What EWS does

EWS GmbH (legal name: EWS Automatisierungstechnik und Metallbearbeitung GmbH) is a privately held German mechanical engineering company founded in 2004 and headquartered in Küssaberg-Kadelburg in the High Rhine region near the Swiss border. The firm operates as a custom machine builder and contract manufacturer, delivering three interconnected service lines: Konzeption & Projektplanung (consulting, FMEA and finite element analysis, 3D CAD and CAD/CAM programming); Maschinen & Automation (custom-built machines integrating pneumatics from Festo, industrial robots and cobots, SCARA units, linear handling, PLC/SPS, hydraulics, and quality-assurance sensors); and 3- and 5-axis CNC-Zerspanung capable of machining workpieces up to 2,200mm in a single setup. EWS also markets a proprietary line of standardized fixtures, base frames, and welding modules under the 'Standards by EWS' brand, derived from two decades of in-house machine building.

EWS serves industrial enterprise customers across Germany, with reference installations at Liebherr, Novartis, Magna, STO, Bucher Municipal, HAGO, CELLPACK, and LIGNO TREND, spanning pharmaceuticals, automotive/mobility, building materials, industrial equipment, and wood processing. All work is custom and project-based: engagements run from concept and design through CNC machining, sheet metal processing, welding, assembly, and on-site commissioning, with multi-year contracts and quote-based pricing. Distribution is exclusively direct sales in the domestic German market, supplemented by a professional website, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok presence. The company is led by Managing Directors Markus Westerhoff and Felix Eckert, is independently owned (no parent, no external investors), and maintains a talent pipeline through its practice partnership with DHBW Lörrach's mechanical engineering program.

Name

EWS

Legal name

EWS Automatisierungstechnik und Metallbearbeitung GmbH

Website

https://ews-online.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EWS GmbH is a privately held German custom machine builder and CNC contract manufacturer founded in 2004, serving enterprise industrial customers in Germany with design, 3- and 5-axis CNC machining up to 2,200mm, and bespoke automation systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Industrial Machinery Manufacturing

NAICS

Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG), CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers) (IMAHADAA), Filling & Dosing Machines (Liquid/Powder/Solid) (IMAHAOAF), Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems (IMAHAOAE)

Keywords

• Custom machine building
• CNC precision machining
• Industrial automation systems
• CAD/CAM engineering services
• Contract manufacturing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kadelburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Machine Building & Automation: Design and construction of customized machines and automation systems tailored to customer requirements. This is a project-based, engineering-heavy revenue stream involving consultation, design, prototyping, and production.
2. CNC Precision Machining Services: 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining services for producing precision components. Supports single parts, small series, and urgent/Emergency parts production with quick turnaround.
3. Project Planning & Consulting: Consultation and project planning services including process optimization, FMEA analysis, CAD design, and concept development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

EWS GmbH designs and builds customized machines and automation systems for industrial customers, and manufactures precision components through 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining with working lengths up to 2,200mm. Services span concept and project planning (FMEA, 3D CAD, CAD/CAM programming), full machine building (pneumatics, robotics, linear handling, PLC/SPS, hydraulics), and the proprietary "Standards by EWS" product line of standardized fixtures, base frames, and welding technology.

Product overview

EWS GmbH is a German machine builder and contract manufacturer offering a portfolio of custom machinery, automation systems, and precision CNC machining services. The core offering spans three interconnected service areas: (1) Konzeption & Projektplanung for consulting, engineering, and CAD/CAM-based planning; (2) Maschinen & Automation for building custom machines incorporating pneumatics (Festo), robotics, linear handling, SPS/PLC, and hydraulic systems; and (3) 3- & 5-Achs CNC-Zerspanung for precision machining up to 2,200mm. The company also sells standardized proprietary products under 'Standards by EWS' including sheet metal processing, machine retrofit, base frames, and welding. Projects are customer-specific, with reference installations for clients such as CELLPACK, STO, LIGNO TREND, Liebherr, Novartis, HAGO, Magna, and Bucher Municipal.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Standards by EWS: Proprietary standards developed in-house, including fixtures, components, and functional systems that have proven effective in daily operations - efficient, durable, and field-tested.

