PIEL
PIEL Die Technische Großhandlung GmbH is a German family-owned technical wholesaler founded in 1918 that supplies occupational safety equipment, C-parts, and procurement services to industrial, trade, and public-sector customers across Germany from five locations, complemented by certified training, digital maintenance tools, and value-added consulting.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersSoest, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PIEL does
PIEL Die Technische Großhandlung GmbH is a German family-owned technical wholesaler founded in 1918 in Soest, operating from five German locations (Soest HQ, Dresden, Eisenhüttenstadt, Halle/Saale, Schweinfurt) with approximately 130 employees. The company provides C-parts management, e-procurement, occupational safety products, training, and process optimization services to industrial customers, trades, and public institutions across Germany. Its offering combines traditional wholesale of personal protective equipment and industrial consumables from a network of 1,000+ suppliers with value-added services including risk analyses (Gefährdungsanalyse), certified training (PSAgA, CSE, mask fit testing), equipment rental, inspection and repair, and specialized decommissioning services for nuclear power plants. Exclusive distribution partnerships with major OEMs (3M, Dräger, ELTEN, Ejendals, Ansell, Dehn SE, SKF) anchor the product portfolio.
PIEL generates revenue through three primary streams: transactional product sales of PPE and C-parts (paid net 14 per AGB), professional services and consulting (safety seminars, inspections, custom PSA provisioning, rental services), and managed procurement services including its PSM e-procurement platform and PAAS (Purchase as a Service) model that bundles fragmented spending into consolidated monthly invoicing. Digital products such as meine-wartung.de (maintenance management with QR-code inspection tracking) introduce recurring SaaS-like revenue attached to existing accounts. Go-to-market is sales-led with field sales representatives, inside sales via the PSM platform, direct enterprise engagement, and the annual Arbeitsschutzforum (PASF) as a flagship demand-generation event; the ContentLab unit and PIELcast podcast extend content-driven marketing reach. The company has been largely paperless since 2019, achieved ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 certification in 2023, and co-founded the WaldLokal gGmbH social startup in 2021 (approximately 300,000 trees planted).
PIEL firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PIEL
- Legal name
- PIEL Die Technische Großhandlung GmbH
- Website
- https://piel.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- PIEL Die Technische Großhandlung GmbH is a German family-owned technical wholesaler founded in 1918 that supplies occupational safety equipment, C-parts, and procurement services to industrial, trade, and public-sector customers across Germany from five locations, complemented by certified training, digital maintenance tools, and value-added consulting.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where PIEL is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Soest
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
PIEL business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Product Sales (Technical Wholesale): PIEL sells a broad technical product assortment including personal protective equipment (PPE), occupational safety products, industrial consumables, and C-parts through direct B2B sales. Revenue is generated on a per-transaction basis with repeat customer relationships. Payment terms per AGB: net 14 days from invoice date.
- Services and Consulting: PIEL generates revenue from service offerings including safety seminars, trainings, PSAgA certification, confined space entry (CSE) training, mask fit testing, maintenance management (meine-wartung.de), rental services (Mietservice), inspection and repair (Prüfen & Reparieren), and custom PSA provision.
- C-Teile-Management and Procurement Services: E-procurement platform services (PSM), PAAS (Purchase as a Service), and vending machine management generate revenue through service fees and product margins on bundled procurement.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Seminar/training participation fee per event per attendee |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels8 records
PIEL product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PIEL is a German technical wholesaler (Technische Großhandlung) that distributes personal protective equipment (PPE), industrial C-parts, and occupational safety products while providing related services. The company operates a C-Teile-Management program with over 1,000 suppliers, an e-procurement platform (PSM) with PAAS bundled purchasing, digital maintenance management (meine-wartung.de), certified safety trainings, rental services, inspection/repair, and consulting for industry, trades, and public institutions. It serves as a single partner for C-parts supply, process optimization, and regulatory compliance across five German locations.
