Herbert Hänchen

What Herbert Hänchen does

Herbert Hänchen GmbH is a 100-year-old, family-owned German manufacturer of precision hydraulic linear drive technology, headquartered in Ostfildern near Stuttgart. The company designs and produces industrial hydraulic cylinders (Series 120, 300), standard cylinders to DIN/ISO 6020/6022 and DIN 24336 (Series 160, 550), servo hydraulic actuators with integrated sensors and valves (Series 120, 160, 300), and high-dynamic servo-hydraulic test actuators (Series 320), complemented by the patented Ratio-Clamp® spring-applied rod locking unit, Safety Catcher fall-protection clamping units, pressure intensifiers/reducers/fluid separators, control blocks, machine elements, and special machine construction under the Ratio-Drive® brand. Core technical differentiators are proprietary sealing and guiding systems (Servoseal®, Servofloat® zero-friction floating gap seal, Servobear® hydrostatic bearing using aerospace-grade components, Servocop®, Servoslide®, Servodamp®), honed sliding surfaces with H7/f7 clearance fit, 80% vertical integration, and 100% Made in Germany production, with documented product service life exceeding 50 years and billions of load cycles.

The business is engineering-to-order: 70% of sales come from custom solutions, series production starts at quantities of 30 units, custom cylinders span bores up to 320 mm and strokes up to 6,500 mm, and pricing is entirely quote-based with no public price list. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales through regional DACH managers (with postcode-based routing), a dedicated Austria/Switzerland/Liechtenstein sales manager, two wholly-owned subsidiaries (Haenchen Hydraulique S.A.R.L. in France and Haenchen (Shanghai) Hydraulic Equipments Co., Ltd. in China), approximately 18 independent distributors covering Australia, Belgium, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia (plus Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia), Spain, South Korea, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, USA, Canada, and India, and a self-service HÄKO web configurator offering over 1,000,000 variants with 3D CAD data and price inquiry. Revenue streams include hardware sales across the cylinder and clamping portfolio, special machine construction and retrofit services, machine elements (custom rods, shafts, seals, guides), and professional services (engineering consulting, start-up, and seminars).

Customers span aerospace structural testing, wind turbine bearing testing, automotive exhaust/compressor/seat/driving-profile testing, steel rolling mills, foundries and die casting, railway maintenance, packaging vibration testing, machine tools, plastic injection/blow moulding machines, and general industrial hydraulics. Marketing leverages the HÄKO configurator, YouTube tutorials, newsletter (news.haenchen.de), LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Xing, industry trade fairs (IATE 2026 UK, Automotive Testing Expo China 2026), in-person and online hydraulic seminars, and a published technical reference book. The company is led by Managing Directors Tanja Hänchen and Stefan Hänchen, holds TÜV SÜD type-testing and DGUV Test certification (EN ISO 13849-1) for its safety clamping products, and operates with 101-250 employees.

Name

Herbert Hänchen

Legal name

Herbert Hänchen GmbH

Website

https://haenchen-hydraulic.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Herbert Hänchen GmbH is a 100-year-old, family-owned German manufacturer of precision hydraulic cylinders, servo hydraulic actuators, test actuators, and patented rod clamping units (Ratio-Clamp®), serving industrial OEMs and test-engineering customers across aerospace, automotive, steel, and manufacturing sectors in 20+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Hydraulic Equipment

NAICS

Fluid Power Cylinder and Actuator Manufacturing (333995), All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydraulic Components (Pumps, Motors, Cylinders) (IMAHAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydraulic Power Units & Systems (HPUs, Manifolds, Integrated Circuits) (IMAHAGAB), Proportional & Servo Hydraulics (Electrohydraulic Valves, Servo Systems) (IMAHAGAF)

Keywords

• Hydraulic cylinders manufacturing
• Servo hydraulic actuators
• Rod clamping units
• Test actuators
• Special machine construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Ostfildern

