Glotz

What Glotz does

Glotz, legally Vital-Zentrum Sanitätshaus Glotz GmbH, is a German medical supply retailer (Sanitätshaus) headquartered in Gerlingen, Baden-Württemberg, with operations documented since 1938 and a workforce of 250+ employees across 30 distinct professional roles as of the latest disclosure. The company operates a regional retail network of 10+ Sanitätshaus branches concentrated in the Stuttgart metropolitan area (Gerlingen, Stuttgart-Feuerbach, Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, Stuttgart-Degerloch, Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Holzgerlingen, Böblingen) plus two clinic-embedded workshops (Bad Urach/Fachkliniken Hohenurach and Kernen/Diakonie Stetten). Most recently, in September 2025, it opened a new 200 sqm Versorgungszentrum in Stuttgart-Degerloch with four consultation rooms, indicating active physical expansion within its core geography.

The company's service portfolio spans six integrated disciplines under the Vital-Zentrum umbrella: Sanitätsfachfachhandel (medical retail such as bandages, compression stockings), Orthopädietechnik (orthoses, prostheses, braces), Orthopädie-Schuhtechnik (orthopedic insoles and footwear), Medizintechnik (oxygen therapy, CPAP/sleep apnea, home ventilation), Rehatechnik (wheelchairs, stair lifts, rehabilitation equipment), and Homecare (in-home nursing supply and equipment delivery). Patient-facing digital channels — Video-Beratung (video consultation) and Online-Rezept (online prescription submission) — extend the offering beyond the physical stores. Glotz supplies and integrates products from major OEMs including Otto Bock, ResMed, Philips Healthcare, Össur, Bauerfeind, Sunrise Medical, and Invacare.

The business model is a hybrid of prescription-driven one-time device sales billed through German statutory health insurers under the Hilfsmittelverzeichnis fee schedule, plus recurring subscription streams including monthly Pflegehilfsmittel (care consumables) supplies up to €40/month for Pflegegrad patients and ongoing homecare/CPAP contracts. Distribution relies on physician/clinic referrals, walk-in retail, in-home delivery, and clinic workshops; the company is privately held with no disclosed funding rounds and is managed by three Geschäftsführer (Joachim Glotz, Christian Weyhofen, Dr. André Kuchenbuch). No AI/ML capabilities, M&A activity, or geographic expansion beyond southern Germany are evidenced in the input data.

Name

Glotz

Legal name

Vital-Zentrum Sanitätshaus Glotz GmbH

Website

https://glotz.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Glotz is a privately held German Sanitätshaus (medical supply retailer) headquartered in Gerlingen, serving the Stuttgart region with 10+ branches across orthopedic, respiratory, rehabilitation, homecare, and pediatric medical supply services, billed primarily through statutory health insurance prescriptions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Medical Supplies Retail (Sanitätshaus)

NAICS

Surgical Appliance and Supplies Manufacturing (339113)

SIC

Orthopedic, Prosthetic & Surgical Appliances & Supplies (3842)

akta.pro primary industry

Orthotics & Bracing (AFO/KAFO, Spinal, Soft Goods Supports) (HLAHAMAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Orthotics & Bracing (Spinal/Lower/Upper Extremity Orthoses) (HLAHAEAI), Prosthetics, Orthotics & Bracing (POB) (HSABAKAG), Comfort, Orthopedic & Medical Footwear Retail (CRAAADAG), Foot & Ankle (HLAKALAG)

Keywords

• Medical supply retailer
• Orthopedic technology services
• Orthopedic shoe technology
• Rehabilitation and homecare
• Medical equipment fittings

Headquarters

HQ city

Gerlingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Medical supplies retail: Sale of medical supplies, orthopedic devices, rehabilitation equipment, and healthcare products to patients and consumers, primarily through prescription-based healthcare billing with statutory health insurers.
2. Homecare services: Homecare services including oxygen therapy, sleep apnea therapy (CPAP), home ventilation (Heimbeatmung), and nursing care supplies delivered to patients in their homes.
3. Care aids (Pflegehilfsmittel): Monthly supply of care consumables (up to 40 EUR/month) for caregivers of individuals with recognized care level (Pflegegrad), billed through care insurance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vital-Zentrum Sanitätshaus Glotz GmbH is a traditional German medical supply house providing orthopedic technology, orthopedic shoe technology, medical technology, rehabilitation technology, and homecare products and services. It sells, custom-fits, and services prosthetics, orthotics, therapeutic footwear, compression stockings, mobility aids, and related medical supplies to private patients primarily in the Stuttgart region through its branch network and certified workshops.