Product overview
PIEL is a technical wholesale trading company (Technische Großhandlung) offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services focused on technical trading, occupational safety, and process optimization. The offering consists of service divisions including C-Teile-Management (with over 1,000 suppliers), eBusiness solutions, warehouse management, and procurement services; occupational safety services such as risk assessments (Gefährdungsanalyse), PSA provision, training programs, and safety culture initiatives (Safety Rockstars); digital solutions like 'meine-wartung.de' for maintenance management with QR-code support; equipment rental and testing services; and nuclear decommissioning services. PIEL also distributes PSA products (respiratory, hearing, footwear, gloves) and the exclusive TECWERK brand for professional users. The company operates across 5+ locations in Germany serving industrial, craft, and public sector customers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- WaldLokal: Social startup for sustainable local reforestation, planting climate-stable mixed forests in German municipal forests.
Products and services
- C-Teile-Management (C-parts Management) End-to-end C-parts (consumables / indirect materials) management for industrial customers, including supplier consolidation, automated vending machine dispensing for safety equipment and consumables, and procurement optimization.
- eBusiness Solutions (Electronic Catalogs and Marketplaces) Electronic catalogs (eKataloge) and B2B marketplaces enabling customers to browse, requisition, and order technical products and PPE digitally through standardized procurement workflows.
- Warehouse Management (Lagerbewirtschaftung) Warehouse and inventory management services for industrial customers focused on inventory optimization, storage efficiency, and cost reduction for technical and safety stock.
- Procurement Services (Einkaufsdienstleistung) Procurement-as-a-service for industrial buyers, including the PAAS (Purchase as a Service) program that bundles small and incidental purchasing needs (e.g., Amazon, eBay) into one consolidated monthly invoice via the PSM e-procurement platform.
- Occupational Safety Solutions (Arbeitsschutzlösungen) Comprehensive occupational safety solutions including risk analyses (Gefährdungsanalyse), provision of personal protective equipment (PSA), certified safety training, and process consulting for industrial and craft customers.
- Risk Analysis for PPE (Gefährdungsanalyse / Safety Check) On-site risk assessment service for personal protective equipment (PSA) to identify appropriate safety measures and required PPE for specific workplace hazards.
- Seminar and Training Programs (Seminare und Trainings) Certified training programs, workshops, webinars, and instruction sessions for occupational safety topics including PSAgA (personal fall protection), confined space entry (CSE), and atmospheric mask fit testing, delivered per-participant.
- Customized PPE Solutions (Individuelle PSA) Customized personal protective equipment solutions tailored to specific customer needs, including orthopaedic safety footwear and 3D foot measurement for workers with special fit requirements.
- Rental Service (Mietservice) Rental service for personal protective equipment and specialty safety equipment (e.g., fall protection, BP arc-flash arc-rated workwear), including rental-plus-laundry packages in coordination with Inn-Tex.
- Inspection and Repair (Prüfen und Reparieren) Inspection and repair services for safety equipment, tools, and storage installations (e.g., annual inspection of META shelving) carried out by PIEL specialists.
- Digital Maintenance Management (meine-wartung.de) Digital maintenance management system providing centralized tracking of recurring inspections (fixed/mobile ladders, PSAgA, slings, chains, gates, fire protection, pressure vessels), with QR-code access, automated 14-day advance reminders, and external inspector integration.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PSA) Distribution Distribution of a full range of personal protective equipment, including respiratory protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, and protective gloves, sourced from leading manufacturers and supplied to B2B customers across Germany.
- TECWERK Exclusive Brand PIEL's exclusive brand for professional users offering industrial equipment and tools sold through PIEL's distribution channels.
- Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning (Kernkraftwerk-Rückbau) Specialized technical supply services supporting nuclear power plant decommissioning projects, drawing on PIEL's expertise in technical trading, PPE, and C-parts supply.
- ContentLab Media Production In-house multimedia production unit (ContentLab) creating podcasts (PIELcast), video, webinars, and digital content for customers and stakeholders as a creative-content service line.
