Herz
Herz is a German family-owned precision manufacturer offering photochemical etching and reel-to-roll metal parts for automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, optics, and design OEMs across Europe.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1980
- HeadquartersEpfendorf, Germany
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Herz does
Ätztechnik Herz GmbH & Co. KG is a privately held German specialty manufacturer of photochemically etched metal components, headquartered in Epfendorf am Neckar, Baden-Württemberg. Founded around 1980 and led by CEO Steffen Herz, the company uses UV-photochemical machining (äztechnik) to produce burr-free, high-precision metal parts from CAD data with feature precision down to hundredths of a millimeter and material thicknesses from 0.01 to 1.0 mm. Its service portfolio spans standalone etching (Zuschnitt), reel-to-reel band etching for high-volume series production, a hybrid etching-laser technology for thicker and more complex workpieces up to 3 mm, the Speedline express service delivering finished parts within 48 hours, and a material selection library of roughly 700 stocked alloys and grades. The firm holds VDA 19 cleanliness compliance and a 2017 TOP100 German innovation award.
Herz sells exclusively on a B2B direct-sales basis to industrial OEMs and Tier suppliers across six verticals: automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, optics and sensor technology, and design. Go-to-market combines a multilingual website (German, English, Swedish, Danish, Finnish), an active European trade-show rotation (HannoverMesse, Blechexpo, Productronica, Advanced Engineering, Elmia Subcontractor), social and newsletter channels, and a Scandinavian distribution partner (Lars Bille) covering Nordic customers. Quotation and order processing are handled by an in-house team of named account managers, sales engineers, and order processors. Pricing is quote-based, project-by-project, and not publicly disclosed; the revenue model is one-time manufacturing orders with optional in-house finishing such as plating and bending.
The firm operates from a single manufacturing site in Germany and is family-controlled, with Manuela Herz serving as head of personnel and finance and no external institutional investors identified. Recent strategic activity has emphasized capability deepening (a 2023 Schmid two-chamber development line replacing a 20-year-old system), product breadth (Ätz-Laser-Technik), and Nordic market consolidation rather than geographic or M&A expansion. Headcount sits in the 101–250 band; no revenue, funding, or M&A history is publicly disclosed.
Herz firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Herz
- Legal name
- Ätztechnik Herz GmbH & Co. KG
- Website
- https://aetztechnik-herz.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1980
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Herz is a German family-owned precision manufacturer offering photochemical etching and reel-to-roll metal parts for automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, optics, and design OEMs across Europe.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Herz industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Precision Metal Etching / Photochemical Machining Services
- NAICS
- All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299), Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812)
- SIC
- Sheet Metal Work (3444), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)
- akta.pro primary industry
- EDM & Electrochemical Machining (Wire/Sinker EDM, ECM) (IMAHADAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)
Keywords
Where Herz is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Epfendorf
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Herz business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Precision Metal Etching Services: Photochemical etching manufacturing services for producing precision metal parts from CAD data. Services include prototyping, small series, and large-scale production runs. Revenue generated through one-time manufacturing orders with pricing based on complexity, materials, and volume. Additional finishing services available including gold plating, silver plating, tin plating, black chrome, oxidation, platinum and multi-layer coatings, and bending.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Herz product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Herz manufactures precision metal parts through photochemical etching, using CAD-driven UV lithography and chemical etching to produce burr-free, high-precision components with tolerances down to hundredths of a millimeter for material thicknesses of 0.01-1.0 mm. The company offers prototyping, small series, and large-scale production including Reel-to-Reel continuous band etching, hybrid Ätz-Laser-Technik for thicker/complex parts, and the Speedline express service delivering parts in as little as 24-48 hours, plus finishing services (gold, silver, tin, black chrome, platinum, multi-layer coatings, oxidation, bending). Customers span automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, optics/sensor and design industries across Europe.
