OLKO-Maschinentechnik

What OLKO-Maschinentechnik does

OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Olfen, Germany, is a custom manufacturer of shaft sinking and hoisting technology for underground mining. It is a wholly-owned subsidiary of THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU GMBH, acquired in 2012. The company designs, manufactures, and commissions winding machines in four configurations (single-drum, double-drum, double-drum Blair, and Koepe/friction), a full family of brake control systems (COBRA 01, COBRA 02 S, EHS2, EHS4, EPS1, PPS1) and brake force generators, mobile and semi-mobile shaft winches for emergency deployment, conveyor hoists, pneumatic winches, rope-change equipment, conveyor vessels, work platforms, rope sheaves, and a patented overtravel protection system (E-A-S). Product differentiation is anchored by granted patents on the Versteckvorrichtung and E-A-S, by SIL 3 functional safety certification of the COBRA 02 S, and by an extensive certification portfolio including EN ISO 9001, AMS Arbeitsschutz, EN 1090-1/-2, EN ISO 3834-2, AD 2000 HP 0, DGR 2014/68/EU and AWSV §62 Fachbetrieb. The firm also builds self-climbing work platforms for demolition and pontoon excavators for soft-ground conditions, extending its special-machinery reach.

The business model is project-based B2B. OLKO delivers full turnkey systems from basic and detail engineering through in-house manufacturing of switchgear and control cabinets, on-site assembly and commissioning, and ongoing aftermarket services including planned maintenance, repair with remote diagnostics, optimization, and customer training. Pricing is quote-based and project-specific, with no standard list pricing. The go-to-market motion is direct enterprise field sales to mining operators, supplemented by participation in trade shows such as Ugol Mining in Russia and CONEXPO Las Vegas, an annual in-house exhibition ("Hausmesse") at Olfen, and corporate communications through the ts-olko.com website and LinkedIn. Customer segments are primarily underground mining operators (coal, potash, polyhalite, gold) plus underground construction companies and nuclear-waste remediation operators; named end customers include K+S Aktiengesellschaft, Woodsmith Mine in England, the Nalunaq gold mine in Greenland, Slavkaliy in Belarus, a major Kazakh steel and mining group, RAG Aktiengesellschaft, and Bilfinger Noell GmbH. The firm employs 101–250 people across its Olfen and Netphen sites.

Operationally OLKO holds three granted patents (Versteckvorrichtung, E-A-S, and the COBRA brake architecture) and a wholly-owned operating subsidiary, Schacht Fördertechnik Service AG, which co-exhibits with OLKO at mining trade shows. International projects span Germany, Kazakhstan, Greenland, England, Belarus and the wider European and Central Asian mining markets.

Name

OLKO-Maschinentechnik

Legal name

OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH

Website

https://ts-olko.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH, headquartered in Olfen, Germany, is a custom manufacturer of shaft sinking and hoisting equipment — including winding machines, brake control systems, mobile shaft winches, and patented overtravel protection — serving underground mining operators globally as a wholly-owned subsidiary of THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU GMBH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underground Mining Machinery and Equipment

NAICS

Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131), Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331)

SIC

Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532), Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Conveying, Hoisting & Materials Handling Systems (Conveyors, Stackers/Reclaimers, Winches) (IMAKANAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Underground Mining Equipment (Loaders/LHDs, Continuous Miners, Longwall Systems) (IMAKANAB), Specialized Lifting Systems (Hydraulic Gantries, Strand Jacks, Jacking Systems) (IMAHAJAO), Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Shaft winding machines
• Mining hoist systems
• Brake control systems
• Underground mining equipment
• Shaft sinking machinery