Quantifiable outcome
- 66% warehouse space savings achieved via heavy-duty shelving solution for Ernst Krebs KG
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use PIEL
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PIEL technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
PIEL partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.
- SKFcoreSKF is a global bearings and rotating machinery company (founded 1907, ~40,396 employees, 2023 revenue: 103,881 MSEK). PIEL is a distribution partner and has also joined the SKF Partner Program for Sustainability. PIEL uses SKF's climate efficiency analysis tools to advise customers on CO2 reduction through SKF products and services. PIEL is an official SKF distributor for the German market.
- WaldLokal gGmbHcoreCo-founded by Mario Ernst (Managing Partner of PIEL), WaldLokal gGmbH is a social startup enabling companies to contribute to sustainable reforestation of German forests (post bark beetle disaster, storms, drought). PIEL has planted approximately 300,000 trees via WaldLokal since 2021. PIEL actively promotes WaldLokal as part of its SDG commitment.
- 3M Deutschland GmbHmajor3M is a global leader in PPE technologies (respiratory protection, hearing protection, fall protection). PIEL distributes 3M products including the 3M Fall Protection Davit HC system. 3M and PIEL co-develop customer solutions, and 3M participates as an exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaAmajorDräger is a global safety technology company (founded 1889, Lübeck) specializing in respiratory protection, gas detection, and occupational safety. PIEL offers Dräger products and coordinates CSE (Confined Space Entry) training using Dräger's mobile training center. Dräger participates as exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- ELTEN GmbHmajorELTEN is a leading German manufacturer of safety footwear (brands include DIALUTION, Arctic Grip). PIEL distributes ELTEN products and coordinates 3D foot measurement sessions at customer sites. ELTEN orthopaedic safety shoes address diabetic employees and those with foot deformities. ELTEN participates as exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- IfG GmbH Institut für Gesundheit und ManagementmajorIfG is a health and safety management institute with over 35 years of experience. IfG provides safety and health services across strategy, analytics, training, and software. PIEL collaborates with IfG on PSAgA training programs (e.g., with Heidelberg Materials Paderborn). IfG participates as exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- SC Johnson ProfessionalminorSC Johnson Professional (Stokoderm brand) supplies skin protection products including sunscreen (Stokoderm SUN PROTECT 50 PURE, LSF 50). PIEL distributes SC Johnson products and co-organizes health days with SC Johnson at customer sites (e.g., Venti Oelde, GEA).
- Inn-Tex Wäscherei (Industrial Laundry)majorInn-Tex is an industrial laundry service specializing in PSA clothing cleaning and maintenance. PIEL coordinates with Inn-Tex as part of the rental/lease PSA clothing service offering (Leasing und Lohnwäsche) for customers like Rohrleitungsbau Münster. PIEL acts as the PSA supplier while Inn-Tex handles industrial laundering.
- MARTOR KGminorMARTOR KG is a German manufacturer of innovative cutting tools and related safety services ('THE SAFER WAY TO CUT'). Exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- EjendalsminorEjendals is a leading European manufacturer of hand and foot protection (TEGERA and JALAS brands). Exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum with interactive product demonstrations.
- Ansell GmbHminorAnsell is a global leader in protective gloves (assembly, cut protection, chemical protection). PIEL distributes Ansell products including new AeroFit range. Exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- Dehn SEminorDehn SE is a specialist in safe electrical installations and arc flash protection (PSAgS — Personal Protective Equipment against Switchgear Arcs). Exhibitor at the PIEL Arbeitsschutzforum.
- PSM (Procurement Service Management) PlatformcorePSM is the e-procurement platform used by PIEL to serve customers like Dornbracht with PAAS (Purchase as a Service). PSM enables consolidated monthly invoicing, e-requisitions, and supplier consolidation (bundling Amazon, eBay and other purchases) for enterprise procurement.