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hydraulic cylinders (standard and custom): Sale of standard industrial hydraulic cylinders, standard DIN/ISO cylinders, servo hydraulic actuators, and custom cylinders. Series production starts at quantities of 30 units. 70% of company sales come from custom solutions. Revenue is one-time per order with repeat business driven by custom specifications and series production.
2. Test actuators and testing machines: Servo hydraulic test actuators for material stress testing, structural testing, fatigue testing. Also offers complete individual test machines and test benches as part of special machine construction. Test actuators are sold as components or as part of complete system solutions.
3. Ratio-Clamp® clamping units: Spring-applied, hydraulically released rod locking clamping units. Sold as standard products and with DGUV Test certification for safety applications. Also available with pressure piston seal for sensitive test applications.
4. Special machine construction (Ratio-Drive®): Design and implementation of individual special machines for industrial or testing applications, including hydraulic or electromechanical drive technology. Provides complete machines or partial machine process implementations. Includes retrofit services for existing machines.
5. Machine elements: Individual and small-series production of rods, shafts, axles, sealing systems, guiding elements, and mounting elements. Custom manufacturing from individual pieces to small series, with optional design services or manufacturing to customer engineering drawings.
6. Pressure transformers and fluid separators: Pressure intensifiers, pressure reducers, and fluid separators for hydraulic systems. Enables cost-effective solutions when more or less force or different fluids are required for specific processes.
7. Engineering and consulting services: On-site consultation, engineering of complex drive systems, preliminary and final start-up services. Complete service package from consulting through implementation and start-up.
8. Seminars and training: Hydraulic seminars (in-person and online) covering test engineering, maintenance and servicing topics. Conducted in German and English.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Herbert Hänchen manufactures and sells high-precision industrial hydraulic cylinders, standard DIN/ISO cylinders, servo hydraulic actuators, and high-dynamic test actuators, complemented by patented Ratio-Clamp® rod clamping units, custom-engineered cylinders, machine elements, and Ratio-Drive® special machine construction. Roughly 70% of revenue comes from custom-engineered solutions, with configuration supported by the HÄKO configurator offering over one million variants. The company also provides engineering, on-site consultation, start-up services, and hydraulic seminars in German and English.

Product overview

Herbert Hänchen is a German manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and drive systems founded in 1925, offering a comprehensive portfolio centered on hydraulic linear drive technology. The core product line includes Industrial Hydraulic Cylinders (Series 120, 300), Standard Cylinders DIN/ISO (Series 160, 550), Servo Hydraulic Actuators with integrated sensor technology, and Test Actuators (Series 320) for high-frequency testing applications. These are complemented by Custom Hydraulic Cylinders for special applications (screw-in, anti-torsion, guide pillars, synchronous, rapid traverse), Rod Clamping Units including the patented Ratio-Clamp® Locking Unit and Safety Catcher, and Machine Elements (rods, shafts, sealing systems, mounting components). The company also provides Pressure Transformers (intensifiers, reducers, fluid separators), Control Blocks with integrated valves, and Special Machine Construction services under the Ratio-Drive® brand. Products are configured via the HÄKO web-based configurator. Key differentiators include 80% vertical integration, 100% Made in Germany manufacturing, advanced sealing technologies (Servocop®, Servoseal®, Servofloat®, Servobear®), and specialized expertise in testing and industrial applications across aerospace, automotive, steel, and manufacturing sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ratio-Clamp®: Patented locking unit for rod locking that fixes round rods without energy supply. Used worldwide as a safety component in personal and plant protection.
• Ratio-Drive®
• HÄKO
• Servoseal®
• Servofloat®
• Servobear®
• Servocop®
• Servoslide®
• Servodamp®