Headquarters

HQ city

Olfen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. Custom Mining Equipment Sales: Design, manufacturing, and delivery of custom shaft sinking and hoisting equipment including winding machines, brake systems, and related machinery for underground mining operations. Revenue generated from large-scale project contracts with mining companies.
2. Aftermarket Services: Comprehensive service offerings including planned maintenance, repairs, optimization, and training for installed equipment. Services provided remotely via established access or on-site by experienced technicians.
3. Engineering and Commissioning Services: Full lifecycle engineering services from basic and detail engineering through assembly, commissioning, and handover. Complete system solutions from a single source.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH designs, manufactures, and commissions custom shaft construction and hoisting equipment for underground mining operations. The product portfolio covers winding machines (single-drum, double-drum, double-drum Blair, and Koepe/friction), mobile and semi-mobile shaft winches, hydraulic and electrohydraulic brake control systems, conveyor vessels, work platforms, rope sheaves, overtravel protection, and crane systems. The company also delivers rope-change equipment and full engineering, assembly, commissioning, and aftermarket service capabilities, providing turnkey system solutions from a single source.

Product overview

OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH is a manufacturer of shaft construction and conveyor technology, offering comprehensive system solutions with high manufacturing depth and proprietary, often patented components. The product portfolio centers on four core categories: (1) Fördermaschinen including Koepe, double-drum Blair, double-drum, and single-drum winding machines; (2) Schachtfördertechnik encompassing mobile/semi-mobile shaft winches, conveyor hoists, pneumatic winches, and grab hoists; (3) Bremsen comprising hydraulic and electro-pneumatic brake control systems (COBRA, EHS, EPS, PPS series) and brake force generators; and (4) Fertigung covering conveyor vessels, work platforms, rope sheaves, overtravel protection, and crane systems. Additional offerings include self-climbing work platforms for demolition, pontoon excavators for special applications, rope change equipment (clamp devices, coiling winches, friction winches), and comprehensive engineering and service capabilities. The company operates as a 100% subsidiary of the THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU Group, delivering solutions from concept to commissioning since 1989.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Eintrommel-Fördermaschine (Single-Drum Winding Machine) Single-drum winding machine designed for small shaft cross-sections and confined spaces, typically used for material and personnel transport at small to medium depths.
• Doppeltrommel-Fördermaschine (Double-Drum Winding Machine) Double-drum winding machine with patented deflection device for approaching different levels and during rope inspection, featuring powerful drives and high energy utilization.
• Doppeltrommel-Blair-Fördermaschine (Double-Drum Blair Winding Machine) Double-drum Blair winding machine with two separate winding areas per drum, enabling load distribution across two ropes per drum, suitable for greatest depths and equipped with the patented deflection device.
• Koepe-Fördermaschine (Koepe Friction Winding Machine) Koepe/friction winding machine using friction-locking power transmission with rope wrap angles up to 200 degrees, suitable for high-capacity shaft conveyor systems.
• Autoschachtwinde (Mobile Shaft Winch) Mobile shaft winch mounted on a truck chassis for rapid emergency deployment to rescue personnel, offering flexibility for shaft revisions and transport, operating independently using vehicle engine power.
• Semimobile Autoschachtwinde (Semi-Mobile Shaft Winch) Semi-mobile shaft winch available as trailer or rail vehicle, offering the mobility of a mobile unit in a cost-efficient design.
• Förderhaspel (Conveyor Hoist) Drive machine for rope conveyance systems used in less intensively utilized shaft conveyor systems or as reserve/service systems, with operating speeds up to 4 m/s.
• Druckluft-Winden (Pneumatic Winches) Pneumatic winches particularly suitable for use in explosion-hazardous areas, offering robust and precise lifting and lowering of heavy loads.
• Greiferhaspel (Grab Hoist) Traversable grab hoist serving as the central element under the sinking platform for raising and lowering sinking grabs, pneumatically driven.
• Greifer (Grab) Sinking grab used in combination with the grab hoist for shaft excavation and material handling.
• COBRA 01 Hydraulic Brake Control Proven hydraulic brake control with reserve circuit, providing constant deceleration by controlling braking forces based on speed change for winding machines.
• COBRA 02 S Hydraulic Brake Control SIL 3 certified hydraulic brake control system for safety-critical shaft conveyor applications, with redundant hydraulic and electrical circuits and 100% redundant and interchangeable brake channels.
