KW Antriebstechnik

What KW Antriebstechnik does

KW Antriebs- & Automationstechnik GmbH is a Nuremberg-based specialist distributor and factory representative (Werksvertretung) for drive technology and automation components, founded on July 1, 2000 by Harald Kraus (industry experience since 1984) and Siegfried Wiegärtner (industry experience since 1995). The company operates as a cooperation partner for at least ten manufacturers, including ATEK (gearboxes), ZIMM (screw jacks/gearboxes), HEW (motors/gearboxes), Groschopp/Bretzel (motors), Uhing (linear drives), Renold (chains), Twentebelt, ISO-TECH, KMS, and Ponndorf (tube pumps). Its product portfolio spans gearboxes, electric motors, conveyor belts and systems, lifting systems, plastic and tube pump components, industrial shock absorbers, chains, and couplings, sourced from these partner manufacturers.

The core of KW's offering is technical representation and application engineering rather than in-house manufacturing: KW earns distribution margins on the resale of partner components and adds value through component selection, sizing, and integration support for its customers. The company sells primarily to machine and plant engineering, process industry, and plastics/rubber customers in the DACH region, with no disclosed international operations beyond the German-speaking market.

KW is privately held as a GmbH with no external funding disclosed and no published revenue, headcount, or growth metrics. Its strategic posture is that of a niche industrial component specialist maintaining a stable base of long-standing manufacturer relationships rather than pursuing rapid scale.

Name

KW Antriebstechnik

Legal name

KW Antriebs- & Automationstechnik GmbH

Website

https://kw-antriebstechnik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KW Antriebs- & Automationstechnik GmbH is a Nuremberg-based specialist distributor and factory representative for drive technology and automation components, serving machine, plant engineering and process industry customers in the DACH region since 2000.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Drive Components and Automation Technology Distribution

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Workshop Tools, Equipment & Lift Systems Distribution (TLAKAOAM)

Keywords

• Industrial drive components
• Power transmission equipment
• Conveyor systems
• Spindle lifting systems
• Automation technology

Headquarters

HQ city

Nürnberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Component Sales: Sale of drive technology components from manufacturer partners including gearboxes, motors, conveyor belts, and drive elements
2. System Solutions: Custom system solutions combining multiple components for specific customer applications in machine and plant engineering
3. Special and Replacement Solutions: Individual special solutions and replacement parts for existing systems

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KW Antriebstechnik is a specialist factory representative and cooperation partner distributing drive components, conveyor technology, and machine elements from multiple renowned manufacturers (ATEK, ZIMM, HEW, Groschopp, Uhing, Renold, Twentebelt, ISO-TECH, KMS, Ponndorf) to industrial customers in Germany. The company supplies gearboxes, motors, conveyor belts, lifting systems, tube pumps, plastic components, and shock absorbers, supplemented by individual custom and replacement solutions with free on-site consultation and full project support.

Product overview

KW Antriebstechnik is a specialist distributor and sales representative (Werksvertretung/Kooperationspartner) for drive components, transport and conveyor technology, and machine elements. The company does not manufacture its own products; instead it represents and resells products from named manufacturers, acting as a bridge between manufacturers and customers in machine and plant construction. The product portfolio is organized into four main areas: (1) Antriebstechnik (drive technology) including bevel, worm, servo, and angle gearboxes, gear motors, electric motors, rotary tables, lead screw nuts, spindle lifting systems, toothed chain and belt drives, and roller chain drives — sourced from ATEK, ZIMM, Groschopp/Bretzel, HEW, and Uhing; (2) Hubsysteme (lifting systems) based on ZIMM's modular building block system for spindle lifting gear; (3) Transport- und Fördertechnik (transport and conveyor technology) including conveyor belts and systems from Twentebelt, chains and sprockets from Renold, tube pumps from Ponndorf, and plastic components from ISO-TECH; and (4) Maschinen- und Antriebselemente (machine and drive elements) including articulated shafts, quick clamping systems, and industrial shock absorbers and gas springs from KMS. The company also provides individual custom and replacement solutions, free on-site consulting, and full-service support from solution design through to completion.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bevel Gearboxes (Kegelradgetriebe)
• Worm Gearboxes (Schneckengetriebe) Worm gearboxes and worm gear motors from ATEK and ZIMM for various industrial drive applications.
• Servo and Angle Gearboxes (Servo- & Winkelgetriebe) Servo gearboxes and angle gearboxes designed for precision positioning and servo motor applications, including the ATEK BPCE Winkel-Planetengetriebe series.
• Gear Motors (Getriebemotoren)
• Electric Motors (Elektromotoren)
• Rotary Indexing Tables (Rundschalttische)
• Spindle Lifting Systems (Spindelhubanlagen / Hubgetriebe) Electromechanical spindle lifting systems from ZIMM including the ZE Evolution series, available in 8 sizes from 5 kN to 200 kN with speeds up to 3000 rpm.
• Toothed Chain and Belt Drive Systems
• Conveyor Belts and Conveyor Systems (Förderbänder & Fördersysteme)
• Tube Pumps (Schlauchpumpen) Tube/hosepumps from Ponndorf including the P_delta compact system with tool-free hose change, dry-run safe designs, and the P Classic for waste water applications. Used in chemical, pharma, glass, ceramics, water treatment, food, and automotive industries.
• Plastic Technology Components (Kunststofftechnik)
• Rolling Ring Gearboxes and Lead Screw Nuts (Rollringgetriebe / Wälzmuttern) Rolling ring gearboxes and lead screw nuts from Uhing for linear motion and winding technology, featuring the UMD (Uhing Motion Drive) system for flexible wire and cable laying with touch panel control.
• Articulated Shafts and Quick Clamping Systems
• Industrial Shock Absorbers and Gas Springs (Industrie-Stoßdämpfer & Gasfedern)
• Individual Custom and Replacement Solutions (Individuelle Sonder- und Ersatzlösungen)

