Hofpartner

What Hofpartner does

Hofpartner AB is a Swedish specialty industrial equipment manufacturer headquartered in Åmål, Sweden, focused on equipment for the paper, plastic, packaging, and converting industries. The company's core product portfolio centers on three pillars: AMAL-SHAFT® expanding core shafts (air-expanding and mechanical variants up to 7 meters in length and 600mm in diameter), Liongrip® smart lifting devices with force-sensitive handles for heavy roll handling, and ACAM/ACAMS air-mechanical and safety chucks for automatic roll changers. Hofpartner also distributes complementary lines including Montalvo web tension control products, Menzel special purpose machines, and manufactures Schlumpf core shafts under a partnership arrangement. Notable proprietary technologies include the Extended Life Bearing (XLB), which the company claims doubles production output and increases bearing lifespan tenfold, and the Liongrip force-sensitive control system that allows operators to handle heavy loads outside the center of gravity without manual balancing.

The business operates a sales-led, direct sales model for the Scandinavian market with technical sales staff handling customer inquiries and custom quote development, complemented by a global distributor network spanning 20+ countries across Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania. Pricing is quote-based on customer specifications with no public price list, and contracts tend to be multi-year in nature given the custom-engineered nature of the equipment. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of new equipment, supplemented by service and spare parts, roll cover coatings (elastomer, galvanic, thermal), and special purpose machine sales.

Hofpartner was founded in 2001 by Ricky Holmström (initially as Holmström Engineering) and consolidated under his sole ownership in 2007 after acquiring the AMAL-SHAFT brand and heritage in 2006. The company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications and operates as a private limited company (aktiebolag) under Swedish law with no external institutional investment. Hofpartner maintains its own manufacturing facility with capability from small components to multi-meter industrial shafts, and has progressively expanded capacity including a major 2016 investment in a 4-axis lathe with 5-meter turning length.

Name

Hofpartner

Legal name

Hofpartner AB

Website

https://hofpartner.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hofpartner AB is a Swedish specialty manufacturer of expanding core shafts, smart lifting devices (Liongrip), and chucks for the paper, plastic, packaging, and converting industries, serving industrial customers globally through direct sales and a 20+ country distributor network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Roll Handling Equipment

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hoists (Electric, Manual & Pneumatic) (IMAHAJAG), Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Expanding core shafts
• Air mechanical chucks
• Smart lifting devices
• Web tension control
• Roll handling equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Åmål

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Core Shaft Sales: Manufacture and sale of AMAL-SHAFT core shafts for winding and unwinding applications in paper, plastic, and packaging industries. Custom manufacturing capabilities from few millimeters to several meters in length.
2. Chuck Sales: Sale of ACAM and ACAMS chucks for automatic roll changers globally. Custom chuck designs adapted to customer-specific needs including length, diameter, expansion, and flange.
3. Lifting Equipment Sales: Sale of LionGrip smart lifting devices and custom grippers for handling heavy rolls, including roll handlers, pallet turners, and vacuum lifts.
4. Special Purpose Machines: Custom-built machines from Menzel tailored to customer processes for coating, laminating, material processing, winding, wet finishing applications.
5. Roll Cover Coatings: Application of elastomer, galvanic, and thermal coatings on rollers for wear protection, corrosion resistance, and surface restoration.
6. Service and Spare Parts: Service support, spare parts supply for AMAL-SHAFT, Schlumpf shafts, and AMAL-CHUCKS, including replacement parts and maintenance services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Hofpartner manufactures and sells industrial roll-handling equipment, including expanding core shafts (AMAL-SHAFT brand), air-mechanical chucks (ACAM and ACAMS), and smart lifting devices (Liongrip). The company supplies custom-engineered solutions for winding, unwinding, and material handling in paper, plastic, packaging, converting, and graphic industries, with in-house design, manufacturing, coating, and service capabilities based in Åmål, Sweden.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AMAL-SHAFT®: Brand for core shafts, including expanding shafts (air-expanding and mechanical), with 50+ year history. Products include S&T, TPPC, TPKC, TPC, PTC, PC profiles, and Schlumpf shaft types.
• Liongrip®