• EHS2 Electro-Hydraulic Brake Control Electro-hydraulic brake control for shaft conveyor systems up to 10 m/s, based on the proven constant partial brake force concept with separated redundant circuits for driving and safety brakes.
• EHS4 Electro-Hydraulic Brake Control Simple and robust electro-hydraulic brake control for slow-running machines up to 2 m/s, quickly operational even at low temperatures.
• EPS1 Electro-Pneumatic Brake Control Innovative electro-pneumatic brake control for compressed air brakes on shaft conveyor systems using electrically-controlled pneumatic valves.
• PPS1 Pneumatic Brake Control Purely pneumatic brake control for compressed air brakes on shaft conveyor systems, designed for plants operating completely without electrical power.
• Bremskrafterzeuger (Brake Force Generators) Central components for actuating brakes in conveyor systems, providing finely controllable brake force for safe and precise load movement.
• Fördergefäße (Conveyor Vessels) Essential components in mining and conveyor technology for safe and efficient transport of materials in shafts.
• Arbeitsbühnen (Work Platforms) Customized work platforms for maintenance and repair work in shafts and other industrial environments, providing safe access to difficult-to-reach locations.
• Seilscheiben (Rope Sheaves) Rope sheaves for redirecting or deflecting ropes between conveyor machine and conveyor equipment, available in standard or internally-mounted variants.
• Übertriebsicherung E-A-S (Overtravel Protection) Patented Energy Absorption System using energy-absorbing plates that deform and are destroyed during deployment to reduce speed and absorb motion energy of hoisting equipment during emergency braking.
• Kransysteme (Crane Systems) Crane systems for industrial applications, including bridge cranes in various sizes for manufacturing facilities.
• Selbstschreitende Arbeitsbühne (Self-Climbing Work Platform) Self-climbing work platform with working and drive platform for demolition of vertical concrete tubes, cooling towers, chimneys, shaft linings, and similar structures.
• Pontonbagger (Pontoon Excavator) Premium special machine construction product designed for difficult conditions on poor load-bearing substrates in swamps, lakes, rivers, and coastal areas.
• Klemm- und Hubeinrichtung (Clamp and Lift Device) Specially developed for efficient and safe rope changing in conveyor systems, securely gripping and holding ropes without slipping or damage.
• Wickelböcke / Wickelhaspel (Coiling Blocks / Coiling Winches) Coiling blocks and coiling winches designed for rope changing of conveyor systems, evenly and controllably winding and unwinding ropes.
• Friktionswinden (Friction Winches) Friction winches specifically developed for laying winding or conveyor ropes, increasing rope force during passage to ensure required pretensioning forces, capable of handling multiple ropes simultaneously.
• Mobile Rettungswinde TS-NOT01 (Mobile Rescue Winch) New mobile rescue winch with full-electronic control for maximum precision, integrated sensor technology for digital real-time monitoring, designed for emergency operations and underground water management.
• OM ASW 4 Mobile Autoshaft Winch Successor to ASW 3 for K+S AG; mobile shaft winch deployable as small rope conveyance system, traversal system, auxiliary conveyance system, and emergency conveyance system for underground potash operations.
• Basic-Engineering Comprehensive analysis of specific requirements and operating conditions, creating initial concepts and specifications, performing calculations and simulations.
• Detail-Engineering Detailed planning building on basic engineering results, including dimensioning components, creating circuit diagrams, and developing software and visualization.
• Fertigung (Manufacturing) In-house manufacturing of low-voltage switchgear, distribution systems, control cabinets and pulpits, equipment cabinets, and terminal boxes.
• Montage (Assembly) Assembly service completed either in factory or installed directly on-site, ensuring quality standards and on-time completion.
• Inbetriebnahme (Commissioning) Commissioning service verifying functions and testing monitoring systems to demonstrate required properties and prepare for customer handover.
• Wartung (Maintenance) Scheduled maintenance services checking all system components, updating and verifying plant software, and identifying potential problems early.
• Reparatur (Repair) Fast and efficient repair service with remote diagnostics capability via established remote access or on-site support by experienced technicians.
• Optimierung (Optimization) Optimization services through continuous monitoring and analysis of system performance to identify improvement potential for productivity and cost-effectiveness.
• Schulungen (Training) Comprehensive training programs for customer personnel to ensure optimal use of machines and systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• SIL 3 certification achieved for COBRA 02 S brake control system - highest safety standard for mining winding equipment