Products and services

• Konzeption & Projektplanung (Concept & Project Planning) Consulting and engineering planning services including FMEA analysis, 3D CAD design, CAD/CAM programming, finite element analysis, and conceptual layout development for custom machine and automation solutions. Targeted at industrial manufacturers needing pre-production engineering support.
• Maschinen & Automation (Custom Machines & Automation Systems) Design and construction of custom-built machines and automation systems incorporating pneumatics (Festo), robotics (industrial robots, cobots, SCARA), linear handling systems, PLC/SPS programming, hydraulic systems, and quality assurance sensor integration. Targeted at industrial manufacturers requiring bespoke automated production equipment.
• 3- & 5-Achs CNC-Zerspanung (3- and 5-Axis CNC Machining) Precision CNC machining services using 3-axis and 5-axis technology with working lengths up to 2,200mm, producing complex parts, free-form surfaces, and large workpieces in a single setup. Supports single pieces, small series, and emergency parts with quick turnaround. Targeted at industrial manufacturers needing precision machined components.
• Standards by EWS Proprietary standardized solutions including sheet metal processing (bending, cutting, welding), machine retrofit services, base frames for special machines, and welding technology. Designed as field-tested, efficient, and durable fixtures, components, and functional systems for industrial use.

Quantifiable outcome

• Large workpiece capacity up to 2,200mm in single setup

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• DHBW Lörrach (Duale Hochschule Baden-Württemberg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEWS GmbH serves as a practice partner (Praxispartner) for DHBW Lörrach in the Mechanical Engineering (Maschinenbau) program. This partnership provides students with practical training opportunities and enables the company to connect with potential future employees. The company also supports technician thesis work.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Direct peers

• HEMA Maschinen- und Apparateschutz GmbH: German manufacturer of custom machine enclosures, safety systems, and engineered industrial equipment — a comparable Mittelstand custom-machine specialist serving industrial manufacturing customers.
• Handtmann Group: German Mittelstand industrial group with a Light Metal Casting and Machine Building division designing custom automated systems and CNC-machined components for industrial customers — closely comparable to EWS's full-stack Maschinenbau und CNC-Zerspanung model.
• Heitec AG: German automation specialist offering custom automation systems, robotics integration, and production machinery for industrial customers — directly overlapping EWS's Maschinen & Automation value proposition and customer base.
• EMAG Group: German machine tool group producing CNC turning, grinding, and metal-cutting machines plus automated production systems — overlapping EWS in metal-cutting CNC service capability and custom automation delivery.
• Maschinenfabrik Berthold Hermle AG: German manufacturer of high-precision CNC machining centers and automation solutions — comparable to EWS in its combination of 5-axis CNC machining expertise and integrated automation systems.
• KÖHL Maschinenbau GmbH: German custom Maschinenbau shop delivering purpose-built machinery and precision components for industrial customers — a directly comparable regional Mittelstand peer in scope and business model.

Broad incumbents

• Festo AG & Co. KG: Global German automation incumbent providing pneumatics, electric automation, PLCs, and integrated machine building solutions — EWS explicitly integrates Festo pneumatics, making Festo both a supplier and a broader-portfolio incumbent in the same automation space.
• Bosch Rexroth AG: Global leader in factory automation, motion control, and CNC-ready drive/control systems — comparable to EWS's automation and motion-control integration work but at vastly larger scale and broader product scope.
• KUKA AG: German-headquartered global robotics and automation integrator — overlaps with EWS's robotics/cobot integration work and custom machine building, but serves as a much larger incumbent in industrial automation.
• Trumpf SE + Co. KG: Global German machine tool and laser technology leader with extensive custom automation offerings — comparable industrial customer base and machine-building capability but operating at global enterprise scale far beyond EWS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtiktok.com/@social_media_ews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@EWSYouTubeKanal-gb4ib
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ews-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/ewsmaschinenbau
• TikToktiktok.com/@social_media_ews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 EWS