GKB machines
GKB Machines BV is a Dutch manufacturer of heavy-duty turf maintenance machinery for sports fields, golf courses, and synthetic pitches, selling tractor-mounted equipment through an international premium dealer network to municipalities, contractors, and groundskeeping professionals.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1946
- HeadquartersBarendrecht, Netherlands
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GKB machines does
GKB Machines BV is a Dutch manufacturer of professional turf maintenance equipment, operating as a division of the family-owned GKB Group (founded 1946) and focused exclusively on sports pitch and golf course maintenance since 1985. The company designs, engineers, and produces a portfolio of more than 30 tractor-mounted and towed machines spanning four use categories: natural grass maintenance (e.g., Deep Tine Aerator with up to 40cm working depth, VStrong scarifier, Combinator, Ecodresser), synthetic and artificial turf maintenance (e.g., Aerator co-developed with Desso Sports System, Deep-Clean with vibrating sieve separation, Topfinish brush), golf course equipment (Sandfiller, Combinator, Combiseeder), and soil preparation/construction (Sandmover, Stone Burier, Drainmaster). Core technical differentiators include the patented CombiRotor used across scarifier product lines, proprietary Evolvente blades designed to reduce friction and power usage during aeration, and carbide teeth rollers that decompact artificial turf infill without damaging carpet fibers. Manufacturing takes place at an energy-neutral facility in Barendrecht, Netherlands, recognized in 2016 as the most sustainable industrial plant in the country, and GKB operates its own contracting division that uses the same machines commercially — creating a practice-to-product feedback loop that informs R&D.
The company's business model is the sale of high-value capital equipment, configured per customer specification and sold exclusively through a worldwide network of premium dealers; in the Netherlands, all five John Deere dealers carry the line, giving GKB nationwide professional distribution. Sales are consultative, with GKB specialists accompanying dealers on customer meetings, supplemented by direct inquiry and demo-request channels and active presence at industry trade shows (e.g., BTME). Pricing is not published; machines are positioned as durable, robust, and operator-friendly solutions for municipalities, sports clubs, contractors, greenkeepers, and cricket grounds staff. GKB is privately held by the Kraaijeveld family (more than 20 family owners), now in its third generation of leadership with the fourth being prepared, and has no disclosed external institutional or PE/VC ownership.
GKB machines firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GKB machines
- Legal name
- GKB Machines bv
- Website
- https://gkbmachines.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1946
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- GKB Machines BV is a Dutch manufacturer of heavy-duty turf maintenance machinery for sports fields, golf courses, and synthetic pitches, selling tractor-mounted equipment through an international premium dealer network to municipalities, contractors, and groundskeeping professionals.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GKB machines industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sports Turf Maintenance Equipment
- NAICS
- All Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (33399), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)
- SIC
- Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559), Farm Machinery & Equipment (3523)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Crop Protection & Application Equipment (Sprayers/Spreaders) (IMAHACAC)
Keywords
Where GKB machines is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barendrecht
- HQ country
- Netherlands
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
GKB machines business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Sports Field Maintenance Machines: GKB Machines designs, manufactures, and sells a broad range of heavy-duty maintenance machines for natural grass, synthetic turf, hybrid turf, and golf courses. Products are sold as capital equipment (one-time purchase) through a dealer network worldwide. Machine categories include aerators, scarifiers, sanders, brushes, seeders, stone buriers, deep cleaners, and specialty equipment. GKB also offers custom configurations and attachments per customer requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Capital equipment sold via dealer network — no public pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
GKB machines product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GKB Machines designs, engineers, and manufactures heavy-duty maintenance machines for natural grass, synthetic turf, hybrid turf, and golf courses. Their portfolio spans aerators, scarifiers, sand spreaders, brushes, seeders, stone buriers, deep cleaners, and specialty implements sold through a worldwide network of premium dealers as one-time capital equipment purchases. The company also operates its own contracting division that uses the machines it sells, providing real-world feedback for continuous product development, and produces its machines energy-neutrally at its Barendrecht, Netherlands facility.
Product overview
GKB Machines is a Dutch manufacturer of professional sports field maintenance equipment. The product portfolio consists of over 30 distinct machines organized across multiple use categories: Natural Grass Maintenance (including DTA High Speed, Deep Tine Aerator, Combislit, Combitool, Topair, VStrong, Combinator, Combiseeder, Ecodresser, Sandfiller, Drainmaster, Topdrop, Sandspreader, Sandmover, Stone Burier, Dragframe), Synthetic Turf Maintenance (including Aerator, VCollector, Leaf-Clean, Top Clean, Deep-Clean, Infill Remover, Infiller, Brush, Quick-Brush, Tbrush, Rotobrush, Topfinish, Ball Roll and Infill Tester), Golf Course Equipment (Sandfiller, Combinator, Combiseeder, Deep Tine Aerator), and Forestry/Other (Lumberjack, Leaf-Blower, Leaf Reducer 150, Divotfixer 15). The machines are primarily tractor-mounted implements designed for various turf maintenance operations including aeration, scarifying, brushing, cleaning, seeding, topdressing, drainage, and soil preparation. GKB operates as part of the GKB Group and produces machines energy-neutrally at their Dutch facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vstrong: Heavy duty scarifier for grass on sports fields and golf courses, winner of Fieldmanager of the Year 2017 award
- Fieldmanager of the Year 2017
Products and services
- DTA High Speed
Quantifiable outcome
- A Dutch golf course received a 10-star rating from the STRI using the GKB Sandfiller
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GKB machines
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GKB machines technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
GKB machines partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- SMGcoreGKB Machines and SMG announced a strategic partnership on March 19, 2025. The partnership is aimed at expanding GKB Machines' product portfolio. GKB announced the partnership with appropriate pride, indicating it is a significant strategic development for the company.
