What 3V Automation Co. does

3V Automation Co. is a Tianjin, China-based industrial automation machinery manufacturer founded in 2013 that designs and builds production equipment for the automotive heat exchange industry. The company's core product portfolio includes Fin Forming Machines (single track, twin track, and turbulator variants), Core Builder Machines (compact, heavy duty, double station, and semi configurations), Stuffer Machines, Crimping Machines, and Tube Cut-off Systems, complemented by robotic pick-and-place assembly cells built around ABB IRB 4600 six-axis robots with visual quality inspection. Equipment is controlled via PLC and touch screen interfaces and is designed to integrate into fully automatic production lines for condensers, radiators, heaters, charge air coolers, and evaporators.

The company operates a hardware-led business model, selling custom-built industrial equipment directly to automotive Tier One suppliers under quote-based, multi-year contracts, supplemented by on-demand engineering, product development, and lifecycle maintenance services. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies with machine specifications, automation level, and customization scope. Its customer base is concentrated in global automotive thermal management suppliers — Valeo, Mahle, and Delphi are named anchor accounts — with secondary addressable verticals in HVAC and broader industrial heat exchange. The company is ISO-9001 certified and positions itself as a market leader in heat exchange automation since 2014.

3V runs a globally distributed go-to-market with R&D centers and manufacturing plants in China, France, the United States, and Poland, supplemented by technical field teams in Germany and South America providing on-site service coverage across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia. The firm employs between 251-500 people, including a team of 10 software engineers working closely with major automation software suppliers (Allen Bradley, Siemens, Mitsubishi) and a network of 30 industry engineers. Distribution is conducted via direct enterprise field sales with technical experts embedded in regional offices to support customer requirements and lifecycle service.

Name

3V Automation Co.

Legal name

3V Automation Co.

Website

https://3vgroups.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

3V Automation Co., founded in 2013 in Tianjin, China, designs and manufactures automation machinery for heat exchange production, serving automotive Tier One suppliers globally with fin mills, core builders, and robotic assembly systems.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Machinery

NAICS

Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (333310)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive Heat Exchangers Manufacturing (Radiators/Condensers/Evaporators/Heater Cores) (IMACALAC), Sheet Metal Machinery (Laser/Plasma/Waterjet Cutting, Punching) (IMAHADAD), Heat Exchangers & Thermal Transfer Equipment (IMAHAKAC)

Keywords

• Heat exchange machinery
• Fin forming machines
• Core builder machines
• Robotic automation systems
• Automotive heat exchangers

Headquarters

HQ city

Tianjin

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automation Machinery Sales: Sale of heat exchange production machinery including Fin Forming Machines, Core Builders, Stuffer Machines, Crimping Machines, and Tube Cut-off Systems. Equipment ranges from semi-automatic to fully automatic systems.
2. Customized Solutions & Engineering: Product development & engineering on-demand, technology on-demand, and product execution services. 3V employs industrial expertise with on-site technical experience providing full range of services from product maintenance to comprehensive maintenance.
3. Robotic Automation Systems: Fully automated core assembly solutions with robotic applications including visual quality inspection systems, automatic handling systems, and tube loading systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

3V Automation designs and manufactures automated production machinery for heat exchanger manufacturing, primarily serving the automotive industry. Their product portfolio includes Fin Forming Machines (Single Track, Twin Track, Turbulator), Core Builder Machines (Compact, Heavy Duty, Double Station, Semi), Stuffer Machines, Crimping Machines, Tube Cut-off Systems, and Robotic Applications for tube loading and core assembly. Equipment is controlled via PLC and touch screen with connectivity to automatic production lines.

Product overview

3V Automation is an intelligent automation company specializing in automated production and process engineering for the automotive and industrial heat exchange industries. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of manufacturing equipment including Fin Forming Machines (Single Track, Twin Track, and Turbulator variants), Core Builder Machines (Compact, Heavy Duty, Double Station, and Semi configurations), Stuffer Machines, Crimping Machines, and Tube Cut-Off Systems. These core products are complemented by Automation Development services featuring robotic applications and automatic handling systems, as well as Form Roll Tooling. The portfolio is tied together through customized solution offerings including robotic tube loading systems and standardized global machinery solutions for major automotive suppliers like Valeo. The company operates globally with R&D centers and manufacturing facilities in China, France, United States, and Poland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single Track Fin Mill Flexible, quick-change fin machine capable of producing state-of-art fins with flat top and extended louvers combined with low gauge material thickness. Features PLC and touch screen control, connectable with automatic production lines. Input speed max 300m/min, cutting rate 80 cuts/min. Designed for automotive heat exchange manufacturers.
• Twin Track Fin Mill Dual-track fin machine for increased production capacity. Input speed max 300x2 m/min, cutting rate 80x2 cuts/min, fin width 24mm-110mm. Designed for high-volume automotive heat exchange production.
• Turbulator Fin Mill High-speed turbulator fin mill with input speed max 250m/min and cutting rate 140 cuts/min. Fin width 30mm-120mm, fin height 4-10mm. Used for producing turbulator fins for heat exchange applications.
• Compact Core Builder Flexible core assembly system for producing Condensers, Radiators, Heaters, Charge Air Coolers, and Evaporators. Header to header 300mm-850mm/300mm-1000mm/500mm-1200mm. Designed for automotive heat exchange manufacturers requiring compact, flexible production.
• Heavy Duty Core Builder Industrial-grade core builder for heavy-duty applications including Radiator, Condenser, and Charge Air Cooler production. Built for demanding automotive heat exchange manufacturing environments.
• Double Station Core Builder Dual-station core builder designed for Heater and Evaporator production. Header to header 150mm-350mm, side to side 100mm-300mm. Enables higher throughput for automotive HVAC components.
• Semi Core Builder

