What LICO does

LICO Stahl- und Kunststofftechnik GmbH is a German specialty manufacturer of ground support equipment (GSE) and special machinery headquartered in Unterhaching near Munich. Founded in 1978 and operating as a privately held GmbH with 11–50 employees, the company organizes its business around three product divisions: Helicopter Solutions, Aerospace Solutions, and Gas Solutions. The Helicopter Solutions portfolio covers the HangarTaxi omnidirectional helicopter movement system (electrohydraulic lifting, dual 2.5 kW servo motors, wireless remote control, 4,000 kg MTOW), ground handling wheels (official Airbus Helicopters wheels since 1996, solid rubber construction, one-man operation), tow bars, rotor mast replacement kits (which reduce H145 rotor mast maintenance to approximately five hours and enable single-person operation), mounting trolleys, tail boom supports, and configurable maintenance platforms. The Aerospace Solutions division supplies mechanical ground support equipment (special containers, shaker adapters, handling and assembly devices) to customers including Airbus Defence and Space, while the Gas Solutions division produces GM-series gas homogenization machines (single-cylinder through 12-cylinder bundle models) and fully automatic steel cylinder valve maintenance machines with electronic torque measurement.

LICO's revenue model is built on direct, consultative sales of engineered equipment to enterprise and government customers, complemented by aftermarket services (calibration, repair, general overhaul, spare parts) and custom/special development work. Pricing is quote-based rather than list-priced, reflecting the customized nature of much of the equipment and the OEM-customer relationship structure. The go-to-market relies on a German/English website with contact forms, direct engineering consultation via phone and email, participation in industry events such as PAvCon Europe, and brand/reputation-driven referrals. The customer base spans helicopter manufacturers and operators (Airbus Helicopters, Leonardo, Kopter), air-rescue services (ADAC, DRF Luftrettung, REGA), defense and government operators (Babcock, Bundespolizei, RUAG), aerospace/defense (Airbus Defence and Space), and industrial gas companies in the EU. No external funding rounds, parent company, or acquisition activity are disclosed; ownership and management rest with co-CEOs Thomas Kabilka and Mirjam Kabilka, supported by an advisory board.

Name

LICO

Legal name

LICO Stahl- und Kunststofftechnik GmbH

Website

https://lico-solutions.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LICO is a German specialty manufacturer, founded 1978, producing ground support equipment for helicopters (wheels, tow bars, maintenance platforms, the HangarTaxi movement system), aerospace MGSE for Airbus Defence and Space, and gas homogenization and cylinder-maintenance machines for industrial gas customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace and Helicopter Ground Support Equipment (GSE)

NAICS

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Airport Ground Support Equipment (GSE) Vehicle Manufacturing (IMACAFAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Military Aerospace Ground Support Equipment (GSE) & Test Systems (IMABAMAL)

Keywords

• Helicopter ground support
• Aerospace ground equipment
• Gas homogenization machines
• Mechanical handling systems
• Maintenance platform engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Unterhaching

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Ground Support Equipment Sales: Sale of specialized ground support equipment including transport wheels, tow bars, maintenance platforms, and rotor mast replacement kits to helicopter operators and maintenance facilities.
2. Aerospace Solutions: Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) including special containers, shaker adapters, and handling/assembly equipment for aerospace industry customers like Airbus Defence and Space.
3. Gas Industry Machines: Sale of gas homogenization machines and maintenance machines for steel cylinder valve operations to gas industry companies across the EU.
4. Service, Calibration, and Spare Parts: Aftermarket services including calibration of rotor mast tools, repairs, general overhauls, and spare parts supply for existing LICO products.
5. Custom/Special Developments: Custom-made devices and systems according to customer specifications, solution-oriented engineering for specific technical challenges.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

LICO Stahl- und Kunststofftechnik GmbH manufactures and sells specialized mechanical ground support equipment (GSE) and special machinery across three divisions: Helicopter Solutions (HangarTaxi movement system, transport wheels, tow bars, rotor mast replacement kits, mounting trolleys, tail boom supports, and maintenance platforms); Aerospace Solutions (MGSE including special containers, shaker adapters, and handling equipment for Airbus Defence and Space); and Gas Solutions (gas homogenization machines and steel cylinder valve maintenance equipment). All products are engineered and produced in Germany with CE certification.

