Sopap Automation

Name

Sopap Automation

Legal name

SOPAP Automation SAS

Website

https://sopap.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (3332), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

Motion & Machine Control (CNC, Robotics Controllers, Servo/Motion Controllers) (IMAGABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Controllers & Control Systems (PLCs, PACs, CNC Controllers) (IMAHAHAH), Motion Control Components (Servos, Drives, Motors, Encoders) (IMAHAHAG)

Keywords

• Cam-driven automation
• Industrial indexing tables
• Mechanical automation systems
• Linear motion units
• Manufacturing automation equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Tournes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Automation Equipment Sales: SOPAP generates revenue primarily through the sale of mechanical cam-driven automation equipment including indexing tables, mechanical indexers, linear units, transfer systems, manipulators, and trunions. Products are sold as standard catalog items and custom-engineered solutions. Revenue as of 2003 was approximately €13 million.
2. Aftermarket Services: Revenue generated from after-sales service (SAV), retrofits, and maintenance contracts for existing installed base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SOPAP designs, manufactures, and sells cam-controlled mechanical automation systems for industrial production lines. Its portfolio covers indexing turntables, mechanical indexers, simplex/annular tables, cylindrical-cam linear units, trunnion tables, shuttle and duorail transfer systems, and multi-axis mechanical manipulators. Products are sold as standard catalog items or custom-engineered solutions, supported by after-sales service (SAV), retrofit, maintenance, and BTBI contracts primarily to automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers, and general industrial manufacturers worldwide.

