parts, and drive shafts for industrial OEMs, with in-house production in Stadtilm, Thuringia and torque capability up to 600,000 Nm.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1947
- HeadquartersStadtilm, Germany
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GEWES does
GEWES - Gelenkwellenwerk Stadtilm GmbH is a German family-owned manufacturer of roller-bearing-mounted universal joint shafts (Gelenkwellen) and double Cardan shafts, headquartered and produced in-house at a single site in Stadtilm, Thuringia, with approximately 56,000 m² of production space. Founded in 1947 and privatized under managing partner Martin Röder in 1994, the company specializes in high-torque mechanical power transmission with capability up to 600,000 Nm, alongside precision turned parts and drive/input shafts for commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. Its core technology rests on a proprietary modular universal joint shaft system, in-house heat treatment (gas carburizing, induction hardening), dynamic balancing systems, and high-performance H-series variants optimized for heavy-duty industrial applications.
The company sells directly to enterprise OEMs and industrial customers across vehicle sectors (construction/off-road, agriculture, commercial vehicles) and industrial verticals (railway, marine, steel and aluminum, paper, mining, cement, recycling, pumps, oil and gas, rubber and plastics, sugar and food). It holds a market-leading position in marine drivelines up to 5,000 kW and maintains type approvals from 13-14 maritime classification societies plus DB Q1 and CRRC railway certifications, IATF 16949, and ISO 9001/14001/50001. Revenue is generated through project-based, quotation-driven B2B sales with multi-year contract cadence, supported by dedicated sales contacts ([email protected], [email protected]) and an international trade show presence (SMM Hamburg, Hannover Messe, METEC, PTC Asia). The customer base includes Daimler Truck, Deutsche Bahn, John Deere, GM, MAN, Siemens, ZF, Kawasaki, CRRC, and SAME DEUTZ-FAHR.
GEWES firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GEWES
- Legal name
- Gelenkwellenwerk Stadtilm GmbH
- Website
- https://gewes.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1947
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- GEWES is a German family-owned manufacturer of high-torque universal joint shafts, double Cardan shafts, precision turned parts, and drive shafts for industrial OEMs, with in-house production in Stadtilm, Thuringia and torque capability up to 600,000 Nm.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GEWES industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Power Transmission Components
- NAICS
- Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing (33635), Machine Shops (332710), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Ball & Roller Bearings (3562), Screw Machine Products (3451)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)
Keywords
Where GEWES is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stadtilm
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GEWES business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Universal Joint Shafts and Components: Manufacturing and sale of roller bearing-mounted universal joint shafts, double Cardan shafts, precision turned parts, and drive shafts. Revenue generated from original equipment manufacturing (OEM) supply to vehicle and industrial manufacturers, as well as aftermarket/service parts.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Standard product catalog with technical specifications for direct ordering |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels3 records
GEWES product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GEWES manufactures roller bearing-mounted universal joint shafts (Gelenkwellen) and double Cardan shafts as its core products, transmitting torques up to 600,000 Nm for industrial and vehicle applications. The portfolio also includes CNC precision turned parts (5,000 to 1,000,000 pieces annually) and drive/input shafts for commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. All products are produced in-house at the company's German site in Stadtilm, Thuringia. Supplementary manufacturing services cover CNC turning/milling, gear cutting, heat treatment, welding, balancing, 3D coordinate measurement, and Rilsan plastic coating.
Product overview
GEWES manufactures roller bearing-mounted universal joint shafts (Gelenkwellen) and double Cardan shafts as its core products, with torque transmission capabilities up to 600,000 Nm. The product portfolio also includes precision turned parts (Präzisionsdrehteile) produced via CNC automatic turning technology for automotive and industrial applications, and drive/input shafts (Antriebswellen) for commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. All products are manufactured in-house at the company's German production site in Stadtilm, Thuringia. The company also offers comprehensive manufacturing services including machining, heat treatment, welding, balancing, and coordinate measuring.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Gelenkwellen (Universal Joint Shafts) Roller bearing-mounted universal joint shafts (Cardan shafts) that transmit torques up to 600,000 Nm. Available in standard and high-performance H-series variants with and without length compensation, including super-short versions. Used in steel mills, paper factories, cranes, materials handling, pump stations, rail, marine, commercial vehicles, and agricultural machinery.
- Doppelgelenkwellen (Double Cardan Shafts) Double universal joint shafts for driven steering axles in medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles and trucks. Feature bending angles up to 52 degrees with compact design through yokes with journal offset, high torque capacity, and long service life via rolled shaft profiles.
- Präzisionsdrehteile (Precision Turned Parts)
- Antriebswellen (Input/Drive Shafts)
- Dienstleistungen (Manufacturing Services)
Quantifiable outcome
- Maximum torque transmission: 600,000 Nm for universal joint shafts
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use GEWES
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments16 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
GEWES technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
GEWES partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- DNV GLcoreDNV GL provides welding certification for GEWES and has issued welding certificates for rail and ship applications. DNV GL is also a maritime classification society approving GEWES products for marine applications.
- American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)coreMaritime classification society providing type approvals for GEWES universal joint shafts in marine applications.