Product overview

LICO Stahl- und Kunststofftechnik GmbH is a German manufacturer of ground support equipment and special machinery with three core product divisions: Helicopter Solutions, Aerospace Solutions, and Gas Solutions. The Helicopter Solutions portfolio includes the HangarTaxi omnidirectional movement system, Ground Handling Wheels (Types A-D) and Wheel Caddy, Tow Bars (Types A-C), Rotor Mast Replacement Kits (Types A-C), Mounting Trolleys (Types A-B), Tail Boom Supports (Types A-C Marine), and Maintenance Platforms (Types A, F, G, H) — all designed for efficient ground handling, maintenance, and transport of helicopters. Aerospace Solutions provides MGSE including special containers, shaker adapters, and handling equipment for Airbus Defence and Space. Gas Solutions encompasses GM1, GM4, GM6, GMS4, and GM12 gas homogenization machines for mixing gas mixtures, plus maintenance machines for steel cylinder valve servicing. All products are manufactured in Germany with Made-in-Germany quality standards, and helicopter tools are CE-certified.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HangarTaxi (HTX / HTX Pro) Omnidirectional helicopter movement system for safe, precise and efficient positioning of skid-equipped helicopters inside hangars. Features electrohydraulic lifting cylinders, dual servo motors (2.5 kW each), industrial wireless remote control with fail-safe communication, automatic emergency stop, and supports up to 4,000 kg MTOW with 360° rotation capability.
• Ground Handling Wheels (GHW Type A, B, C, D) Solid rubber transport wheels enabling one-man helicopter ground handling operation across the Airbus H135, H145, H145M, EC145 and universal helicopter fleet, with load capacities up to 22,500 N per wheel and ergonomic handle/hydraulic pump configurations.
• Tow Bars (TB Type A, B, C) Heavy-duty tow bars for helicopter movement including OEM-certified TB Type A for Airbus H135/H145/EC145 (8,000 N max load), universal TB Type B compatible with virtually all skid-equipped helicopters (folding mechanism), and lightweight TB Type C for medium-frequency operations up to 3 tons with single-person pickup.
• Rotor Mast Replacement Kits (RMK Type A, B, C) Lightweight aluminum and plastic tool kits enabling single-person H145 rotor mast maintenance within approximately five hours. RMK Type A is the three-kit base set for H145 D2, RMK Type B is an extension kit for H145 D3 helicopters, and RMK Type C is a four-kit configuration for ergonomic off-site maintenance.
• Mounting Trolleys (MT Type A and B) Base mounting trolleys with adapters for safe and effortless attachment of sensitive equipment to helicopters. MT Type A features a FLIR camera adapter and MT Type B includes an SX16 searchlight adapter.
• Tail Boom Supports (TBS Type A, B, C Marine) Lightweight tail boom supports for helicopter maintenance. TBS Type A is a height-adjustable (1,450-1,860mm) indoor support for Airbus EC135/H135; TBS Type B offers 130mm height adjustability for Airbus H145M; and TBS Type C is a corrosion-free stainless steel variant for outdoor and maritime use on ships and yachts.
• Maintenance Platforms (MP Type A, F, G, H) Helicopter maintenance work platforms: MP Type A is a lightweight, stable aluminum platform for all common helicopter types (1,200-1,560mm height adjustability); MP Type F is a classic indoor platform with 600mm adjustability and an optional electric version; MP Type G is a custom-tailored platform with contour-matched helicopter access and three-step folding stairs; MP Type H is the NH90-specific all-rounder with over 1m overhangs and optional off-road package.
• Aerospace MGSE (Mechanical Ground Support Equipment) Specialized aerospace mechanical ground support equipment including special containers, shaker adapters, and handling/assembly devices designed to meet the precision, quality, and reliability standards demanded by aerospace manufacturers and defense contractors such as Airbus Defence and Space.
• Gas Homogenization Machines (GM1, GM4, GM6, GMS4, GM12) Rolling machines for homogenizing gas mixtures in cylinders and bundles. GM1 homogenizes individual 10-50L cylinders; GM4/GMS4 mix 4-cylinder configurations with automatic clamping and touch display control; GM6 handles 6-cylinder operations; and GM12 is a fully automatic 12-bottle bundle rocker with 135-degree swivel range and automatic protective hood locking.
• Steel Cylinder Valve Maintenance Machine Fully automatic machine for changing screw-in and screw-out devices for steel cylinder valves, featuring variable torque adjustment up to 500 Nm, electronic torque measurement with data processing interface, and safety cut-out (dead man's switch). Compatible with small cylinders from 10 to 50 liters.
• Service: Calibration, Repair, and Spare Parts Comprehensive aftermarket service covering regular calibration of rotor mast tools, repair analysis to complete overhauls, and spare parts supply for all LICO products. Includes dedicated service contact ([email protected]).
• Custom and Special Developments Bespoke engineering service in which LICO engineers design and build custom-made devices and systems per customer specifications, providing solution-oriented engineering for unique technical challenges across helicopter, aerospace, and gas industry applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rotor mast maintenance time reduced to 5 hours (vs. standard multi-person procedures)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Guinault: French manufacturer specialized in helicopter ground support equipment including transport wheels, tow bars, and handling systems. Closest European direct competitor to LICO, with overlapping customer base among Airbus Helicopters, law enforcement, and air rescue operators.
• Spencer Aerospace: UK-based aerospace ground support equipment manufacturer providing OEM-certified handling solutions for aircraft and helicopters. Direct competitor with overlapping focus on certified helicopter tools, hoists, and handling equipment.
• Tronair: US-based aviation ground support equipment manufacturer producing tow bars, ground handling wheels, jacks, and maintenance platforms for helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. Most directly comparable peer to LICO given similar specialty focus, Airbus Helicopters overlap, and parallel product lines.
• Safeaero: Italy/Europe-based helicopter ground support equipment specialist focused on helicopter handling, towing, and maintenance equipment. Direct competitor to LICO across helicopter GSE product categories serving OEM, MRO, and operator customers.
• Vestergaard: Danish aviation ground support equipment manufacturer producing tow bars, ground handling wheels, maintenance platforms, and other helicopter GSE for European and global operators. Direct Nordic peer with comparable specialty positioning and OEM relationships.

Broad incumbents

• TLD Group: French-headquartered global leader in airport ground support equipment including aircraft tugs, baggage tractors, and GSE vehicles. Much larger incumbent with broader airport focus but overlapping capabilities in aircraft/helicopter handling equipment relevant to LICO's HangarTaxi business.
• JBT AeroTech: Major US-based airport ground support equipment manufacturer under John Bean Technologies, providing comprehensive GSE portfolio to airports worldwide. Larger incumbent with relevant overlap in aircraft ground handling, de-icing, and supporting GSE categories.

Regional players

• Stinis: Netherlands-based heavy lift and ground support equipment manufacturer including aircraft handling solutions. Regional European player with overlapping GSE capabilities in tugs, hoists, and specialized handling equipment for aviation and aerospace.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/lico_solutions
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lico-solutions-gmbh

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 LICO