Product overview

SOPAP Automation is a specialized manufacturer of cam-driven mechanical automation systems, operating as part of the Tünkers Group. The product portfolio is organized around four core motion categories: (1) Rotating Motion - including indexing turntables (TS, TSH, MI, T, S, TG series) and indexing mechanisms (PA, P, PE, S series) utilizing drum, cylindrical, and globoidal cam technologies; (2) Annular Tables - simplex series (TXE, TXI, TXI Verso, TXM, TXR, TXT) plus TGC digital cam table; (3) Linear Motion - cylindrical cam units for horizontal (SERIE E) and vertical (SERIE V) movements; (4) Combined Motion - manipulators for rotative-linear (SERIE M, MV-MVH, CTS, Sopamat V) and linear-linear (SERIE ML, GY, Sopamat E) operations; plus Transfer systems (NAVETTE SHUTTLE, DUO RAIL). The company also provides supporting digital tools (Calculation Box, Indexer Selector, Linear Units Form) accessible via an Extranet portal. All products feature cam-controlled movements (cylindrical, drum, radial, or globoidal) that manage acceleration laws and positioning precision with minimal monitoring requirements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Indexing turntable SERIE TS Drum cam indexing table with orthogonal shaft transmission providing mechanical movement law control for intermittent or oscillating rotation in sizes 100-1500, for industrial production lines.
• Indexing turntable SERIE TSH Drum cam indexing table with numerical movement law, programmable/flexible indexing control for intermittent rotation in sizes 100-5040.
• Indexing turntable SERIE MI Compact indexing turntable for medium-sized applications in sizes 100-160.
• Indexing turntable SERIE T Globoidal cam indexor with orthogonal shaft transmission for intermittent or oscillating movement in sizes 80-315.
• Indexing turntable SERIE S Globoidal cam indexor with orthogonal shaft transmission delivering intermittent or oscillating movement in sizes 50-250.
• Indexing turntable SERIE TG Compact and reinforced indexing table with globoidal cam for high torque and speed applications in sizes 375, 400, and 445.
• Mechanical indexer SERIE PA Parallel shafts indexor with conjugate cams for intermittent or oscillating movement, compact version of P series, in sizes 65-315.
• Mechanical indexer SERIE P Parallel shafts indexor with conjugate cams for intermittent or oscillating movement in sizes 65-315, available motorised or non-motorised.
• Mechanical indexer SERIE PE Parallel shafts indexor with conjugate cams for intermittent or oscillating movement in sizes 45-105.
• Mechanical indexer SERIE S Globoidal cam indexor with orthogonal shaft transmission for intermittent or oscillating movement in sizes 50-250.
• Indexing turntable SERIE TR (Trunnion) Drum cam indexing table for trunnion/turnover applications with large diameter plates, continuous or intermittent movement in sizes 200-1100.
• Indexing turntable SERIE TSH (Trunnion) Drum cam indexing table with numerical movement law for trunnion applications, programmable/flexible version in sizes 100-1960.
• Simplex Table TXE Servo rotary table with external motor, heavy-duty crossed roller bearing, available in sizes 400/750/1100/2000.
• Simplex Table TXI Servo rotary table with internal motor, low profile with robust bearing and toothed crown, available in sizes 400/750/1100.
• Simplex Table TXI Verso Upside-down rotary table version with adapter ring, robust bearing, and servo motor for compact installations.
• Manual Table TXM Manual rotary table with mechanical stop, foot brake, and welded steel base option.
• Simplex Table TXR Rotary table with toothed belt drive and geared motor, very low height with large diameter plate.
• Simplex Drum TXT Servo-motorized rotary drum for trunnion drive with heavy-duty crossed roller bearings, available in sizes 400/750/1100.
• Table TGC (Digital Cam Indexing Table) Digital cam indexing table transforming uniform rotation into intermittent rotational movement without jerking or noise, available in sizes 800/1200/2000.
• Linear unit SERIE E Cylindrical cam horizontal linear unit providing horizontal motion for strokes from hundreds of millimeters to 4 meters, handling loads from kilograms to 10 tons.
• Linear unit SERIE V Cylindrical cam vertical linear unit providing vertical motion for strokes from hundreds of millimeters to 4 meters, handling loads from kilograms to 10 tons.
• Navette Shuttle (Barre Navette) Multi-column lifting stations with 2 or 4 mechanical cam units for linear and vertical transfer, handling medium to large masses (up to 10 tons) over distances of 2 to 40 meters.
• Duorail Shuttle Dual-rail shuttle system for interlinked operations in body-in-white production, utilizing Expert-Tünkers lift columns and electro-mechanical linear axes.
• Manipulator SERIE M Rotative-linear mechanical manipulator based on globoidal and radial cam mechanism for combined rotating and linear movements.
• Manipulator SERIE MV - MVH Rotative-linear mechanical manipulator with single cam mechanism for tool changing and parts handling applications.
• Sopamat V SERIE Multi-axis mechanical manipulation system with separately driven rotative and linear movements offering flexibility in cycle selection.
• Manipulator SERIE CTS Dual movement mechanical manipulator with globoidal cam for rotating and linear motion, specifically designed for tool changing with reduced idle periods.
• Manipulator SERIE ML Cartesian displacement mechanical manipulator with dual-profile cylindrical cam, handling masses from 10 to 500 kg.
• Manipulator SERIE GY Cartesian displacement mechanical manipulator with globoidal cam for linear-linear movements.
• Sopamat E SERIE Multi-axis cam system manipulator for linear-linear combined motions with independently controlled modules.
• SAV (After-Sales Service) After-sales service contracts for installed Sopap cam-driven automation equipment, providing customer support and spare-part coverage.
• Retrofit Retrofit services for existing Sopap installations to upgrade or modernize cam-driven automation equipment.
• Maintenance Maintenance contracts for installed base of Sopap cam-driven automation equipment.
• BTBI Service Specialized Sopap service offering (BTBI) for installed cam-driven automation equipment customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cycle time and positioning controlled by mechanical cam profile, reducing electronic control complexity and operator monitoring
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers21 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2010On April 8, 2010, the assets of SOPAP were integrated into the Tünkers group. SOPAP operates as a subsidiary within the Tünkers group alongside Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbH and Expert-Tünkers GmbH. The Tünkers group includes SOPAP Automation, Tünkers Maschinenbau, and Expert-Tünkers under common ownership.
• Expert-Tünkers GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpert-Tünkers GmbH supplies standard lift columns for the Duorail-Shuttle transfer system marketed by SOPAP. The vertical drive of the Duorail-Shuttle is based on Expert-Tünkers standard lift columns featuring cylindrical cam and cam follower technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Stäubli Robotics: Industrial robot and automation solutions provider with strong penetration in automotive manufacturing. Comparable to SOPAP in targeting automotive OEMs and Tier-1s, though Stäubli operates in a broader robotics and motion category.
• Festo: Global leader in pneumatic and electric automation technology including indexing, handling, and motion control systems. Comparable to SOPAP as a broad industrial automation supplier targeting automotive and general manufacturing.
• Destaco: Major supplier of clamping, gripping, and automation tooling for the automotive and industrial sectors. Comparable to SOPAP as a provider of automation components used in body-in-white and assembly lines, though with a broader portfolio.
• Schunk: German manufacturer of gripping systems, toolholding, and automation components widely used in automotive production. Comparable to SOPAP in serving automotive body-in-white and assembly customers, though Schunk is broader and larger.
• Tünkers Maschinenbau: Parent group of SOPAP and a major German manufacturer of clamping, fixturing, and press automation equipment. Comparable because it shares the same end customers (automotive OEMs), overlapping body-in-white and press automation applications, and is part of the same corporate group.

Direct peers

• Motion Index Drives: US-based specialist in cam-operated indexing tables, geneva mechanisms, and intermittent motion assemblies. Directly comparable to SOPAP in core product (cam-driven indexers), technology approach, and customer base.
• INDEX Corporation: Manufacturer of cam indexers and rotary indexing tables including the INDEX-DRIVE and TRUARC product lines. Directly comparable to SOPAP as a specialized competitor in cam-actuated intermittent motion.
• Weiss Robotics: European manufacturer of cam-indexing tables, rotary indexing tables, and mechatronic automation components. Closely comparable to SOPAP in product category (indexing tables, cam-driven motion) and target customers (industrial automation users).
• Expert-Tünkers: Sister company within the Tünkers Group that supplies the cylindrical cam-driven lift columns used in SOPAP's Duorail-Shuttle. Highly comparable as a producer of cam-driven industrial automation components serving the same automotive body-in-white market.
• SAMSON (cam indexer division): Industrial component manufacturer offering cam indexing units and rotary indexers. Comparable to SOPAP in cam-driven motion technology serving similar industrial automation applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TuenkersMaschinenbau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Sopap Automation