Quantifiable outcome

• 10% production speed increase with robotic tube loading solution, potential for additional 15% after fine-tuning
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 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 supporting.

• ValeocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20143V started partnership with Valeo in 2014 as part of new company strategy and brand positioning. Developed standardized machinery for Valeo's global heat exchange production plants. Provided customized solutions including heat exchange machines with standardized fittings, dramatically reducing machinery development time and global transfer costs.
• MahlecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20143V started partnership with Mahle in 2014 as one of the world-class automotive enterprises they partnered with, establishing 3V as a market leader in automotive and industrial heat exchanger field.
• DelphicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 20143V started partnership with Delphi in 2014 as one of the world-class automotive enterprises they partnered with, establishing 3V as a market leader in automotive and industrial heat exchanger field.
• ABBcoreTechnology or IntegrationABB's IRB 4600 robot is used in 3V's robotic application solution for tube loading. The 6-axis robot provides sharpest path accuracy and motion control for picking tubes and placing them into machines at an angle efficiently and accurately. System handles 200 tubes per minute.
• Allen BradleysupportingTechnology or IntegrationOne of 3V's main software suppliers. 3V has 10 software engineers from different industries closely working with Allen Bradley to provide product development and engineering on-demand solutions.
• SiemenssupportingTechnology or IntegrationOne of 3V's main software suppliers. 3V has 10 software engineers from different industries closely working with Siemens to provide product development and engineering on-demand solutions.
• MitsubishisupportingTechnology or IntegrationOne of 3V's main software suppliers. 3V has 10 software engineers from different industries closely working with Mitsubishi to provide product development and engineering on-demand solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB Robotics: Global industrial robotics incumbent whose IRB 4600 robot is integrated into 3V's tube loading solution. Larger scale, broader portfolio, and could compete with or partner around 3V in heat exchanger automation cells.
• FANUC Corporation: Japanese industrial automation leader offering robots, CNC, and ROBOMACHINE products. Comparable in serving automotive Tier 1s and capable of competing for robotic heat exchanger assembly applications.
• Wieland-Werke AG: German producer of copper and copper-alloy products including heat exchanger tubes and components, with adjacent heat exchanger manufacturing equipment exposure. Broader materials-and-machinery incumbent overlapping 3V's downstream customer base.
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries (Robotics): Japanese industrial robotics supplier with strong automotive customer penetration globally. Comparable to KUKA/Yaskawa as a broader automation incumbent capable of competing for heat exchanger assembly automation work.
• KUKA AG: German industrial robotics and automation systems provider serving global automotive and industrial customers. Adjacent competitor for robotic assembly cells and could expand into heat exchanger-specific automation.
• Yaskawa Electric Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of Motoman industrial robots and motion control products, with deep automotive industry penetration. Comparable as an automation partner or competitor for 3V's robotic integration scope.

Others

• Bystronic AG: Swiss provider of sheet metal processing equipment and automation for the automotive, HVAC, and industrial sectors. Adjacent technology provider whose cutting/bending equipment overlaps with fin-related sheet metal workflows 3V serves.
• Trumpf Group: German leader in sheet metal processing machinery (laser cutting, punching, bending). Relevant adjacent player whose equipment could substitute or complement 3V's fin forming product line in automotive supplier factories.

Direct peers

• Burr Oak Tool & Die Company: US-based manufacturer of fin tooling, fin mills, and specialized machinery for heat exchanger production. Direct competitor to 3V in the automotive heat exchanger production equipment niche, serving overlapping Tier 1 and OEM customers.
• Härter Werkzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH: German manufacturer of tooling and machinery for heat exchanger and fin production. Comparable to 3V in product scope (fin tooling, core assembly equipment) and serves European Tier 1 customers in the same value chain.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/3v-automation-tianjin-co.-ltd

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 3V Automation Co.