- Kraakman Perfors B.V. (John Deere Dealer)coreKraakman Perfors B.V. is a Dutch John Deere dealer covering North Holland, South Holland, and Utrecht with eight locations. During a search for new A-brands, the dealer selected GKB Machines as a qualitative addition to its product range. The dealer subsequently advised all Dutch John Deere dealers to carry GKB Machines, resulting in nationwide distribution.
- Dutch John Deere Dealers (collective)coreAll five Dutch John Deere dealers sell GKB Machines. This was achieved through the advocacy of Kraakman Perfors B.V., who recommended GKB Machines to all other Dutch John Deere dealers. This dealer network gives GKB Machines a nationwide professional distribution network in the Netherlands.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
GKB machines competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Wiedenmann: German manufacturer of professional turf and sports field maintenance machinery (aerators, sweepers, scarifiers). Closest direct peer to GKB with overlapping product categories and similar European professional-channel GTM.
- Redexim: Dutch manufacturer of sports turf maintenance equipment (verticutters, aerators, topdressers, overseeders). Direct head-to-head peer serving the same natural grass and synthetic turf segments from the Netherlands.
- Smithco: US-based manufacturer of professional turf maintenance equipment for golf, sports, and grounds care. Comparable on aeration, topdressing, and turf equipment categories.
- Charterhouse Turf Machinery: UK-based manufacturer of sports turf maintenance equipment including scarifiers, aerators, and topdressers. Direct competitor in the European professional sports turf market.
- Campey Turf Care Systems: UK-based supplier and manufacturer of sports turf maintenance equipment, including Koro Field Topmaker. Competes with GKB's VStrong and Combinator for fraise mowing and renovation work.
- Sisis (Howardson Group): UK manufacturer of turf maintenance machinery for golf courses, sports grounds, and synthetic surfaces. Directly comparable portfolio of aerators, scarifiers, brushes, and topdressers.
- Vredo: Dutch manufacturer best known for overseeders and parent of Redexim. Directly comparable to GKB on sports field overseeding, topdressing, and turf establishment machinery.
Broad incumbents
- John Deere (Deere & Company): Global agricultural and turf equipment OEM. Already a GKB distribution partner via its Dutch dealer network; competes more broadly as an incumbent with deeper R&D, finance, and dealer reach.
- Jacobsen (Textron Specialized Vehicles): Brand within Textron Specialized Vehicles producing turf maintenance equipment for golf and sports fields. Established broad-line incumbent in the same end markets as GKB.
- The Toro Company: Major US-listed OEM of turf maintenance equipment for golf, sports fields, and grounds care. A much larger, broader incumbent in the same category; offers overlapping products but as part of a wider portfolio.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
GKB machines social profiles
Digital presenceGKB machines financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GKB machines leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
GKB machines funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GKB machines 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 GKB machines
What does GKB machines do?
GKB Machines designs, engineers, and manufactures heavy-duty maintenance machines for natural grass, synthetic turf, hybrid turf, and golf courses. Their portfolio spans aerators, scarifiers, sand spreaders, brushes, seeders, stone buriers, deep cleaners, and specialty implements sold through a worldwide network of premium dealers as one-time capital equipment purchases. The company also operates its own contracting division that uses the machines it sells, providing real-world feedback for continuous product development, and produces its machines energy-neutrally at its Barendrecht, Netherlands facility.
Is GKB machines a public or private company?
GKB machines is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GKB machines founded?
GKB machines was founded in 1946. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is GKB machines based?
GKB machines is headquartered in Barendrecht, Netherlands, in the Europe region.
How does GKB machines make money?
One revenue line is on record: sports Field Maintenance Machines.
Who are GKB machines's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Wiedenmann, Redexim, Smithco, Charterhouse Turf Machinery, Campey Turf Care Systems, Sisis (Howardson Group) and Vredo. Broad incumbents are John Deere (Deere & Company), Jacobsen (Textron Specialized Vehicles) and The Toro Company.
Does GKB machines have an API?
No public API is recorded for GKB machines.
What industry is GKB machines in?
GKB machines's product category is Sports Turf Maintenance Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHACAC, Crop Protection & Application Equipment (Sprayers/Spreaders). Its NAICS code is 33399 and its SIC code is 3559.