- Bureau VeritascoreMaritime classification society providing type approvals for marine applications.
- China Classification Society (CCS)coreChinese maritime classification society providing type approvals for marine applications.
- Class NKcoreJapanese maritime classification society providing type approvals for marine applications.
- Lloyd's RegistercoreUK maritime classification society providing type approvals for marine applications.
- DNV GL (Maritime)coreNorwegian maritime classification society providing type approvals for GEWES products in marine applications.
- DQS (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen)coreCertification body issuing ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and ISO 50001 certificates to GEWES.
- Günther FotodesignminorPhotography partner credited for image content on the GEWES website.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights5 records
GEWES competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SKF Group: SKF is a global leader in bearings, seals, and lubrication systems used in rotating shafts and mechanical power transmission. As a broad incumbent in industrial motion and bearing technology, SKF serves many of the same industrial customers (steel, paper, marine, rail) as GEWES and supplies bearing components that integrate into universal joint shaft assemblies.
- Continental ContiTech: Continental's ContiTech division provides industrial power transmission products including belts, hoses, and specialty drive systems. While broader in scope, ContiTech overlaps with GEWES in industrial drive train applications, particularly in automotive, agricultural, and off-highway machinery markets.
- Meritor (Cummins): Meritor (now part of Cummins Inc.) is a major supplier of driveline, axle, and brake solutions for commercial vehicles and industrial applications. While broader in scope than GEWES, it competes directly in heavy-duty drive shaft and universal joint categories serving similar commercial vehicle and industrial customers.
- BorgWarner: BorgWarner is a global automotive powertrain supplier offering driveline and transmission components across multiple vehicle segments. As a broad incumbent in automotive power transmission, it competes with GEWES in commercial vehicle driveline applications while also serving broader automotive and e-mobility markets.
Direct peers
- IFA Group: IFA Group is a German-based manufacturer of universal joint shafts and cardan shafts serving commercial vehicle and industrial applications. As a direct competitor in the same product category with similar vertical integration and customer base, it represents one of the closest comparables to GEWES in the German Mittelstand landscape.
- Dana Incorporated: Dana Incorporated is a global leader in driveline and e-propulsion technology, producing drive shafts, universal joints, and power transmission components for automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-highway markets. Directly comparable to GEWES across the commercial vehicle and industrial driveline segments, with significant overlap in customer base.
- Neapco Holdings: Neapco is a global supplier of driveline solutions including universal joints, drive shafts, and propeller shafts serving automotive, commercial vehicle, and off-road markets. It is a direct peer to GEWES in the design and manufacture of universal joint shaft assemblies for industrial and vehicle applications.
- Walterscheid Powertrain Group (Continental): Walterscheid Powertrain Group (formerly part of GKN, now part of Continental) is a leading European manufacturer of universal joint shafts, drive shafts, and power transmission systems for agricultural, construction, and commercial vehicle applications. Headquartered in Germany, it competes head-to-head with GEWES in off-highway and agricultural driveline solutions.
- Roto-Flex (CWC Group): Roto-Flex specializes in the manufacture of universal joint shafts and cardan shafts for industrial applications including steel mills, rolling stands, and paper machines. As a focused competitor in the heavy industrial universal joint shaft category, it directly competes with GEWES for specification positions in steel, aluminum, and paper industry applications.
- GKN Driveline (Dowlais Group): GKN Driveline (now part of Dowlais Group following its spin-off from Melrose Industries) is the world's largest manufacturer of driveline technologies including constant velocity joints and universal joint shafts. It is a direct competitor to GEWES across automotive, commercial vehicle, and industrial driveline applications with overlapping customer base among Tier-1 OEMs.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GEWES social profiles
Digital presenceGEWES compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance6 records
GEWES financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GEWES leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GEWES funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GEWES M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about GEWES
What does GEWES do?
GEWES manufactures roller bearing-mounted universal joint shafts (Gelenkwellen) and double Cardan shafts as its core products, transmitting torques up to 600,000 Nm for industrial and vehicle applications. The portfolio also includes CNC precision turned parts (5,000 to 1,000,000 pieces annually) and drive/input shafts for commercial vehicles and agricultural machinery. All products are produced in-house at the company's German site in Stadtilm, Thuringia. Supplementary manufacturing services cover CNC turning/milling, gear cutting, heat treatment, welding, balancing, 3D coordinate measurement, and Rilsan plastic coating.
Is GEWES a public or private company?
GEWES is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GEWES founded?
GEWES was founded in 1947. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is GEWES based?
GEWES is headquartered in Stadtilm, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does GEWES make money?
One revenue line is on record: universal Joint Shafts and Components.
Who are GEWES's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SKF Group, Continental ContiTech, Meritor (Cummins) and BorgWarner. Direct peers are IFA Group, Dana Incorporated, Neapco Holdings, Walterscheid Powertrain Group (Continental), Roto-Flex (CWC Group) and GKN Driveline (Dowlais Group).
Does GEWES have an API?
No public API is recorded for GEWES.
What industry is GEWES in?
GEWES's product category is Industrial Power Transmission Components. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAGAM, Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings). Its NAICS code is 333613 and its SIC code is 3559.