What Federn-Osswald does

Federn-Oßwald is a family-owned German vehicle parts and technical trading company headquartered in Mühlhausen, Thuringia (legal entity: Oßwald Fahrzeugteile & Technischer Handel GmbH & Co.KG), founded in 1979 by Günter Oßwald on a leaf-spring forge tradition dating to 1724. The company operates a seven-branch network plus a Nordhausen subsidiary across Central Germany (Thuringia, Bavaria, Hesse, Saxony), supported by approximately 170 employees, daily multi-drop delivery rounds, night logistics, and cross-border parts access via the EUROPART network (20+ European countries) and the CAR Verbund (168 sales houses in Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg). Its product portfolio spans commercial vehicle parts (trucks, trailers, buses), passenger car parts, industrial supplies (tools, workshop equipment, welding technology, chemicals, technical gases), wheels and tires, workwear, and TEXA diagnostic equipment, plus a niche leaf-spring manufacturing and repair service for vintage vehicles, Jeeps, agricultural machinery, forklifts, and cranes.

Revenue is generated through per-transaction resale of vehicle parts and workshop supplies with 14-day net payment terms, plus professional services revenue from financing/leasing advisory and bespoke leaf-spring manufacturing. The go-to-market combines a direct-to-workshop sales force (Außendienst), inside sales at branch counters, three proprietary e-commerce storefronts (Osswald24, Ossworx24, Mascot Webshop), an in-house advertising department, and marketing-driven regional brand visibility through sports sponsorships (rad-net Oßwald Pro Cycling Team, ThSV Eisenach, Thüringer HC). The underlying technology stack includes the CARWIS workshop information system, DAT/Eurotax damage calculation tools, and TEXA multi-brand diagnostic platforms — all third-party integrations rather than proprietary IP. The company has no external institutional investors, no public listing, and reports no public revenue figures. Strategic emphasis is on multi-category, single-source supply for workshops and industrial customers, anchored by a specialist leaf-spring heritage that few competitors in the region can replicate.

Name

Federn-Osswald

Legal name

Oßwald Fahrzeugteile & Technischer Handel GmbH & Co.KG

Website

https://federn-osswald.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Federn-Oßwald is a family-owned German vehicle parts and technical trading company operating seven branches plus a subsidiary across Central Germany. It distributes commercial vehicle, passenger car, and industrial supplies, with a specialist leaf-spring manufacturing and repair heritage dating to 1724.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Aftermarket Parts Distribution

NAICS

Other Motor Vehicle Parts Manufacturing (33639)

SIC

Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Trailer, Chassis & Container Parts Distribution (TLAKAOAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tires, Wheels & Retread Supply Distribution (TLAKAOAD), Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

Keywords

• Vehicle replacement parts
• Commercial vehicle parts
• Leaf spring manufacturing
• Workshop industrial supplies
• Automotive aftermarket distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Mühlhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Parts Distribution (NKW, PKW, Bus): Revenue is generated through the resale of vehicle replacement parts and accessories for commercial vehicles (trucks, trailers, buses) and passenger cars. Products include original-equipment quality and aftermarket parts sourced from manufacturer and supplier partners. The company drives daily supply rounds from all its branch locations and maintains access to the EUROPART central warehouse for near-24-hour parts availability. Revenue is derived from per-transaction pricing with payment terms of 14 days net.
2. Workshop and Industrial Supplies: Sale of workshop equipment, tools, diagnostic and welding technology, occupational safety gear, chemicals, and technical gases to workshops and industrial customers. Products are sourced from manufacturer and wholesale partners (e.g., Nordwest Kooperation) and sold via both physical branches and online shops (Ossworx24, Mascot Webshop).
3. Leaf Spring Specialist Products and Services: Specialist manufacture, repair, and reinforcement of leaf springs for Jeeps, carriages, classic cars, trailers, buses, agricultural tractors, and trucks. Springs are produced to original specifications and custom designs. This includes production for blast furnace, forklift, and crane technology springs, and restoration of vintage and historic vehicles.
4. Financing and Leasing Services: The company offers financing and leasing advisory for investment goods (capital equipment purchases), acting as an intermediary with financial partners for customer acquisitions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Federn-Oßwald distributes vehicle replacement parts (passenger cars, trucks, trailers, buses), workshop and industrial supplies (tools, equipment, workwear, chemicals, technical gases), and wheels/tires through a network of 7+1 branches in Central Germany plus three e-commerce platforms. As a specialist heritage capability, the company manufactures, repairs, and reinforces leaf springs for Jeeps, classic cars, agricultural machinery, trucks, forklifts and cranes. Operations are supported by daily multi-drop delivery rounds, 24-hour parts availability via EUROPART network, and an outside sales force.