Products and services

• Industrial Hydraulic Cylinder (Series 120, Series 300) High-quality hydraulic cylinders with compact design, low friction, high positional accuracy, long service life, and matched sealing elements for industrial machines and systems; internationally recognised for safe and reliably controlled drives.
• Standard Cylinder DIN/ISO (Series 160, Series 550) Hydraulic cylinders with mounting dimensions conforming to DIN 24336 or DIN ISO 6020/6022, available in round-head and compact designs, enabling interchangeability between manufacturers.
• Servo Hydraulic Actuator (Series 120, Series 160, Series 300) Hydraulic cylinders with integrated valves and sensor technology designed for precise position and force control at high speeds, frequencies, and accelerations in dynamic industrial and testing applications.
• Test Actuator (Series 320) Servo-hydraulic test cylinders specifically developed for highly dynamic material and component testing, including material stress testing, structural testing, fatigue testing, and vibration testing, available with Servoseal, Servofloat, or Servobear sealing systems.
• Custom Hydraulic Cylinder Individually designed and manufactured special hydraulic cylinders for unique applications, including screw-in cylinders, anti-torsion cylinders, guide pillars, pressure protection tube cylinders, synchronous cylinders, and rapid traverse cylinders, with bore up to 320 mm and strokes up to 6,500 mm.
• Locking Unit Ratio-Clamp® Patented spring-applied, hydraulically released clamping unit for fixing round rods without energy supply, providing safety clamping for personal and plant protection, with TÜV and DGUV Test certification.
• Safety Catcher Fall protection clamping unit specifically designed for vertical, gravity-loaded axles, using a self-energising principle and released via hydraulic or pneumatic pressure.
• Machine Elements (Rods, Shafts, Axles, Sealing Systems, Guiding Elements, Mounting Elements) Custom-manufactured machine components including rods, shafts, axles, sealing systems, guiding elements, and mounting elements, produced in individual quantities and small series to customer drawings or with in-house design.
• Pressure Transformers and Fluid Separators (Pressure Intensifiers, Pressure Reducers, Fluid Separators) Hydraulic pressure transformers (intensifiers and reducers) and fluid separators for applications requiring more or less force, different pressures, or fluid separation in hydraulic systems.
• Control Block Hydraulic control blocks with integrated valves for jerk-free activation, shut-off, and functional control of hydraulic cylinders.
• Special Machine Construction Ratio-Drive® Custom design and implementation of individual special machines for industrial or testing applications under the Ratio-Drive® brand, including complete machines or partial machine process implementations, with hydraulic or electromechanical drive technology; retrofit of existing machines is also offered.

