Richard Stihler
Richard Stihler GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned German manufacturer founded in 1919, designing and producing custom pressure vessels, heat exchangers, columns, agitators, and special apparatus in stainless steel and exotic alloys for the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, petrochemistry, environmental technology, and biotechnology industries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersLahr, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Richard Stihler does
Richard Stihler GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned industrial equipment manufacturer founded in 1919 in Lahr, Germany, registered in the Freiburg commercial register (HRB 390323). The company designs and manufactures custom-built pressure vessels, heat exchangers (3 m² to 1,000 m²), columns (up to Ø2,000 mm × 38 m length), agitator vessels (630 L to 25 m³), cellular wheel sluices, and bespoke special constructions. Manufacturing uses stainless steel as well as exotic alloys including Hastelloy, Inconel, titanium, zirconium, tantalum, Monel, and explosion-clad or rolled-clad materials, with operating envelopes from full vacuum to 600 bar, capacities of 10-200,000 liters, wall thicknesses up to 100 mm, and unit weights up to 150 tons. In-house non-destructive testing covers radiographic, ultrasonic, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, hardness, and spectroscopic examination, and finishing capabilities include internal surface grinding (grit 320) and electropolishing for pharmaceutical applications.
The company's core technology is specialized apparatus construction under heavy regulatory oversight, supporting a customer base across chemical, pharmaceutical, food, petrochemistry, environmental technology, and biotechnology industries. International certifications — including ASME U-Stamp (since 1978), the China Manufacturing License (since 1998), DIN EN ISO 9001, KTA 1401 (nuclear), TÜV, Lloyds Register, National Board (USA), APAVE, Vincotte, Stoomwezen, SVTI, AS 1210 (Australia), and HP0 — enable cross-border project delivery. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time custom equipment sales (project-by-project quote-based pricing with 30-day net terms) supplemented by contract manufacturing services (CNC plate boring, bedplate milling, turning, surface finishing) and modifications/retubing of installed equipment. The company operates from a single 5,000 m² headquarters and production site in Lahr, with 51-100 employees, sells via direct enterprise field sales in German and English, and markets modestly through its website and an Instagram account focused on employer branding.
Richard Stihler firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Richard Stihler
- Legal name
- Richard Stihler GmbH
- Website
- https://stihler-apparatebau.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Richard Stihler GmbH is a third-generation, family-owned German manufacturer founded in 1919, designing and producing custom pressure vessels, heat exchangers, columns, agitators, and special apparatus in stainless steel and exotic alloys for the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, petrochemistry, environmental technology, and biotechnology industries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Richard Stihler industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Process Equipment (Pressure Vessels & Apparatus Manufacturing)
- NAICS
- Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410)
- SIC
- Fabricated Plate Work (Boiler Shops) (3443)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Pressure Vessels, Columns & Storage Tanks (ASME/Process Vessels) (IMAHAEAF)
Keywords
Where Richard Stihler is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lahr
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Richard Stihler business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Equipment Manufacturing: Design, development, and production of custom machines and systems including heat exchangers, columns, agitators, sluices, and special constructions. Equipment is manufactured to customer specifications for chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales with long production cycles and high transaction values.
- Contract Manufacturing Services: Labor-only manufacturing services including CNC plate boring, CNC bedplate milling, turning, and other metalworking services. Also includes finishing services such as pickling, sandblasting, and glass bead blasting.
- Equipment Modifications and Retubing: Modification services for existing equipment including heat exchanger retubing, tube bundle replacement, and other customer-required modifications. Provides time and cost savings for customers compared to new equipment purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom equipment pricing based on specifications |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels3 records
Richard Stihler product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Richard Stihler GmbH designs, engineers, and manufactures custom industrial apparatus and pressure vessels — including heat exchangers, distillation columns, agitator vessels, cellular wheel sluices, and special constructions — in specialty alloys (stainless steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, titanium, zirconium, tantalum) for the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, petrochemical, environmental, and biotechnology industries. The company also provides modification/retubing services for existing equipment and contract CNC machining (plate boring, milling, turning) plus surface treatment. Operating conditions span vacuum to 600 bar pressure, with units from 10 to 200,000 liters and up to 150 tons, built under comprehensive international certifications (ASME U-Stamp, China License, TÜV, Lloyds, etc.).
