GVA Krefeld
GVA Krefeld is a German foundry specialist designing and manufacturing custom castings, forgings, and welded constructions for the global steel, aluminum, and copper industries. Known as "The Slagpot Company," it serves 200+ customers worldwide through direct sales and a certified partner network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersKrefeld, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What GVA Krefeld does
GVA Krefeld GmbH is a privately held German mechanical-engineering and trading company founded in 1987 in Krefeld, specializing in foundry, forging, and welded-construction products for the global metallurgical industry. The company is family-controlled, currently led by Managing Directors Hanns Näser and Ulrich Grühnke, and is recognized worldwide as "The Slagpot Company" following the invention by founder Karlheinz Näser of the modern slagpot with "hammock design" and "elephant feet." Core offerings include the GVA Slagpot product line, custom castings up to 200 tons, open-die and closed-die forgings, and welded constructions up to 100 tons, produced from proprietary materials (GVA Special Cast Steel, GVA Special Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron) alongside standard cast steel, ductile and gray cast iron, and non-ferrous alloys (aluminum, bronze, brass, gunmetal, nickel-bronze, aluminum-bronze).
Manufacturing is executed in certified (DIN ISO 9001, ISO 14001) facilities located in Europe and Asia (including China), with all products designed and engineered in Germany to either customer drawings or GVA-optimized specifications. The technology stack uses 3D CAD systems, FEA and solidification simulations, the vacuum moulding process with gasifiable polystyrene models, and rapid prototyping including 3D printing. GVA also delivers engineering services (feasibility studies, design, simulation, prototyping) and full turnkey logistics handling from single pallets to heavy/special transport.
The go-to-market model is sales-led and relationship-driven: GVA positions itself as a full-service provider managing projects from conception to handover, working directly with customer technicians, plant and vehicle manufacturers, and a worldwide network of certified contractual partners. Customer acquisition and retention are driven by industry trade shows (METEC, METEC INDIA, Hüttentag, EuroSlag) and direct sales coverage including Senior Sales Manager Angela Schöning-Schröck and Managing Director Ulrich Grühnke. A strategic partnership with SAS Třinec (Czech Republic), expanded in August 2023 to include plant engineering, extends the offering into grinding machines, finishing lines, crane construction, and turnkey project delivery. The customer base spans steel and metallurgical operations (primary), as well as aluminum and copper producers, mining and cement operators, machine builders, shipyards, and construction, with 200+ active customers and 500+ completed projects across global markets.
GVA Krefeld firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- GVA Krefeld
- Legal name
- GVA Krefeld GmbH
- Website
- https://gva-krefeld.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- GVA Krefeld is a German foundry specialist designing and manufacturing custom castings, forgings, and welded constructions for the global steel, aluminum, and copper industries. Known as "The Slagpot Company," it serves 200+ customers worldwide through direct sales and a certified partner network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
GVA Krefeld industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Foundry Products
- NAICS
- Iron Foundries (331511), Steel Foundries (except Investment) (331513), Aluminum Foundries (except Die-Casting) (331524)
- SIC
- Iron & Steel Foundries (3320), Nonferrous Foundries (Castings) (3360)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Steel Casting (Continuous Casting, Ingots, Semi-Finished Slabs/Billets/Blooms) (IMAKABAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Aluminum Casting & Ingot/Billet/Slab Production (IMAKACAE), Aluminum Project Development, Engineering & EPC (Smelters/Refineries) (IMAKACAO)
Keywords
Where GVA Krefeld is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Krefeld
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
GVA Krefeld business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Casting Products: GVA designs and manufactures cast products up to 200 tons in production facilities in Europe and Asia. Products include slag pots, molds, casting equipment, crusher and furnace segments, and special designs. Materials include cast steel, cast iron (ductile and gray), and non-ferrous metals (aluminum, bronze, brass, gunmetal, nickel-bronze, aluminum-bronze).