Product overview

Glotz operates as a Vital-Zentrum (vital center) offering a unified medical supply and healthcare services portfolio. The core offering spans Sanitätsfachhandel (medical retail), Orthopädietechnik (orthopedic technology), Orthopädie-Schuhtechnik (orthopedic footwear), Medizintechnik (medical technology), Rehatechnik (rehabilitation equipment), and Homecare services. These services are supplemented by digital offerings including Video-Beratung (video consultation) and Online-Rezept (online prescription). The company serves customers across multiple locations in the Stuttgart region with products including bandages, orthoses, compression stockings, wheelchairs, and home ventilation equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sanitätsfachhandel (Medical Supply Retail) Retail sale of medical supplies and aids (Sanitätsfachhandel) for individual patients, including standard medical aids and supply products sold through the branch network.
• Orthopädietechnik (Orthopedic Technology) Custom design, manufacture, fitting, and servicing of orthopedic devices such as orthoses and prosthetics for patients requiring individual orthopedic solutions.
• Orthopädie-Schuhtechnik (Orthopedic Shoe Technology) Custom orthopedic footwear, shoe modifications, and foot orthotics, including handcrafted therapeutic shoes and individual fittings for patients with foot-related medical needs.
• Medizintechnik (Medical Technology) Provision and servicing of medical technology products and devices for patients and clinical partners.
• Rehatechnik (Rehabilitation Technology) Provision of rehabilitation equipment and aids (e.g., mobility and therapy devices) to support patient recovery and mobility.
• Homecare Homecare services delivering medical aids and supplies to patients in their home environment, supporting outpatient and home-based care needs.
• Clinic Workshop (Klinikwerkstatt) at Klinik Hohenurach On-site certified orthopedic workshop at Klinik Hohenurach providing orthopedic and shoemaking services to clinic patients.
• Clinic Workshop (Klinikwerkstatt) at Diakonie Stetten On-site certified orthopedic workshop at Diakonie Stetten providing orthopedic and medical aid services to residents and patients.

Named customers9 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• RehavitalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRehavital is a German network of medical supply retailers (Sanitätshäuser). Glotz participates as a member, displaying the Rehavital logo as part of its brand positioning.
• HomebracecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHomebrace from Schorndorf is a cooperation partner in the area of communication aids for intensive care patients. The two companies exhibited together at CUWI 2026 congress for out-of-hospital intensive care, representing interdisciplinary care solutions.
• Ludwig Bertram GmbH (RUSSKA/Sanivita)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint responsibility partnership for the Sanivita online shop (sanivita.de) under Art. 26 GDPR. Ludwig Bertram handles catalog distribution and initial customer contact; Glotz handles product consultation and processing for warranty/returns.
• Otto BockcoreTechnology or IntegrationMajor supplier of orthopedic technology products including prosthetics and mobility aids.
• BauerfeindcoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of bandages, orthoses, and compression stockings including Varitan and other medical devices.
• ResMedcoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of sleep apnea therapy equipment (CPAP/BiPAP devices) for respiratory care services.
• Philips HealthcarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of medical equipment for diagnostic and therapeutic applications.
• ÖssurcoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of knee orthoses including the Unloader One X featured in Glotz's test week events. Products address osteoarthritis pain management.
• Sunrise MedicalcoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of wheelchairs and mobility equipment for rehabilitation technology.
• InvacarecoreTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of homecare and rehabilitation equipment including beds and mobility aids.
• LiftaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for stair lift systems. Glotz refers interested customers directly to Lifta for fixed-mounted lift systems, acting as a referral partner.
• Diakonie StettenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlotz operates a workshop (Glotz Werkstatt) at the Diakonie Stetten Gesundheitszentrum Kernen im Remstal, providing rehabilitation equipment services within this healthcare facility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Mediq Deutschland: Pan-European medical supply and homecare distributor with operations in Germany covering wound care, respiratory therapy, and DME. Comparable to Glotz's homecare and Medizintechnik lines, but operating at significantly greater scale and across multiple countries.
• Össur: Icelandic-headquartered orthotics and prosthetics manufacturer with a German commercial presence (e.g., Unloader One X knee orthosis). Comparable to Glotz's orthotic offerings and featured in Glotz's test-week events, but Össur also sells direct to clinics in some accounts.
• Otto Bock: Global leader in prosthetics, orthotics, and mobility solutions with German retail and patient-care operations. Overlaps with Glotz's Orthopädietechnik and Rehatechnik categories, and is simultaneously a key supplier—creating both partnership and competitive exposure.
• Sunrise Medical: Global wheelchair and mobility equipment manufacturer distributing through German medical supply channels. Comparable to Glotz's Rehatechnik offering, particularly for complex seating and powered mobility, with potential to disintermediate via direct sales.
• Bauerfeind: German manufacturer of bandages, orthoses, compression stockings, and orthopedic supports with its own retail and direct-to-patient channels. Directly overlaps with Glotz's orthopedic technology and Sanitätsfachhandel lines and represents both a supplier and a competing route to the same end patient.

Direct peers

• Sanitätshaus Aktuell: Germany's largest Sanitätshaus cooperative network, offering medical supply retail, orthotics, and homecare across hundreds of locations. Directly comparable to Glotz in core service categories (orthopädietechnik, rehatechnik, homecare) and statutory health insurance billing.
• Sanivita (Sanitätshaus-Online): Online medical supply shop operated jointly by Ludwig Bertram and Glotz. Directly comparable as a digital extension of Glotz's catalog distribution and a competing channel for traditional Sanitätshäuser in southern Germany.

Emerging players

• Shop Apotheke: German-headquartered online pharmacy selling prescription and OTC healthcare products direct to consumers. Comparable to Glotz on the medical supplies and homecare consumables categories through a digital channel that bypasses physical retail costs.
• DocMorris: European online pharmacy operating in Germany with prescription medical supply fulfillment and growing e-prescription capability. Represents the digital-first threat to Glotz's brick-and-mortar Sanitätshaus model for straightforward prescriptions and over-the-counter medical supplies.

Regional players

• Rehavital: National network of independent Sanitätshäuser of which Glotz is itself a member. Member retailers operate comparable service portfolios in different geographies, making them direct competitors for regional contracts and benchmark partners for Glotz's same-store economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/shglotz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vital-zentrum-sanitaetshaus-glotz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Glotz