kawe

What kawe does

kawe AG is a privately held Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing company, founded in 1986 in Reinach/AG and now headquartered in Untersiggenthal (Kanton Aargau), operating as an entity under holding parent Ferox Technologies AG. The firm specializes in the design, engineering, and production of complex special machinery, plant equipment, and precision mechanical and electromechanical components, delivering a vertically integrated 'everything from a single source' solution spanning engineering, special machinery and plant construction, mechanics and component manufacturing, sheet metal processing, welding and joining technology (including orbital welding), electrical/electromechanics, CNC machining, toolmaking and maintenance, and quality assurance. Its primary customer base is concentrated in industrial B2B verticals — Power/Energy (ABB, Siemens, GE, Ansaldo Energia, Ampegon, MAN), Railroad (SBB, Stadler, Alstom, Aargau Verkehr), Defense and Aerospace (RUAG, Rheinmetall Defence, GDELS, armasuisse), Medical Technology (Biotronik), and general industrial manufacturers (Burckhardt Compression, Bucher Industries, Oerlikon Metco, Georg Fischer, Thyssenkrupp, Brugg), plus research clients such as ETH Zurich and PSI.

Beyond contract manufacturing, kawe AG markets five proprietary product lines: the kawe Storage System (kSS) sliding-shelf system, the kawe Turbine Blade Testing Facility (fully automated FPI inspection compliant with ASTM E1417 / DIN EN ISO 3452-1), kawe Spezialwerkzeuge custom tools and gauges, the RTD-100 mobile lathe with optional balancing device (transportable in a 20-ft container, capacity up to 150 tons and 4.5 m diameter), and a separate rotor balancing device. Revenue mechanics consist of one-time project and equipment sales (custom machinery, components, proprietary hardware) supplemented by professional services such as on-site rotor balancing and training.

The company sells through direct B2B field sales and key account management in Switzerland and internationally, quote-based pricing, with channels limited to direct engagement plus Swissmem industry-association participation. It maintains a multi-standard certification stack (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 3834-2, EN 15085) plus Ecovadis, holds ~6,000 m² of production space with synchronized 30-ton indoor cranes and a ~730 kWp solar installation, and underwent a planned July 2025 executive succession that installed Michael Reinhard as CEO and Marc Flückiger as CFO while previous owners Stephan Leunig and Michel Indrizzi remained as investors.

Name

kawe

Legal name

kawe ag

Website

https://kawe.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

kawe AG is a Swiss industrial engineering and manufacturing firm (Untersiggenthal, founded 1986, 70+ employees) that designs and builds complex special machinery, plant equipment, and precision components for enterprise OEMs in power, rail, defense, and industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Untersiggenthal

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Machinery and Plant Construction: Design, engineering, and manufacturing of complex special machines and plant equipment based on customer specifications. Includes prototyping through series production.
2. Component Manufacturing: Precision manufacturing of mechanical, electromechanical components and assemblies for industrial customers. Services include machining, sheet metal processing, welding, and electrical assembly.
3. Rotor Balancing Services: On-site rotor balancing using proprietary balancing systems, including training and support services.
4. kawe Storage System Products: Sale of proprietary storage systems (kSS) including standard and custom configurations.
5. Special Tools Products: Custom-designed production tools, toolboxes and gauges sold with certification and documentation.
6. Turbine Blade Testing Systems: Sale of FPI testing facilities for non-destructive testing of turbine components.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

kawe AG is a Swiss industrial supplier that manufactures custom special machinery, plant construction systems, and precision components for OEMs across the power generation, rail transportation, defense, aerospace, and medical technology sectors. The company combines electrical engineering with sheet metal fabrication, welding (including certified processes), and assembly to deliver turnkey manufacturing solutions, supported by proprietary products such as its FPI turbine blade testing facility, mobile lathe, storage system, balancing devices, and special tools.

Product overview

Kawe AG is an engineering and manufacturing company offering a portfolio of proprietary industrial products alongside a comprehensive suite of manufacturing and engineering services. The core proprietary products include the kawe Storage System (kSS) — a space-saving sliding shelf system, the kawe Turbine Blade Testing Facility — a fully automated FPI inspection system, kawe Spezialwerkzeuge — custom special tools and gauges, a Mobile Lathe with Balancing Device (RTD-100) for on-site machining of large rotors, and a dedicated Balancing Device for Rotors. These proprietary products are complemented by a full internal manufacturing chain: Engineering, Special Machinery and Plant Construction, Mechanics and Component Manufacturing, Sheet Metal Processing, Welding and Joining Technology, Electrical/Electromechanical Engineering, CNC Machining (Zerspanung), Toolmaking and Maintenance, and Quality Assurance — delivered as an integrated one-stop solution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• kSS (kawe Storage System): Storage system enabling up to 80% space savings with adjustable sliding shelves, Swiss production
• kawe Prüfsysteme
• kawe Spezialwerkzeuge
• Mobiler Drehbank mit Auswuchtvorrichtung