- Forged Products: Open-die forgings up to 15 tons unit weight and closed-die forgings up to 8 tons. Products include drop balls, shafts, rollers, flanges, and other open-die steel forgings.
- Welded Constructions: Custom-made welded constructions up to 100 tons including ladles, scrap chutes, pressure vessels, casting tanks and special constructions according to customer requirements.
- Engineering Services: From designs and simulations to feasibility studies, supporting engineering and process optimization areas. GVA provides customized designs, developments, simulations, prototypes, and individual and series products.
- Logistics and Turnkey Delivery: Customized solutions for transport and logistics challenges, including handling small and large shipments, different transport types (LCL, containers, flat racks, heavy transport), and optimal batch size determination.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
GVA Krefeld product offering
Product offeringCore offering
GVA Krefeld GmbH designs and manufactures custom foundry products including slag pots, castings up to 200 tons, open-die and closed-die forgings, and welded constructions up to 100 tons, primarily serving the steel, metallurgical, aluminum, copper, mining, cement, and shipbuilding industries. The company operates as a full-service provider delivering project management from conception through to handover of ready-to-install parts, using proprietary materials (GVA Special Cast Steel, GVA Special Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron) and a worldwide network of certified contractual manufacturing partners in Europe and Asia.
Product overview
GVA Krefeld is a full-service foundry and engineering company offering a portfolio of physical products and services for the metallurgical, steel, copper, aluminum, and recycling industries. The core products include Slag Pots (their flagship GVA Slagpot), Castings (up to 200 tons), Forgings (up to 15 tons), and Welded Constructions (up to 100 tons). Supporting products include Magnetic Housings, Aluminum Production equipment, and Copper Production components. The company also provides logistics services and engineering/optimization services. A strategic partnership with SAS Třinec extends offerings to include plant engineering. All products are designed and engineered in Germany with manufacturing in certified facilities in Europe and Asia.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- GVA Slagpot: Custom-made slag pots manufactured according to GVA design, known as 'The Slagpot Experts' or 'The Slagpot Company' globally.
- GVA Special Cast Steel
- GVA Academy
Products and services
- Castings (Gussteile)
- GVA Slagpot Custom-made slag pots designed and manufactured according to GVA's specifications for collecting, transporting, and emptying liquid slag in steel production. Known for long service life, adaptation points, and custom optimization for customer-specific requirements and spatial constraints. The flagship product globally recognized as 'The Slagpot Experts'.
Quantifiable outcome
- 400+ slag pots delivered per year on average
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use GVA Krefeld
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
GVA Krefeld technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
GVA Krefeld partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- ARCUM Engineering LTDminorLong-standing partner for joint exhibition at METEC INDIA 2024. GVA and ARCUM exhibited together at Hall 2 Stand 36 to present GVA's products to the Indian market.
- SAS TřineccoreStrategic partnership in plant engineering, expanded from August 2023. SAS Třinec (established 1885) serves as direct contractual partner for welded constructions, mechanically machined parts, and plant engineering projects through to turnkey handover. Core competences include grinding machines for continuous casting products, finishing lines (straightening, blasting, surface processing), and crane construction (lifting devices and manipulators). SAS Třinec offers complete expertise in engineering, electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, sensor technology and mechanics, with options for training and maintenance.
- Worldwide Network of Certified Contractual PartnerscoreWorldwide network of permanent contractual partners certified according to DIN ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. Manufacturing locations in Europe and Asia. Quality is ensured through strict certification requirements and consistent implementation of GVA production processes.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
GVA Krefeld competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SMS group GmbH: German-based global leader in metallurgical plant engineering and equipment for steel and non-ferrous metals. SMS supplies castings, rollers, and process equipment to the same steel mill customers GVA serves, including slag-handling and ladle equipment at much larger scale.
- Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A. Italian-based global engineering company supplying equipment and turnkey plants for the steel and non-ferrous metals industry. Danieli casts and fabricates heavy components for steelworks, directly competing with GVA on plant-side equipment and engineering services.