- META-RegalbauminorMETA-Regalbau is a shelving and storage equipment manufacturer. PIEL collaborated with META-Regalbau on the heavy-duty shelving solution for Ernst Krebs KG, saving 66% warehouse space.
- VTH – Verband Technischer Handel e.V.minorMario Ernst, Managing Partner of PIEL, serves as Chairman of the Board (Vorstandsvorsitzender) of VTH Verband Technischer Handel e.V., a German trade association for technical trading companies.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PIEL competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Grainger: Large US-headquartered MRO distributor serving industrial customers globally with broad PPE, tools and C-parts assortment plus digital procurement (KeepStock). Comparable business model to PIEL but at vastly greater scale and with international reach PIEL lacks.
- MSC Industrial Direct: North American metalworking and MRO distributor with broad PPE, tools and C-parts offering and proprietary e-procurement solutions. Comparable to PIEL in product breadth and digital tooling, though operating primarily in the US market.
- Fastenal: Global industrial supply distributor with vending, on-site location and digital procurement services. Closely parallels PIEL's C-Teile-Management vending machine concept and PSM/PAAS approach, but at international scale.
Direct peers
- Würth Group: The largest technical wholesaler in the world and PIEL's most direct German competitor. Würth sells fasteners, tools, PPE and MRO supplies to industrial and trade customers with a comparable multi-channel field-sales-plus-digital model.
- Hoffmann Group: German quality tools and MRO distributor serving industrial customers across Europe. Highly comparable to PIEL in target customer base (industrial Mittelstand), product categories (PPE, tools, consumables) and service-plus-distribution model.
- E/D/E (Einkaufsbüro Deutscher Eisenhändler): German technical trading cooperative serving independent ironmongery and industrial supply wholesalers. Overlaps with PIEL in C-parts management, technical trade assortment and digital procurement services for member companies.
- Conrad Electronic: European technical supplier serving industrial, trade and B2B customers with technical products, tools and PPE via digital channels. Comparable catalog breadth and B2B procurement orientation to PIEL, though with stronger direct-digital than field-sales presence.
- BTI Befestigungstechnik: German technical wholesale and direct distributor for trades and industry. Direct peer to PIEL in serving Handwerk and industrial customers with PPE, fasteners, tools and C-parts through field sales and digital procurement.
- Habermann GmbH: Long-established German technical wholesaler distributing industrial supplies, PPE and MRO products. Comparable scale and customer base to PIEL with a similar mix of distribution and value-added services.
Others
- Ansell: Global PPE manufacturer (protective gloves and body protection) that is both a major supplier and adjacent player to PIEL. Comparable because Ansell's channel strategy increasingly targets direct enterprise sales, making it both a partner and a competitive threat.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PIEL social profiles
Digital presencePIEL financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PIEL leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
PIEL subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
PIEL funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PIEL M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about PIEL
What does PIEL do?
PIEL is a German technical wholesaler (Technische Großhandlung) that distributes personal protective equipment (PPE), industrial C-parts, and occupational safety products while providing related services. The company operates a C-Teile-Management program with over 1,000 suppliers, an e-procurement platform (PSM) with PAAS bundled purchasing, digital maintenance management (meine-wartung.de), certified safety trainings, rental services, inspection/repair, and consulting for industry, trades, and public institutions. It serves as a single partner for C-parts supply, process optimization, and regulatory compliance across five German locations.
Is PIEL a public or private company?
PIEL is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was PIEL founded?
PIEL was founded in 1918. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PIEL based?
PIEL is headquartered in Soest, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does PIEL make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (Technical Wholesale) is the primary driver. The others are services and Consulting and C-Teile-Management and Procurement Services.
Who are PIEL's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Grainger, MSC Industrial Direct and Fastenal. Direct peers are Würth Group, Hoffmann Group, E/D/E (Einkaufsbüro Deutscher Eisenhändler), Conrad Electronic, BTI Befestigungstechnik and Habermann GmbH. Ansell is listed as an others.
Does PIEL have an API?
No public API is recorded for PIEL.