Alfred Gruber

What Alfred Gruber does

Alfred Gruber Gesellschaft m.b.H., trading as KEG Gruber, is a family-owned Austrian industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 1979 and headquartered in Eugendorf near Salzburg. The company designs and builds specialized stainless-steel machinery for the brewing and beverage industry, with its full product range produced at the Eugendorf facility. Its portfolio centers on KEG cleaning, sterilization, and filling systems (KEGmatic fully automatic line at 40–100 KEG/h, semi-automatic PicoKEG at 15 KEG/h, Kombi SAR at 25 KEG/h, and manual filling heads MFK-LTE, MFK-VA IV, MFK-VA V), complemented by counterpressure bottle and PartyKEG fillers (FF 1/12 s20, FF 2/12 s20), CIP and short-time pasteurization systems (KZE-5 at 5 hl/h), microbrewery brewing systems (KB 50/125/200), and ancillary peripherals such as crown cappers, foam removers, palletizing aids, and observation KEGs.

The technical architecture is built around minimum AISI 304 (1.4301) stainless steel construction, Siemens SIMATIC SPS PLCs with touchpanel HMIs, Micromatic-sourced tap heads, and IDM-based inductive flow measurement for fill-level precision. Differentiated offerings include a patent-pending internal bottle-cleaning KEG insert (80–200 bottles/h, multi-step program) and KEG systems handling up to 240 KEGs/h at site level. Revenue is generated through direct, quote-based sale of capital equipment to breweries and beverage producers globally, supplemented by commissioning, spare-parts, and after-sales service contracts. The go-to-market is enterprise field sales with custom planning and execution; the company emphasizes in-house capability from design through worldwide commissioning and after-service, with technical control systems delivered through a long-standing partnership with Elex.

Name

Alfred Gruber

Legal name

Alfred Gruber Gesellschaft m.b.H.

Website

https://keg-gruber.at

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Alfred Gruber (KEG Gruber) is a family-owned Austrian manufacturer, founded 1979, of stainless-steel KEG cleaning, sterilization, and filling systems, plus bottle fillers, CIP/pasteurization, and microbrewery equipment sold directly to breweries worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Brewing and Beverage Processing Equipment

NAICS

Food Product Machinery Manufacturing (333241), Breweries (312120)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kegging & Draught Packaging Operations (AFAFAJAI), Non-Alcoholic Beverage Bottling/Canning & Packaging Operations (AFAFABAO), Capping, Sealing & Closing Machines (IMAHAOAG)

Keywords

• Keg cleaning systems
• Beverage filling equipment
• Microbrewery systems
• Stainless steel engineering
• Bottle filling machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Eugendorf

HQ country

Austria

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Equipment Manufacturing and Sales: KEG Gruber designs, manufactures, and sells industrial beverage processing machinery including KEG cleaning/filling systems, bottle filling lines, CIP systems, and microbrewery equipment. Revenue is generated through direct sales of machines to breweries and beverage producers, with revenue classification as capital equipment (one-time hardware sale). The company also offers after-sales service, spare parts, and worldwide commissioning as ancillary revenue streams.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

KEG Gruber (Alfred Gruber Gesellschaft m.b.H.) designs, manufactures, and sells industrial beverage processing machinery from its facility in Eugendorf near Salzburg, Austria. Its product range covers fully automatic and semi-automatic KEG cleaning, sterilizing, and filling systems (KEGmatic, PicoKEG, Kombi SAR), counterpressure bottle and PartyKEG fillers (FF 1/12 s20, FF 2/12 s20, MFT 03), short-time pasteurization units (KZE-5), and compact microbrewery brewing systems (KB 50, KB 125, KB 200), all built primarily from stainless steel (minimum 1.4301 / AISI 304) and integrated with Siemens SPS controls.