Product overview
Richard Stihler is a third-generation family-owned industrial equipment manufacturer specializing in custom-designed apparatus, machines, and plant construction. The product portfolio centers on six core offerings: Heat Exchangers (Wärmetauscher) ranging from 3 m² to 1000 m² for various industrial applications; Columns (Kolonnen) for distillation and rectification in stainless steel and specialty alloys; Agitator Vessels (Rührbehälter) from 630L to 25m³ with GMP/FDA-compliant designs; Sluices (Zellenradschleusen) for dosing powdered and granular materials; Special Constructions (Sonderkonstruktionen) for custom equipment; and Modifications (Umbauten) for retrofitting existing installations. The company operates contract manufacturing services including CNC machining and surface treatment as an additional service capability.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Heat Exchangers (Wärmetauscher) Industrial heat exchangers including double tube heat exchangers, heating cartridges, immersion heat exchangers, pharmaceutical-grade exchangers, titanium exchangers, and high-pressure units ranging from 3 m² to 1000 m² heat transfer area, designed for chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and petrochemical applications.
- Columns (Kolonnen) Distillation and rectification columns in stainless steel (316L/1.4404), Super Duplex SAF 2507, and zirconium, with diameters from Ø1400mm to Ø2000mm and lengths up to 38m, for chemical and pharmaceutical separation processes.
- Agitator Vessels (Rührbehälter) Agitator vessels and mixing tanks with capacities from 630 liters to 25 m³, manufactured in specialty alloys such as 1.4529, 254 SMO, and Alloy 59 (2.4605), with GMP-compliant and FDA-conform designs for chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology customers.
- Sluices (Zellenradschleusen) Cellular wheel sluices for dosing fluid, pulverulent, or granulated materials in chemical and pharmaceutical processes, with capacities from 20–100 l/h and ATEX-compliant designs.
- Special Constructions (Sonderkonstruktionen) Custom-designed industrial equipment including filter vessels, transport containers with heating coils, heating coils, agitator organs, and separators manufactured in specialty alloys to customer specifications for chemical, pharmaceutical, and food industry applications.
- Modifications and Retubing (Umbauten) Retrofit and modification services for existing equipment including retubing of heat exchangers, removal and replacement of tube bundles, and machining of gasket sealing surfaces, offered to existing equipment owners in chemical and pharmaceutical operations.
- Contract Manufacturing (Lohnarbeiten) Labor-only contract CNC machining services including plate boring, bedplate milling, turning, and welding, together with surface treatment services such as pickling, sandblasting, and glass bead blasting, sold to regional industrial customers requiring specialized metalworking.
Quantifiable outcome
- Operating conditions: vacuum to 600 bar pressure, capacities 10-200,000 liters, wall thicknesses 2-100mm, unit weights up to 150 tons
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Richard Stihler
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Richard Stihler technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Richard Stihler partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators6 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Richard Stihler competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Borsig GmbH: German manufacturer of pressure vessels, heat exchangers, columns, and special process equipment for chemical, petrochemical, and energy industries. Comparable to Stihler in heavy custom pressure-equipment fabrication, German Mittelstand heritage, and certified welding scope.
- Holvrieka: Dutch manufacturer of stainless steel storage tanks, process vessels, and brewing/dairy/pharma process equipment. Comparable to Stihler in custom stainless pressure-vessel and process-equipment manufacturing serving food, beverage, and pharmaceutical customers.