Named customers7 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

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU GMBHcoreOthersParent company and majority shareholder (100% ownership). OLKO is a 100% subsidiary of THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU GROUP, acquired in 2012. THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU specializes in shaft sinking and provides the operational context for OLKO's equipment deployment including rescue winches and water management systems.
• THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU GMBHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership for safety-critical mining equipment. THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU operates rescue equipment (KN20) supplied by OLKO and provides feedback for product development. OLKO delivers TS-NOT01 mobile rescue winches while THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU handles operational responsibility for rescue equipment at RAG sites.
• Bilfinger Noell GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOLKO received contract from Bilfinger Noell GmbH for development and testing of retrieval technology for radioactive waste from the Asse 2 mine.
• Schacht Fördertechnik Service AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubsidiary company for shaft hoisting technology service, co-exhibiting with OLKO at trade shows like Ugol Mining.
• T+S Kran- und TortechnikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint product development of crane systems. Collaborative logo (TS+OLKO) created for crane products jointly introduced to market. T+S provides crane technology while OLKO contributes hoisting expertise.
• RAG AktiengesellschaftminorOthersCustomer relationship for underground mining operations at RAG sites in the Ruhr area. OLKO supplies rescue winches and THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU operates them for RAG's perpetual tasks (Ewigkeitsaufgaben).
• K+S AktiengesellschaftminorOthersMajor potash mining customer for mobile Autoschachtwinde ASW 4 equipment for underground potash operations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FLSmidth: Global supplier of equipment and services for the mining and cement industries. Overlaps with OLKO in material handling and processing equipment supplied to mining operators, though FLSmidth's core strength is mineral processing rather than shaft hoisting.
• Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Division of Sandvik supplying equipment and tools for underground mining and rock excavation. Overlaps with OLKO in the broader underground mining equipment ecosystem, with strong global service infrastructure and digital mining offerings.
• ABB: Global industrial group with a dedicated mine hoist business serving underground mining operators. Competes with OLKO on large greenfield mine hoisting projects, leveraging broader electrification, drives, and automation portfolio that OLKO cannot match in scale.
• Epiroc: Major OEM of underground mining and infrastructure equipment, with a broad portfolio including drilling, loading, and haulage. Adjacent competitor to OLKO on underground mine equipment purchases, with far larger scale and global service network.
• Komatsu Mining: Global mining equipment OEM offering a wide range of underground and surface mining machinery. Competes with OLKO indirectly through mining operator fleet decisions and could expand into shaft hoisting through acquisition or partnerships.
• Voith: German engineering group with history in mining hoist drives and hoisting systems. Competes with OLKO in the electromechanical drivetrain side of shaft hoisting installations for large mining projects.

Direct peers

• SIEMAG TECBERG: German-headquartered specialist in mine hoists, winding systems, and shaft hoisting technology. Closest direct competitor to OLKO, offering similar Koepe and drum winding machines, brake systems, and shaft sinking equipment with comparable customer base in Europe and CIS.

Emerging players

• CITIC Heavy Industries: Chinese manufacturer of heavy mining and metallurgical equipment including mine hoists and grinding mills. Increasingly competing with European specialists like OLKO on cost-sensitive international mining projects, particularly in Africa, CIS, and Southeast Asia.

Regional players

• Herrenknecht: German-based global market leader in tunnel boring machines and underground infrastructure equipment. Adjacent peer sharing engineering depth and German manufacturing heritage, with overlapping customers in underground construction though different core product (TBMs vs. hoists).

Others

• Bilfinger Noell: German engineering specialist in crane technology and special machinery, and an existing OLKO customer/partner on the Asse 2 radioactive waste retrieval project. Overlaps in heavy lifting and special industrial machinery, making it a relevant adjacent comparator and ecosystem participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/olko-maschinentechnik-gmbh

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 OLKO-Maschinentechnik