Product overview

Federn-Osswald is a vehicle parts and technical trading company operating a multi-product, multi-channel portfolio serving the commercial vehicle, passenger car, and industrial aftermarkets in Central Germany. The core offerings include: (1) vehicle replacement parts for commercial vehicles (trucks, trailers, buses) and passenger cars/transporters; (2) leaf spring specialist services including manufacturing, reinforcement, and repair for Jeeps, vintage vehicles, trailers, buses, tractors, and trucks; (3) industrial supplies covering machining, tools, workshop equipment, welding technology, oils/greases/chemicals, technical gases, and work clothing; (4) wheels and tires for all vehicle types; and (5) workshop equipment installation and consulting services. The company supplements its physical product offerings with three digital platforms: Osswald24 (B2B online parts ordering shop), Ossworx24 (tools and equipment e-commerce), and CARWIS (workshop information system with parts catalogs, technical data, schematics, and billing tools). Diagnostic technology (TEXA) and damage calculation tools (DAT, Eurotax) are offered as integrated workshop solutions. A proprietary in-house advertising department handles textile finishing and vehicle/building signage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PKW-Ersatzteile (Passenger Car Replacement Parts) Replacement parts for passenger cars including engine and transmission components, tuning parts, accessories, and consumables. Targeted at multi-brand passenger car workshops sourcing aftermarket parts via CARWIS catalogue and the Osswald24 online shop.
• Nutzkraftwagen-Ersatzteile (Commercial Vehicle Parts) Truck and trailer replacement parts, diagnostic and air conditioning technology, loading dock components, lighting, accessories, interior and cargo securing equipment. Targeted at specialist NKW workshops and commercial fleet operators.
• Bus-Bedarf (Bus Parts)

Quantifiable outcome

• Replacement parts sourced and delivered within 24 hours
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CAR VerbundcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2011Federn-Oßwald has been a shareholder of the CAR Verbund since 2011, joining 63 other owner-managed car parts distributors. The Verbund operates 168 sales houses across Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg. CAR develops its own exclusive brands (Fuchs and CAR) and workshop concepts. Federn-Oßwald sources and distributes CAR-exclusive brands through its branches.
• EUROPART (formerly Westdeutsche Federnzentrale / WFZ)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 1990Günter Oßwald first visited the Westdeutsche Federnzentrale (today EUROPART) on 8 May 1990, establishing a foundation for long-term cooperation. Federn-Oßwald drives daily to EUROPART's central warehouse and benefits from EUROPART's sales house network across Germany and Europe (20+ countries) for cross-border parts access. Customers of Federn-Oßwald can pick up parts at EUROPART locations internationally; invoicing is handled by the respective Oßwald branch.
• Nordwest KooperationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFedern-Oßwald values its long-standing cooperation with Nordwest as a capable partner for workshop and industrial supplies. Nordwest specialises in occupational safety, construction equipment, power and pneumatic tools, hand tools, surface and clamping technology, soldering and welding, machining, workshop and industrial supplies. This partnership extends the product range available through Federn-Oßwald branches.
• Mascot InternationalminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFedern-Oßwald operates a Mascot Webshop (www.mascotwebshop.de) for occupational workwear, distributing Mascot's range of protective workwear, safety shoes, and accessories. Mascot is a leading European brand in professional workwear.
• rad-net Oßwald Pro Cycling TeamminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFedern-Oßwald sponsors the rad-net Oßwald Pro Cycling Team, a professional cycling team. The sponsorship includes naming rights ('rad-net Oßwald'), providing brand visibility in national and international cycling competitions and reinforcing the company's regional identity and commitment to Thuringian sport.
• ThSV EisenachminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFedern-Oßwald has sponsored the ThSV Eisenach handball club since 1993, making it one of the company's longest-running sports sponsorships.
• Thüringer HCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFedern-Oßwald sponsors the Thüringer HC (women's handball), a prominent sports club in Thuringia.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves16 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Diesel Technic: Specialist in commercial-vehicle replacement parts with own-brand DT Spare Parts and broad European distribution. Direct peer in the NKW aftermarket segment Federn-Oßwald serves.
• Trost Auto Service Technik: German workshop equipment, tools, and industrial supplies distributor (now part of WM SE). Directly comparable to Federn-Oßwald's workshop and industrial supplies segment (tools, PPE, gases, chemicals).
• PV Automotive: German commercial-vehicle parts specialist with branches across Germany. Directly comparable to Federn-Oßwald's NKW/bus parts business with similar focus on truck, trailer, and bus replacement parts.
• ATR (Auto-Teile-Ring): German cooperative of independent PKW parts dealers. Federn-Oßwald's CAR Verbund membership is structurally similar, making ATR a direct structural peer in the cooperative-distribution model for passenger-car aftermarket.
• EUROPART Holding: Germany's largest independent commercial-vehicle parts distributor with a central warehouse and branch network across Europe. Direct overlap with Federn-Oßwald's NKW/truck parts business; also named partner, illustrating the dual competitive/cooperative dynamic in this market.

Broad incumbents

• WM SE (Württembergische Metallwarenfabrik / Stahlgruber): One of Germany's largest automotive aftermarket distributors operating the Stahlgruber, Trost, and other brands across hundreds of branches. Comparable as a multi-brand aftermarket distributor serving workshops and industrial customers; broader scale and assortment than Federn-Oßwald.
• Continental ContiTech: Major automotive supplier with broad aftermarket presence in belts, hoses, air springs, and rubber-related components. Comparable as a broader incumbent whose industrial and commercial-vehicle parts overlap with portions of Federn-Oßwald's industrial and NKW assortment.
• Robert Bosch Automotive Aftermarket: Global incumbent supplying OE and aftermarket automotive parts, diagnostics, and workshop equipment. Distributes through independent distributors including regional players like Federn-Oßwald; comparable as a broader incumbent shaping competitive dynamics in the same aftermarket.

Emerging players

• Weweler: European leaf-spring manufacturer and supplier for commercial vehicles and trailers. Closest niche peer to Federn-Oßwald's leaf-spring specialist business, with overlap in OEM and aftermarket spring supply.
• H&R Spezialfedern: German specialist in performance suspension components including springs and related parts. Comparable niche player in the spring/suspension manufacturing market, focused on automotive rather than heavy commercial applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

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 Federn-Osswald