- Primetals Technologies Limited: Austrian/Japanese-backed metallurgical plant constructor (successor to Siemens VAI and Mitsubishi-Hitachi). Supplies integrated steel plant technology including continuous casting and ladle metallurgy, operating in the same downstream customer base as GVA Krefeld.
- Dango & Dienenthal GmbH: German foundry and engineering firm specializing in heavy cast products and slag-handling equipment for the steel and metallurgical industries. Closest direct comparable to GVA in terms of size, geography, and product focus (slag ladles, casting equipment).
Emerging players
- Magotteaux SA: Belgian-based global foundry specializing in wear-resistant castings for mining, cement, and aggregates. Comparable in product line (high-performance proprietary alloys for severe wear) and target segments (mining/cement), though focused on mining rather than steelmaking.
- ESCO Group LLC: US-based manufacturer of wear parts and foundry products for mining, infrastructure, and recycling. Comparable in producing heavy cast wear components for harsh-service industrial applications, with similar proprietary alloy development.
Broad incumbents
- Voestalpine AG: Austrian integrated steelmaker with a foundry and special steel division producing cast and forged components for industrial customers. Serves the same metallurgical value chain as GVA but at vastly larger scale and across a broader portfolio.
- Fives Group: French industrial engineering group serving steel, aluminium, cement, and energy sectors with process equipment and turnkey plants. Adjacent peer serving similar metallurgical customer base with broader process-equipment portfolio.
- Aubert & Duval (subsidiary of Eramet): French specialty steel and superalloy producer with forging and casting capabilities for aerospace, energy, and industrial markets. Comparable in high-performance proprietary metallurgy but with broader end-market exposure than GVA.
Regional players
- Siempelkamp NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft GmbH: German engineering firm specializing in large cast iron and steel components for heavy industry, including nuclear, steel, and pressure-vessel applications. Comparable in custom heavy casting capability and German industrial customer base.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
GVA Krefeld social profiles
Digital presenceGVA Krefeld financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
GVA Krefeld leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
GVA Krefeld funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
GVA Krefeld 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 GVA Krefeld
What does GVA Krefeld do?
GVA Krefeld GmbH designs and manufactures custom foundry products including slag pots, castings up to 200 tons, open-die and closed-die forgings, and welded constructions up to 100 tons, primarily serving the steel, metallurgical, aluminum, copper, mining, cement, and shipbuilding industries. The company operates as a full-service provider delivering project management from conception through to handover of ready-to-install parts, using proprietary materials (GVA Special Cast Steel, GVA Special Spheroidal Graphite Cast Iron) and a worldwide network of certified contractual manufacturing partners in Europe and Asia.
Is GVA Krefeld a public or private company?
GVA Krefeld is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was GVA Krefeld founded?
GVA Krefeld was founded in 1987. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is GVA Krefeld based?
GVA Krefeld is headquartered in Krefeld, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does GVA Krefeld make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Custom Casting Products are the primary driver. The others are forged Products, welded Constructions, engineering Services and logistics and Turnkey Delivery.
Who are GVA Krefeld's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SMS group GmbH, Danieli & C. Officine Meccaniche S.p.A., Primetals Technologies Limited and Dango & Dienenthal GmbH. Emerging players are Magotteaux SA and ESCO Group LLC. Broad incumbents are Voestalpine AG, Fives Group and Aubert & Duval (subsidiary of Eramet). Siempelkamp NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft GmbH is listed as a regional player.
Does GVA Krefeld have an API?
No public API is recorded for GVA Krefeld.
What industry is GVA Krefeld in?
GVA Krefeld's product category is Industrial Foundry Products. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAKABAD, Steel Casting (Continuous Casting, Ingots, Semi-Finished Slabs/Billets/Blooms), with a secondary code of IMAKACAE, Aluminum Casting & Ingot/Billet/Slab Production. Its NAICS code is 331511 and its SIC code is 3320.