Quantifiable outcome

• Hydraulic cylinders with over 50 years and billions of load changes in service
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Haenchen Hydraulique S.A.R.L.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary covering France, established as a separate legal entity (SARL). Operates from Wingersheim les quatre Bans, France. Handles sales, support, and service for the French market.
• Haenchen (Shanghai) Hydraulic Equipments Co., Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary covering China, established as a separate legal entity. Operates from Shanghai, China. Handles sales, support, and service for the Chinese market.
• Hylec Controls Pty Ltd (Australia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Australia and New Zealand. Office: 8 Melissa Street, Auburn NSW 2144, Australia. Represents Hänchen products in the Australian market.
• Doedijns Fluid Industry NV/SA (Belgium)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Belgium. Office: Parc Industriel, Allée II no. 44, 5340 Amay, Belgium. Represents Hänchen products in the Belgian market.
• R & S Hydrauliek B.V. (Netherlands)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering the Netherlands. Office: Ohmstraat 42, 3335 LT Zwijndrecht, Netherlands.
• Egil Eng & Co. AS (Norway)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Norway. Office: Jernkroken 7, 0976 Oslo, Norway.
• Kurant-trade (Poland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Poland. Office: ul. Kolejowa 24, 59-100 Polkowice, Poland.
• SAICIPO Lda. (Portugal)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Portugal. Office: Rua da Anta, 356 - Armazém C, 4475-104 Maia, Portugal.
• PLURITECH srl (Romania)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Romania. Office: str. Aleea Budacu nr. 3, bl. M5 sc. 2, et. 1, ap. 25, sector 3, 3030461 Bucuresti, Romania.
• AB Swedec Automation (Sweden)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Sweden. Office: Hedeforsvägen 2, 443 61 Stenkullen, Sweden.
• Nevija d.o.o. (Slovenia)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Slovenia and several neighbouring markets (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia). Office: Gregorciceva ulica 29a, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia.
• HRE Hidraulic, S.L. (Spain)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Spain. Office: C/Ibaitarte 21, 20870 Elgoibar (Gipuzkoa), Spain.
• Dynatec Co., Ltd. (South Korea)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering South Korea. Office: A-1418, Samho Center Bd. 83, Nonhyeonro, Seochogu, Seoul, 65535, South Korea.
• Karel Srnsky (Czech Republic)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent representative covering the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Office: Křenkova 150, 592 31 Nové Město na Moravě, Czech Republic.
• Rota Teknik Mak. San ve Tic A.Ş. (Turkey)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Turkey. Office: Bostancı Yolu, Kuru Sok. No: 17, 34776 Y. Dudullu Ümraniye / İstanbul, Turkey.
• Hydro Max Fluid Power (Ukraine)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Ukraine. Office: 143, Prilutskaya str., 16600 Nezin, Chernigovskaya, Ukraine.
• IC Fluid Power, Inc. (USA)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering the USA. Office: 63 Dixie Highway, Rossford, Ohio 43460, USA.
• Abacus Hydraulics Ltd. (Canada)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent distributor covering Canada. Office: 835 Ellingham Ave., Pointe-Claire, Montreal, Q.C., Canada H9R 5E8.
• Mr. Sanjay Piparsania (India)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIndependent representative covering India. Office: 28/9, Nehru Nagar (EAST), Bhilai 490 020 (C.G.), India.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Eaton: Global power-management company with a substantial hydraulics business (formerly Eaton Hydraulics, now Danfoss Power Solutions) manufacturing cylinders, pumps, valves, and motors. Comparable on hydraulic cylinder offering and global industrial customer base, though at much larger scale.
• Parker Hannifin: Diversified motion and control technologies major with a large hydraulic cylinder and actuator business serving industrial, aerospace, and mobile markets. Comparable on hydraulic cylinder manufacturing and global channel model, though Parker is far broader and larger than Hänchen.
• Bosch Rexroth: Global hydraulics incumbent (part of Bosch) offering hydraulic cylinders, pumps, valves, and complete drive systems across industrial, mobile, and factory automation. Directly comparable product category (industrial hydraulic cylinders) but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio than Hänchen.
• Aventics (Emerson): Pneumatics and fluid-power specialist (part of Emerson) offering cylinders, valves, and actuators for industrial automation. Comparable on fluid-power linear actuator category, though more focused on pneumatics than Hänchen's hydraulics-heavy mix.

Direct peers

• HYDAC: German-headquartered supplier of hydraulic cylinders, accumulators, valves, and fluid conditioning, with comparable engineering-to-order and industrial-machine-builder customer base. Similar Mittelstand positioning to Hänchen.
• HAWE Hydraulik: German manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders, valves, pumps, and power units for industrial and mobile applications. Closely comparable on product mix, German Mittelstand heritage, and custom-engineering focus versus Hänchen.
• Hunger Hydraulik: German manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders, locking cylinders, and special cylinders with high custom-engineering share. Closely comparable on product range (industrial cylinders, rod clamping, test actuators) and on Mittelstand custom-engineering model.
• PMC Cylinders: UK-based specialist manufacturer of hydraulic cylinders and actuators, including custom and servo-hydraulic designs for industrial and test applications. Comparable niche specialist positioning and custom-engineering model to Hänchen.
• Moog: Specialist in high-performance servo hydraulic and electrohydraulic actuators for test machines, aerospace, and industrial applications. Closely comparable to Hänchen's servo hydraulic actuator and test actuator lines, including similar low-friction, high-dynamics positioning.

Emerging players

• Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (Hydroline): Hydraulic cylinder manufacturer (including the Hydroline acquisition) serving mobile and industrial OEMs. Comparable on hydraulic cylinder manufacturing for industrial and mobile machinery, with growing international footprint similar to Hänchen's expansion.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/Haenchen
• Facebookfacebook.com/HaenchenZylinder
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herbert-haenchen
• Instagraminstagram.com/herbert_haenchen_gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Herbert Hänchen