Product overview

Alfred Gruber GmbH (KEG Gruber) is a family-owned Austrian industrial equipment manufacturer based in Eugendorf near Salzburg, specializing in KEG and beverage filling technology since 1979. The product portfolio centers on fully and semi-automatic KEG cleaning, sterilization, and filling systems (KEGmatic, PicoKEG, Kombi SAR, and manual filling heads MFK-LTE, MFK-VA IV, MFK-VA V) alongside bottle and can filling systems (FF 1/12 s20, FF 2/12 s20, MFT 03). Complementary equipment includes bottle/KEG cleaners, CIP/pasteurization systems (KZE-5), microbreweries (KB 50, KB 125, KB 200), KEG peripherals (SchauKEGs display kegs, palletizing systems, external cleaners, cap setters/removers, scales, robots), and bottle/can/PartyKEG peripherals (HDE foam removers, crown cappers). All products are manufactured in Austria using stainless steel construction and incorporate Siemens SPS control systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KEGmatic Fully automatic KEG cleaning, sterilization, and filling system with differential pressure control, foam detection at the filling head, and IDM (inductive flow measurement) for fill-quantity precision. Built from stainless steel with Siemens SPS Touchpanel control; capacity 40-100 KEG/h per line, with site text referencing systems up to 240 KEG/h. Compatible with all standard KEGs and KeyKeg one-way KEGs with automatic size recognition. Designed for breweries and beverage producers requiring high-throughput, fully automated KEG processing.
• PicoKEG Compact semi-automatic KEG cleaning machine for smaller breweries and beverage operations. Features manual coupling via a modified stainless steel tap, interval cleaning of barrel and fitting, an integrated 80-liter tank with 6.5 kW electric heating, and throughput of 15 KEG/h. Targets microbreweries and craft operations seeking an entry-level, space-saving KEG cleaning solution.
• Kombi SAR Semi-automatic KEG cleaning and filling machine that combines external cleaning, internal cleaning, sterilization, and filling in one compact unit. Includes a spray ring, neck rinsing, polycarbonate sliding door, two 100-liter tanks, conveyor rails, and Siemens SPS control. Throughput of 25 KEG/h; designed for small to mid-sized breweries seeking a single integrated KEG processing unit.
• FF 1/12 s20 Semi-automatic counterpressure bottle and PartyKEG filler with one pneumatic filling head, long-tube filler for low oxygen uptake, single or double CO2 pre-rinse before filling, foam-free filling, seven adjustable fill quantities, safety glass door with electric lock, LED interior lighting, and Siemens SPS control. Throughput of 80 bottles/h (0.65L); aimed at breweries needing small-batch counterpressure bottle filling.
• FF 2/12 s20 Semi-automatic counterpressure bottle and PartyKEG filler with two pneumatic filling heads for double capacity. Exact filling via turbine flow meter, polycarbonate splash guard door, time and liquid control during cleaning with error messaging. Throughput of 160 bottles/h (0.65L), 140 bottles/h (0.95L), 120 bottles/h (1.9L), and 60 PartyKEGs/h (5L); targets breweries needing higher-volume semi-automatic bottle filling.
• MFT 03 Manual entry-level bottle filler made entirely of stainless steel (1.4301). Features a height-adjustable and swivel base plate, splash guard on four sides, manual lifting and sealing of bottle/can, and an interchangeable centering ring for various bottle sizes. Suitable for left- and right-handed users; designed as a starter solution for very small breweries.
• KZE-5 Short-time heating system for pasteurization of beer at a capacity of 5 hl/h. Features a three-stage stainless steel plate heat exchanger, tubular holding tube, three centrifugal pumps, and a mobile frame on four castors. Includes a pneumatic shut-off valve at the beer outlet, digital temperature controllers with PT 100 sensors, and hot-water control via a 3-way valve, with emergency stop on under-temperature. Designed for breweries requiring in-house pasteurization.
• KB 50 Microbrewery Compact microbrewery system for 50-liter brews. Includes a mobile stainless steel frame with 4 castors, a 70L stainless steel brew pot with two electric bottom heating elements (2 + 4 kW), a 70L lauter tun with slotted drop bottom, a mash/wort pump with open impeller, a single-stage plate wort cooler, a 50L hot water boiler, and a stainless steel control cabinet with digital thermostat. Targeted at very small craft brewers and pilot brewing operations.
• KB 125 Microbrewery More powerful microbrewery variant of the KB series designed for 125-liter brews. Built on the proven KB 50 concept with additional options such as gas heating with automatic ignition and a hot water pump. Aimed at small craft breweries needing a step up from the 50-liter class.
• KB 200 Microbrewery Largest microbrewery system in the KB series, designed for 200-liter brews. Built on the proven KB series concept with additional professional-use options such as a liftable kettle and steam condensation. Targeted at established craft breweries and brewpubs requiring higher-volume batch production.

Named customers9 records

Segments1 record

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

One partnership is on record.

• ElexcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing technology partnership with Elex for control technology programming. This close cooperation guarantees technically optimal interaction between control systems and custom machine engineering. Elex provides the PLC/programming expertise that complements KEG Gruber's mechanical engineering capabilities in all custom-built machines.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Krones AG: Krones is the world's largest specialist in beverage and packaging machinery, including KEG, bottle, and can filling for breweries. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Gruber on full-line brewery projects while serving a much wider global customer base.
• GEA Group (Beverage Equipment): GEA supplies process technology and filling equipment to the beverage industry, including brewery and dairy customers. It competes with Gruber on industrial-scale brewery processing systems.
• ProMach: ProMach is a large packaging and processing equipment group serving beverage, food, and brewery customers with filling, capping, and labeling lines. It competes with Gruber in beverage filling equipment through its various brands.
• Sidel Group: Sidel is a major supplier of PET and beverage packaging equipment, including fillers and complete lines for breweries and beverage producers. It is an incumbent in the broader beverage machinery category where Gruber operates.
• KHS GmbH: KHS is a leading German manufacturer of filling and packaging equipment for beverages, including KEG and bottle systems. It overlaps directly with Gruber on brewery filling technology but at industrial scale with multi-thousand-employee operations.

Regional players

• ZD Tech: ZD Tech is a Chinese supplier of KEG and bottle filling equipment primarily serving the Asian brewery market. It is a regional player with comparable semi-automatic and automatic filling products to Gruber but operating in a different geography.
• Holzmüller GmbH: Holzmüller is a German specialist in KEG cleaning, filling, and brewery peripherals. It is a regional DACH-market peer that overlaps with Gruber on KEG technology and brewery peripherals.

Direct peers

• Meheen Manufacturing: Meheen Manufacturing produces craft brewing and beverage vessels, CIP, and filling systems, particularly for craft breweries. It serves a similar niche customer segment as Gruber with comparable semi-automatic and turnkey brewery equipment offerings.
• CFT Group: CFT Group is an Italian manufacturer of beverage processing and packaging equipment, including fillers and pasteurizers. It directly competes with Gruber in the European mid-sized brewery equipment market.
• ABE Equipment: ABE Equipment is a smaller US-based supplier of brewery and beverage equipment, including KEG and bottle filling systems targeting craft and mid-sized breweries. It is the closest scale-comparable direct peer to Gruber.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQiPjMbr-5QDMJNcTHz5dqg
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• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fa-gruber

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 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 Alfred Gruber