Products and services

• AMAL-SHAFT Expanding Core Shafts Air-expanding and mechanical-expanding roller shafts for winding and unwinding applications in paper, plastic, and packaging industries. Available in multiple profiles including S&T, TPPC/TPKC, TPC, PTC, PC, and CTA/CTL variants, with manufacturing capabilities up to 7 meters in length and 600mm in diameter.
• Liongrip Smart Lifting Devices Smart lifting devices with force-sensitive handles that follow the operator's smallest hand movements, featuring built-in safety interlocks and the ability to lift outside the center of gravity without manual balancing. Targeted at industrial operators handling heavy rolls.
• ACAM Air-Mechanical Chucks Air-mechanical chucks designed for roll handling applications, featuring a special-plastic cone instead of a steel cone for reduced wear, lower maintenance, and lower total cost of ownership. Used on automatic roll changers globally.
• ACAMS Safety Chucks Safety chucks designed for safety-critical applications in roll handling, providing secure holding for rolls during winding and unwinding operations.
• Custom Grippers (Roll Turners, Pallet Turners, Vacuum Lifts) Custom-engineered grippers for industrial material handling, including roll turners (rullvändare), pallet turners (pallvändare), and vacuum lifts (vakuumlyft) designed and manufactured to meet specific customer requirements.
• Airhandle Lifting Tools Pneumatic lifting tools designed to complement the Liongrip smart lifting product family for industrial material handling applications.
• Montalvo Web Tension Control Products Web tension control products distributed by Hofpartner in Scandinavia, including load cells, rotary unions, tension brakes, ultrasonic sensors, and web guiding equipment for converting and printing processes.
• Schlumpf Core Shafts Manufactured core shafts from the Swiss Schlumpf brand in cooperation with Schlumpf Scandinavia AB, marketed jointly in the Scandinavian region. Includes CTA, CTA/S, CTL, and CTL Carbon fibre editions.
• Menzel Special Purpose Machines Custom-built special purpose machines from Menzel offered in Scandinavia, including equipment for coating, laminating, material processing, winding, and wet finishing applications.
• Roll Cover Coatings Professional application of elastomer, galvanic, and thermal coatings on rollers for wear protection, corrosion resistance, and surface restoration.
• Service and Spare Parts Service support and spare parts supply for AMAL-SHAFT, Schlumpf shafts, and AMAL-CHUCKS, including replacement parts and maintenance services for installed equipment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Extended Life Bearing (XLB) doubles production and increases bearing lifespan tenfold
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Schlumpf Scandinavia ABcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Intimate collaboration since 2014 with Schlumpf Scandinavia AB for manufacturing and marketing of Schlumpf core shafts. Hofpartner manufactures the classic core shafts from Swiss Schlumpf with the quality and precision both companies are known for. The shafts are marketed in cooperation with Schlumpf Scandinavia AB. Products include CTA, CTA/S, CTL, and CTL Carbon fibre editions.
• Montalvo CorporationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHofpartner is Montalvo's distributor in Scandinavia (Sweden, Norway, and Finland) for web tension control products including load cells, rotary unions, tension brakes, ultrasonic sensors, and web guiding equipment. Montalvo has been producing web tension control equipment since 1947.
• KelvaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKelva representative in Sweden for web cleaners (banrenare), pumps, and brake regulation. Kelva has built web cleaners and pumps of the highest quality and performance since the 1980s. Originally Swedish, now owned by Swiss Chromos AG.
• MenzelminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAgent for Menzel's special purpose machines in Scandinavia. Menzel provides custom-built machines for various industries including winding machines and specialized equipment for coating, laminating, and material processing.
• PalomatsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorReseller for Palomats pallet racks in Scandinavia.
• Flexica OyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor in Finland for Liongrip in flexoprinting, paper and plastic converting, as well as core shafts and chucks.
• Trykk-System ASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor in Norway for Hofpartner products.
• Krämer MaschinenbauminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor in Germany for Liongrip products.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Maxcess (Tidland): Global manufacturer of web-handling components including core shafts, chucks, slitter/rewinder systems, and tension control. Directly competes with Hofpartner's AMAL-SHAFT expanding shafts and ACAM/ACAMS chucks in the converting, paper, and packaging markets.
• Aero-Lift: German manufacturer of pneumatic and vacuum tube lifting equipment for industrial material handling. Comparable to Hofpartner's LionGrip pneumatic/mechanical smart lifting devices, serving similar European industrial customers.
• Vacuworx: Manufacturer of vacuum lifting systems for handling pipes, slabs, and rolls in industrial settings. Comparable to Hofpartner's LionGrip and vacuum lift gripper products serving heavy material handling applications.
• Erhardt+Leimer: Manufacturer of web guiding, web tension measurement, and web control systems for paper, film, foil, and textile converting. Comparable to Hofpartner's Montalvo web tension control distribution business, with similar end customers.
• Piab: Swedish industrial vacuum and gripping technology company with a lifting/ergonomic handling product family. Comparable to Hofpartner's LionGrip smart lifting devices and gripper attachments, with overlapping target customers in packaging and converting.
• Parkinson Technologies: Provider of web handling equipment including shafts, winders, and tension control systems for paper, film, and foil processors. Comparable product portfolio to Hofpartner's AMAL-SHAFT and Montalvo-distributed tension control lines.
• Double E Company: US-based manufacturer of web handling and shaft solutions including expanding shafts, chucks, and safety chucks. Closely comparable to Hofpartner's core shaft and chuck product lines serving paper, film, and foil converters.
• ANVER: Manufacturer of vacuum lifting equipment, sheet lifters, and roll handling systems. Directly comparable to Hofpartner's LionGrip and vacuum lift grippers for roll and pallet handling in industrial environments.

Broad incumbents

• Ingersoll Rand: Global diversified industrial equipment company with material handling and lifting solutions including hoists, cranes, and ergonomic lift aids. Overlaps with Hofpartner's lifting and material handling portfolio, but as part of a much broader industrial portfolio rather than as a niche specialist.

Emerging players

• Montalvo Corporation: US-based manufacturer of web tension control products (load cells, rotary unions, tension brakes) — already a Hofpartner distributor in Scandinavia. Partially overlapping with Hofpartner's Montalvo-distributed product line in similar end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/hofpartner
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hofpartner-ab

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Hofpartner