What Gräff Robotics does

Gräff Robotics GmbH is a German owner-managed engineering services firm founded in 1991 and headquartered in Hennef near Cologne/Bonn. The company specializes in industry-specific programming, commissioning, and lifecycle support of industrial robots for production lines, with approximately 20 highly qualified programmers on staff. Its work spans multi-vendor robot platforms — KUKA, ABB, FANUC, YASKAWA/MOTOMAN, STÄUBLI, Universal Robots, and DOOSAN — and covers both traditional industrial robots and collaborative (MRK/Cobot) systems.

The service portfolio is organized around four pillars: offline programming (using Process Simulate, Delmia V5, Technomatix Robcad, ABB RobotStudio, RoboGuide, KUKA Sim Pro), online programming at the production line via teach-in and playback methods, certified safety commissioning (KUKA SafeOperation, ABB SafeMove) with signed safety protocols, and ISO 27001-certified remote maintenance delivered through a hardened VPN. Adjacent offerings include cycle time optimization, training, vision-system integration for bin picking (via a certified partner of an unnamed leading vision manufacturer), and custom software development in C++, Java, Pascal, and native robot languages. Application coverage spans spot/seam/stud welding, handling, clinching, sealing (NAD/UBS/wax/cosmetic sealer), gluing, riveting, laser/waterjet cutting, painting, grinding, deburring, palletizing, and 3D milling.

Gräff operates a project-based professional services model with revenue generated from on-site deployment of programmers to customer facilities and remote support work. Customer concentration is heavily weighted to the automotive sector — disclosed named logos include Audi, BMW, Daimler, Volkswagen, and Ford, alongside Tier 1/2 automotive suppliers and general mechanical engineering clients. The company is privately held under German GmbH law, led by three managing directors, with no external investors, no M&A activity, no patents, and no public funding rounds disclosed. Marketing is conducted almost entirely through the corporate website and direct contact channels, with no app presence, no social media footprint beyond a standard website, and no API or SDK offerings.

Name

Gräff Robotics

Legal name

Gräff Robotics GmbH

Website

https://graeffrobotics.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Gräff Robotics is a German engineering services firm founded in 1991 that provides multi-vendor industrial robot programming, commissioning, and remote maintenance for automotive OEMs, automotive suppliers, and general mechanical engineering customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Robot Programming Services

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Robots (Articulated, SCARA, Delta, Cartesian) (IMAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Robot Software, Autonomy Stacks & Simulation (ROS, digital twins) (HDAAAIAK), Industrial Robotics & Cobots (IMAIAMAB), Robotics Safety, Certification & Compliance (HDAAAIAO)

Keywords

• Industrial robot programming
• Robot commissioning services
• Offline robot programming
• Cobot integration services
• Robot simulation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Hennef

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Robot Programming Services: Project-based professional services for offline programming, online programming, robot commissioning, optimization, training, and maintenance. Services are tailored to customer requirements and delivered either on-site or remotely.
2. Remote Maintenance and Support: Remote maintenance and support services using certified VPN systems, providing analysis and troubleshooting without on-site visits.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Gräff Robotics GmbH provides industry-specific industrial robot programming services for production lines, including offline programming (simulation-based), online programming (teach-in/playback at the production line), robot commissioning with certified safety functionality setup, ISO 27001-certified remote maintenance and support, cycle time optimization, training, bin picking with vision system integration, and MRK/Cobot integration. Services are tailored to customer requirements and delivered on-site at customer facilities or remotely to automotive OEMs, automotive suppliers, and general mechanical engineering companies.