Quantifiable outcome

• Complete solutions from consultation to implementation

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ATEK Antriebstechnik Willi Glapiak GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorATEK is a manufacturer of gearboxes including bevel gear, worm, servo, and angle planetary gearboxes. KW serves as their distribution partner offering ATEK products including the new Winkel-Planetengetriebe BPCE and PCE series.
• ZIMM GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorZIMM is a European leader in spindle lifting systems with manufacturing in Austria. KW is their exclusive partner offering ZIMM spindle lifting gearboxes, lifting systems, and bevel gearboxes. Products include the new ZE and ZE-H evolution series.
• Herforder Elektromotoren-Werke GmbH & Co. KG (HEW)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHEW specializes in three-phase motors for special applications, including ATEX-certified explosion-proof motors. KW distributes HEW motors and offers products including pressure-resistant motors, three-phase foot motors, and stage motors.
• Groschopp AG / Bretzel GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGroschopp manufactures motors, gearboxes, and drive components up to 750 watts. Bretzel GmbH handles flexible end assembly and short-term delivery. KW offers Groschopp products including the Silver Line hygienic drives and Black Panther series.
• Joachim Uhing GmbH & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUhing is a manufacturer of rolling ring drives, rolling nuts, and clamping elements. KW distributes Uhing products including the new UMD Uhing Motion Drive system for wire and cable laying, and modular winding systems.
• Renold GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRenold is a manufacturer of precision toothed chains for drive and transport applications. KW offers Renold toothed chains for automotive, glass industry, and general machine construction applications.
• Twentebelt B.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTwentebelt manufactures metallic conveyor belts including spiral link bands, rod mesh belts, Twenteflex belts, and eyelink belts with over 100 years of experience.
• ISO-TECH Kunststoff GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorISO-TECH is a leading manufacturer of plastic products with over 25 years of experience, producing semi-finished products, machined precision parts, and high-performance plastics for industrial applications.
• KMS Stoßdämpfer GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKMS manufactures hydraulic damping elements including industrial shock absorbers, hydraulic feed oil brakes, safety shock absorbers, gas springs, and throttle valves.
• Ponndorf Gerätetechnik GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPonndorf manufactures hose pumps successfully used in chemical, pharmaceutical, glass, ceramics, machine construction, water/wastewater treatment, food, wood, paper, and automotive industries. KW is their exclusive partner offering the P_delta compact system with tool-free hose change.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• KTR Systems GmbH: German drive technology specialist offering couplings, clamping sets, torque limiters and hydraulic components to Maschinen- und Anlagenbau — overlapping product categories and customer base with KW's drive and machine-elements portfolio.
• BIBUS GmbH: German industrial distribution group specializing in technical sales representation of drive, pneumatic, hydraulic and automation components — the closest functional analogue to KW's Werksvertretung model in the DACH market.
• R+W Antriebselemente GmbH: German manufacturer and supplier of precision couplings and drive elements for machine and plant engineering — a directly comparable DACH drive-technology specialist serving similar customer segments.

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Rexroth AG: Broad incumbent in drive and control technology, factory automation and mobile applications — competes across multiple categories KW distributes (motors, gear components, automation solutions).
• Flender GmbH (Siemens): German mechanical drive systems manufacturer (gearboxes, couplings, generators) within Siemens — directly overlaps with KW's bevel, worm and angle planetary gearbox portfolio in DACH industry.
• Wittenstein SE: Established German manufacturer of precision gearboxes, servo drives and mechatronic systems — competes in the same gearbox/servo categories KW distributes, but as a direct manufacturer with broader global reach.
• SEW-EURODRIVE GmbH & Co KG: Global incumbent in drive technology, gear motors, electronics and service — competes with the manufacturers KW represents and shapes the DACH drive market in which KW operates.
• NORD DRIVESYSTEMS GmbH: Global manufacturer of gearboxes, electric motors and drive electronics with deep presence in German machine and plant engineering — competes in the same end markets as KW's represented manufacturers.

Emerging players

• Stöber Antriebstechnik GmbH + Co. KG: Mid-sized German specialist in precision gearboxes, servo gearheads and motors for automation — narrower product line than SEW/NORD but overlapping customer applications with KW's distribution portfolio.
• Kendrion (Industrial Drive Systems): European manufacturer of industrial drive components and electromagnetic systems — comparable in scale and product breadth to the manufacturer partners KW represents.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 KW Antriebstechnik