Product overview
Ätztechnik Herz is a leading European provider of photochemical metal etching services (Ätztechnik), offering a comprehensive portfolio of manufacturing solutions including standard etching, cutting, reel-to-reel band production, combined etching-laser technology, and the Speedline express service. The core technology is photochemical etching, which enables burr-free, high-precision metal parts for material thicknesses from 0.01 to 1.0 mm. The company maintains approximately 700 material types in stock and serves industries including automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, optics/sensors, and design.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Photochemical Etching (Ätztechnik)
- Reel-to-Reel (Bandätzen)
- Ätz-Laser-Technik (Etching-Laser Technology)
- Speedline
- Zuschnitt (Cutting)
- Materialauswahl (Material Selection)
Quantifiable outcome
- Precision down to hundredths of a millimeter (0.01mm precision)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Herz
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Herz technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Herz partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered regional, minor and core.
- Lars Bille (Scandinavian Distribution Partner)regionalLars Bille serves as the Scandinavian distribution partner for Herz, providing local support and maintaining business relationships for customers in the Nordic region. This partnership was established to expand Herz's presence in Scandinavia.
- WelcomeCenter GewinnerregionminorWelcomeCenter Gewinnerregion is an initiative by businesses and municipalities in the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis, Rottweil, and Tuttlingen regions to create a welcoming culture for new residents. Herz sponsors this initiative as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts, supporting regional economic development and international specialist recruitment.
- Schmid (Equipment Supplier)coreSchmid GmbH from Freudenstadt supplies Herz with development equipment for their etching process. The new development line installed in 2023 consists of two development chambers with modern control systems. This follows a 20-year relationship with previous Schmid equipment, demonstrating long-term partnership trust.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Herz competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HP Etching: UK precision metal etching specialist providing photochemical etching services to similar industrial OEM customers - directly comparable in technology, scale range, and target verticals.
- Adam Dubiel: Polish-based photochemical etching service bureau serving European industrial clients with comparable precision and burr-free metal component capabilities - directly comparable service offering in a nearby geography.
- Vector Photomagic: UK photochemical etching service bureau providing precision metal components across similar industrial verticals using directly comparable photoresist and chemical etching technology.
- Metaline Group: UK photochemical etching service bureau producing precision metal components for electronics, aerospace, medical, and automotive OEMs with similar burr-free, fine-structure capabilities as Herz.
- Precision Micro: UK-based photochemical etching service bureau specializing in precision metal components for industries including aerospace, medical, electronics, and automotive - the most directly comparable European competitor to Herz in process technology and end-markets.
- Etchform: UK-based precision photochemical etching manufacturer serving automotive, electronics, and industrial OEM customers with comparable thin-gauge metal component production.
Broad incumbents
- LPKF Laser & Electronics: German precision laser technology and electronics company with broader portfolio spanning PCB prototyping equipment, laser systems, and precision manufacturing - adjacent in laser/precision process technology and German manufacturing heritage, but operating more in equipment than contract parts.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Herz social profiles
Digital presenceHerz compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Herz financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Herz leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Herz funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Herz 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 Herz
What does Herz do?
Herz manufactures precision metal parts through photochemical etching, using CAD-driven UV lithography and chemical etching to produce burr-free, high-precision components with tolerances down to hundredths of a millimeter for material thicknesses of 0.01-1.0 mm. The company offers prototyping, small series, and large-scale production including Reel-to-Reel continuous band etching, hybrid Ätz-Laser-Technik for thicker/complex parts, and the Speedline express service delivering parts in as little as 24-48 hours, plus finishing services (gold, silver, tin, black chrome, platinum, multi-layer coatings, oxidation, bending). Customers span automotive, electronics, medical, aerospace, optics/sensor and design industries across Europe.
Is Herz a public or private company?
Herz is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Herz founded?
Herz was founded in 1980. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Herz based?
Herz is headquartered in Epfendorf, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Herz make money?
One revenue line is on record: precision Metal Etching Services.
Who are Herz's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HP Etching, Adam Dubiel, Vector Photomagic, Metaline Group, Precision Micro and Etchform. LPKF Laser & Electronics is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Herz have an API?
No public API is recorded for Herz.
What industry is Herz in?
Herz's product category is Precision Metal Etching / Photochemical Machining Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAF, EDM & Electrochemical Machining (Wire/Sinker EDM, ECM), with a secondary code of IMAHADAC, Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping). Its NAICS code is 33299 and its SIC code is 3444.