Products and services

• kawe Storage System (kSS) A proprietary modular storage system designed to organize and store industrial components and tooling; sold to industrial customers needing structured storage solutions in manufacturing environments.
• kawe Turbine Blade Testing Facility (FPI Testing System) A non-destructive fluorescence penetrant inspection (FPI) testing facility for turbine blades, used by power generation and aerospace OEMs to detect surface defects during manufacturing and maintenance.
• Mobile Lathe (RTD-100) A mobile, on-site machining lathe used to perform turning work directly on large industrial components such as rotors and shafts at customer facilities or field locations.
• kawe Special Tools Custom-engineered special tools designed and manufactured for specific industrial assembly, maintenance, and manufacturing tasks; sold to OEMs and industrial operators.
• Balancing Device for Rotors A precision balancing device used to dynamically balance rotating components such as rotors, supporting quality assurance in turbine and motor manufacturing.
• Custom Special Machinery and Plant Construction Engineering, manufacturing, and assembly of customer-specific special machines and complete plant constructions for industrial OEMs; delivered as turnkey projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% storage space savings with kawe Storage System
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• armasuissecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Regular constructive dialogue with armasuisse (Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement) on technological competence and future opportunities in Swiss security industry. kawe AG serves as reliable partner understanding requirements for Swiss security and sovereignty.
• AventronminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 July 2024Solar energy partner for installation of solar cells on office building and production hall, nearly doubling available solar energy capacity.
• SwissmemcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024kawe AG is an active member of Swissmem, Switzerland's industry association for technology companies. Membership enables networking with Swiss ASD sector, participation in industry events, and access to support services including apprentice training and legal matters.
• Durent AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2022Construction partner for new production hall development. Durent AG realized the construction of the new production hall adjacent to existing Mechtronik building on schedule.
• SolarpulsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 May 2022Partner for photovoltaic system expansion. Collaborated on networking existing solar installation with production facilities.
• Mechtronik AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Acquired in 2018 and merged in 2019, strengthening capabilities in electronics, electromechanics, and machining. Completed internal production chain for complete manufacturing from single source.
• Maschinenfabrik Lehner AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partial acquisition in 2017 contributing to expansion of capabilities and shareholder base.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bystronic AG: Swiss-headquartered manufacturer of sheet metal processing machinery and laser cutting systems, listed in Pfäffikon. Comparable to kawe as a Swiss specialist in sheet metal, laser, and metalworking capital equipment serving industrial OEMs.
• Schuler AG: German manufacturer of press technology, automation and special machinery, primarily serving automotive and industrial OEMs. Comparable to kawe as a special-machinery and plant-engineering supplier to large industrial customers.
• Müller Martini Holding AG: Swiss-based manufacturer of special machinery for print finishing, bookbinding and mailroom automation. Comparable to kawe as a Swiss special-machinery builder of custom capital equipment sold to industrial customers.
• TRUMPF SE + Co. KG: German family-owned manufacturer of sheet metal processing machinery (lasers, punching, bending) and machine tools. Comparable to kawe as a sheet-metal and welding-adjacent special machinery producer with proprietary products and CNC/laser competencies.
• Agathon AG: Swiss manufacturer of machine tool components and special machine solutions, including die-set standards and precision rotary tables, headquartered in Bellach. Comparable to kawe as a small Swiss specialist in special machinery and precision tooling.
• Tornos SA: Swiss manufacturer of precision CNC turning machines and multi-spindle machines, headquartered in Moutier. Comparable to kawe as a small-to-mid-sized Swiss producer of special industrial machinery for sophisticated component manufacturing.
• Feintool International Holding AG: Swiss-listed manufacturer of fineblanking machines, tools and fineblanked components. Comparable to kawe as a Swiss special-machinery and precision-component manufacturer serving automotive and industrial OEMs.

Broad incumbents

• Bucher Industries AG: Swiss-listed industrial group with Kuhn Group (agriculture), Bucher Municipal, Bucher Hydraulics and Bucher Emhart Glass. Comparable to kawe as a Swiss industrial machinery group serving OEMs, though with much broader end-market exposure and a much larger footprint.
• Georg Fischer AG: Swiss-listed industrial conglomerate with Piping Systems, Machining Solutions and Casting Solutions divisions, headquartered in Schaffhausen. Comparable to kawe as a Swiss industrial supplier serving similar OEMs in power and industrial markets, but at far larger scale and with a broader portfolio.
• Dürr AG: German-listed supplier of painting, sealing, woodworking, environmental and automation systems, headquartered in Bietigheim-Bissingen. Comparable to kawe as a special-machinery and plant-engineering supplier to industrial OEMs, though significantly larger and more diversified.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kawe-ag

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 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 kawe