Product overview

Gräff Robotics is an industrial robot programming service company offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on robot software development and commissioning. The core offerings include Offline-Programmierung (offline robot programming using simulation software), Online-Programmierung (on-site robot programming at production lines), Inbetriebnahme (robot commissioning with certified safety engineers), and Fernwartung (remote support via ISO 27001-certified VPN systems). These services span a wide range of industrial robot applications such as spot welding, seam welding, handling, clinching, sealing, cutting, painting, and palletizing. Advanced offerings include cycle time optimization, vision system integration for bin picking, collaborative robot (MRK/Cobot) integration, and custom software development. The company works with all major robot brands (KUKA, ABB, FANUC, YASKAWA, STÄUBLI, UR, DOOSAN) and various industry sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Offline Robot Programming (Offline-Programmierung) Simulation-based robot programming performed on workstations using tools such as Process Simulate, Delmia V5 Robotics, Technomatix Robcad, ABB RobotStudio, RoboGuide, and KUKA Sim Pro, allowing programs to be created, reachability-tested, and virtually commissioned before deployment to minimize production downtime.
• Online Robot Programming (Online-Programmierung) On-site robot programming at customer production lines using teach-in (manually driving work steps with saving on the handheld control unit) and playback (programmer-guided with coordinate-to-program conversion) methods, plus uploading of pre-prepared offline programs with controller calibration, including cycle time optimization.
• Robot Commissioning (Inbetriebnahme) Installation, configuration, and commissioning of industrial robots including certified commissioning of safety functionalities (KUKA SafeOperation and ABB SafeMove), with certified safety engineers producing signed safety protocols and communication with F-CPUs.
• Remote Maintenance and Support (Fernwartung) Remote robot diagnostics, analysis, and support delivered via ISO 27001-certified VPN systems, enabling technicians to securely access and troubleshoot robot systems from their office without on-site visits.
• Cycle Time Optimization (Taktzeitoptimierung) Optimization of robot cycle times and production quality to maximize throughput, reduce wear on equipment, and improve overall production efficiency.
• Training Services (Schulung) Training programs for plant and operating personnel covering robot programming, welding controls, and system operation for KUKA, FANUC, and ASEA robots.
• Bin Picking Bin picking solutions leveraging a certified vision-system manufacturer partnership to recognize, precisely extract, and feed unsorted components into subsequent production processes for handling robots.
• Vision System Integration Integration of robot controllers with vision systems, enabling robots to visually recognize components and adapt to changing production situations.
• MRK/Cobot Integration Integration of collaborative robots (Cobots/MRK) into manufacturing processes to enable safe, direct collaboration between robots and human workers, drawing on multiple research and industrial application experiences.
• Custom Software Development Custom software creation for industrial robot systems in C++, VisualBasic, Java, Pascal, and direct robot manufacturer source code (including KRL), plus OPC connections and operator interfaces.
• Industrial Robot Applications (Applikationen) Comprehensive industrial robot applications across spot welding, seam welding, stud welding, handling, clinching, seam sealing (NAD), underbody protection (UBS), wax application, cosmetic sealing, gluing, glass seal application, punching, riveting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, painting, grinding, deburring, palletizing, and 3D milling.

Quantifiable outcome

• Projects successfully implemented with 1 to over 70 robots
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• KUKA: Major German industrial robot OEM that also offers programming, simulation (KUKA Sim Pro) and lifecycle services. KUKA is both a platform Gräff programs on and a competitor that bundles services with robot sales.
• Universal Robots: Leading collaborative robot (cobot) OEM. Competes with Gräff's MRK/Cobot integration offering while also being one of the brands Gräff programs (UR). Its UR+ ecosystem lowers barriers for end users.
• FANUC: Largest industrial robot OEM by installed base, offering its own programming services and the RoboGuide simulation platform that Gräff uses; competes with Gräff for automotive programming projects.
• Stäubli Robotics: Swiss robot OEM with strong presence in automotive, life sciences and food; offers integration services in adjacent niches to Gräff's programming services.
• ABB Robotics: Global industrial and collaborative robot OEM with extensive programming and integration services and the RobotStudio simulation platform. Direct overlap with Gräff on ABB SafeMove safety commissioning.
• Yaskawa (Motoman): Japanese industrial robot OEM with significant automotive penetration and proprietary programming software; competes for the same automotive OEM and Tier-1 supplier contracts as Gräff.

Others

• Visual Components: Provider of 3D simulation software for manufacturing and robot offline programming; an enabling technology vendor whose tools Gräff-style programming services depend on, and a potential adjacent competitor in OLP.

Direct peers

• HAHN Automation: German system integrator specializing in industrial robot automation and assembly lines, particularly for automotive suppliers; directly comparable to Gräff in geography, customer base and service scope.
• JR Automation: Large US-based system integrator offering turnkey robotic automation including programming and commissioning for automotive and industrial customers; the closest analog to Gräff in terms of full-scope integration services.

Emerging players

• Mujin: AI-driven robotics intelligence platform that automates motion planning and robot programming; competes with Gräff's traditional programming model and represents a structural threat to labor-based services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/graeffrobotics
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/graeff-robotics-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Gräff Robotics