- Thaletec: German specialist in glass-lined steel process equipment (reactors, columns, agitators, heat exchangers) for chemical and pharmaceutical industries. Closely comparable to Stihler in custom reaction and column vessels and pharma/chemical customer base.
- Schmidt + Clemens: German specialty steel foundry and manufacturer of high-alloy cast and fabricated process equipment (centrifugal cast tubes, headers, reactors) for aggressive-media service. Comparable to Stihler in exotic-alloy material expertise and chemical/pharmaceutical process-equipment scope.
- Kelvion: German-headquartered global manufacturer of heat exchangers, plate heat exchangers, and pressure vessels serving chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and food industries. Closely comparable to Richard Stihler in custom process equipment, alloy fabrication, and certified pressure-equipment scope.
- Mersen: French-listed manufacturer of anticorrosion process equipment including graphite heat exchangers, columns, and reactive-media vessels for chemical, pharmaceutical, and environmental industries. Comparable to Stihler in corrosion-resistant process equipment and exposure to chemical/pharma end markets.
- GMM Pfaudler: Global leader in glass-lined and alloy-lined reactors, columns, agitator vessels, and process equipment for pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Direct comparable in custom reactor/column fabrication, GMP/FDA-regulated design, and exotic-alloy vessel scope serving similar customer verticals.
- De Dietrich Process Systems: Supplies glass-lined reactors, filtration, drying, and process equipment for pharmaceutical, chemical, and agrochemical customers worldwide. Comparable to Stihler in bespoke process vessels, regulatory qualifications, and pharma-grade manufacturing capability.
- Graham Corporation: US-based designer and manufacturer of condensers, heat exchangers, and pressure vessels for chemical, petrochemical, and defense applications. Comparable to Stihler in custom-engineered heat-transfer and pressure equipment serving similar process-industry customers.
Broad incumbents
- SPX Technologies (Process Equipment): Diversified US industrial technology company with a process-equipment portfolio including heat exchangers and drying technology for chemical and food customers. Broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities in custom heat-transfer equipment but not specialized to Stihler's exotic-alloy pressure-vessel niche.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Richard Stihler social profiles
Digital presenceRichard Stihler compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Richard Stihler financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Richard Stihler leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Richard Stihler funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Richard Stihler 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 Richard Stihler
What does Richard Stihler do?
Richard Stihler GmbH designs, engineers, and manufactures custom industrial apparatus and pressure vessels — including heat exchangers, distillation columns, agitator vessels, cellular wheel sluices, and special constructions — in specialty alloys (stainless steel, Hastelloy, Inconel, titanium, zirconium, tantalum) for the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, petrochemical, environmental, and biotechnology industries. The company also provides modification/retubing services for existing equipment and contract CNC machining (plate boring, milling, turning) plus surface treatment. Operating conditions span vacuum to 600 bar pressure, with units from 10 to 200,000 liters and up to 150 tons, built under comprehensive international certifications (ASME U-Stamp, China License, TÜV, Lloyds, etc.).
Is Richard Stihler a public or private company?
Richard Stihler is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Richard Stihler founded?
Richard Stihler was founded in 1919. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Richard Stihler based?
Richard Stihler is headquartered in Lahr, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Richard Stihler make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Equipment Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are contract Manufacturing Services and equipment Modifications and Retubing.
Who are Richard Stihler's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Borsig GmbH, Holvrieka, Thaletec, Schmidt + Clemens, Kelvion, Mersen, GMM Pfaudler, De Dietrich Process Systems and Graham Corporation. SPX Technologies (Process Equipment) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Richard Stihler have an API?
No public API is recorded for Richard Stihler.
What industry is Richard Stihler in?
Richard Stihler's product category is Industrial Process Equipment (Pressure Vessels & Apparatus Manufacturing). Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAEAF, Pressure Vessels, Columns & Storage Tanks (ASME/Process Vessels). Its NAICS code is 332410 and its SIC code is 3443.