What Machines Kaul does

Maschinen Kaul is a privately held German B2B distributor of professional machines, tools, and personal protective equipment, headquartered in Düsseldorf with a second location in Neuenkirchen-Vörden. Founded in 1919 and operating with 11–50 employees, the company serves three primary verticals: the woodworking trade (Holzbearbeitendes Handwerk), industrial manufacturing operations, and forestry, providing equipment procurement, technical briefings (Einweisung), repair and spare parts service, and production planning consultation.

The product portfolio is structured around six major catalogs: the FORTIS occupational safety catalog (2025/26), the general tools catalog (Werkzeuge 2025/26), the business operations supplies catalog (Betriebsbedarf 2025/26), the woodworking-specific tools catalog (Holzbearbeitung 2023/24), the Meisterkatalog master catalog, and a Verbindungstechnik (connection technology) line. The offering spans hand tools, power tools, CNC tooling, standard woodworking machines (edge trimming saws, format saws, planers, band saws, drill presses, edge banders), pneumatic tools, measuring technology, and full PPE ranges. Underlying technology is a standard B2B e-commerce storefront on maschinen-kaul.de with digital catalog delivery via Oxomi; no proprietary platform, API, or AI capability is documented. Distribution relies on multi-supplier partnerships with Bosch, Festool, Makita, Honeywell, 3M, Ansell, Asatex, and GVS, layered with the company's own FORTIS brand for occupational safety.

The business model is one-time sale of products complemented by professional service revenue from repair, assembly, spare parts, technical briefings, and customer training events, supplemented by used-machines resale. Pricing is B2B quote-based with no public price list, all figures displayed inclusive of German VAT, and customer access gated by registered accounts. Go-to-market is sales-led through direct field sales, two physical professional showrooms (Profi-Ausstellung), digital catalogs, and the online shop. The company self-describes as the leading supplier (führender Ausrüster) for the woodworking trade and industrial operations in its regional German market.

Name

Machines Kaul

Legal name

Maschinen Kaul

Website

https://maschinen-kaul.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Maschinen Kaul is a German B2B distributor founded in 1919, supplying woodworking trades, industrial manufacturers, and forestry operators with machines, tools, CNC equipment, and PPE through catalogs, showrooms, online shop, and direct sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Düsseldorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Product Distribution: Sale of professional machines and tools from leading manufacturers including woodworking machinery, hand tools, safety equipment, and consumables. The company also sells used machines.
2. Service & Support: Expert repair, assembly, and spare parts service. Includes technical briefings (Einweisung) for purchased machinery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Maschinen Kaul is a B2B distributor of professional machines, tools, and workplace safety equipment for woodworking trades and industrial operations in Germany. The company distributes products from leading manufacturers (e.g., Bosch, Festool, Makita, 3M, Honeywell, Ansell) as well as its own FORTIS brand, complemented by repair, assembly, spare parts, technical briefings (Einweisung), and production planning services.

Product overview

Maschinen Kaul operates as a specialized industrial tools and machinery distributor offering a comprehensive multi-catalog portfolio. The core offering consists of six main catalogs: (1) Lagerliste Arbeitsschutz FORTIS 2025/26 for workplace safety PPE, (2) Lagerliste Betriebsbedarf 2025/26 for business operations supplies, (3) Lagerliste Werkzeuge 2025/26 for general tools, (4) Lagerliste Werkzeuge für die Holzbearbeitung for woodworking-specific tools, (5) Meisterkatalog as a master catalog featuring power tools, standard machines, CNC tools, and workshop equipment, and (6) Verbindungstechnik for connection technology products. The company also sells used machines. The product portfolio spans from hand tools and power tools to industrial CNC machines, pneumatic tools, measuring technology, and comprehensive workplace safety equipment, serving the wood-processing trades, plastic processing, and various industrial sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Professional Woodworking and Industrial Machines Distribution Distribution of professional woodworking machines, CNC machines, standard machines (edge trimming saws, format circular saws, crosscut/miter saws, table saws, band saws, jigsaws, routers, planers, edge banding machines, drill presses, sharpening machines), power tools, and pneumatic tools for professional woodworking companies, carpenters, and industrial manufacturing operations.
• Hand Tools and Measurement Technology Distribution of professional hand tools including drilling, countersinking, reaming, threading, turning, milling, planing, sawing, grinding, cutting, clamping tools, screw tools, general hand tools, special tools, measuring technology, and surface finishing equipment for industrial and woodworking customers.
• FORTIS Occupational Safety Equipment Own-brand personal protective equipment (PPE) including foot protection (safety shoes, welder boots, roofer boots, winter boots, safety boots), work clothing, protective clothing, hand protection, respiratory protection, eye protection, head protection, hearing protection, fall protection, and operational workplace safety products for industrial and forestry workers.
• Business Operations Supplies Distribution of business operations supplies including transport and lifting equipment, storage solutions, environmental products, workshop equipment, packaging and shipping materials, ladders and accessories, barriers and safety equipment, and office furniture for industrial operations.
• Connection Technology (Verbindungstechnik) Distribution of connection technology products including PROC storage rack systems, floor profiles, articles by standard, riveting technology, particle board screws, dowel technology, nail technology, wire bending articles, wood connectors, wires/fences, chains/ropes, and E-NORM assembly cases for woodworking and industrial assembly.
• Used Machines (Gebrauchtmaschinen) Sale of used and refurbished industrial machinery (woodworking and metalworking machines) at competitive prices to industrial buyers and woodworking trades seeking cost-effective equipment.
• Repair, Assembly, and Spare Parts Service Expert repair, assembly, and spare parts service for purchased machinery, including technical briefings (Einweisung) on installed equipment, extending the value of distributed products to professional woodworking and industrial customers.
• Production Planning Consultation Production planning consultation and equipment planning support for industrial and woodworking operations, helping customers design and optimize their machine and tool setups.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FORTIS (Own Brand)coreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerFORTIS is Maschinen Kaul's own brand for occupational safety products, appearing in their 'Lagerliste Arbeitsschutz FORTIS' catalog. Products include safety footwear, work clothing, protective clothing, hand protection, respiratory protection, eye protection, head protection, hearing protection, and fall protection equipment.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Würth: Germany's largest industrial direct-distributor of tools, fasteners, and PPE, serving craftsmen and industrial operations with a comparable multi-channel B2B model. Closest direct peer given overlapping customer base in woodworking trade and industrial operations.
• Hoffmann Group: Munich-based specialist distributor of precision tools, metrology, and workshop supplies with a strong German and European footprint. Comparable to Maschinen Kaul in serving industrial machining and tooling customers with technical service.
• Häfele: German specialist in furniture fittings, woodworking hardware, and joinery supplies. Comparable as a woodworking-trade-focused B2B distributor with deep relationships in the same primary customer segment.
• Reisser Schraubentechnik: German specialist distributor of screws, fasteners, and related tools serving woodworking, construction, and industrial customers. Comparable product categories and German-market customer base.

Broad incumbents

• McMaster-Carr: US-based industrial supply giant offering a vast catalog of tools, machinery, and supplies with industry-leading digital UX. Comparable as a broad incumbent industrial distributor, though at much greater scale and with stronger digital ordering.
• Grainger: US-listed broad-line industrial distributor serving MRO and OEM customers with millions of SKUs. Comparable as a large incumbent in industrial tool and safety supply, though primarily serving North American rather than German customers.
• Berner SE: Pan-European multi-segment B2B distributor headquartered in Künzelsau, Germany, with a much broader portfolio including chemicals, automotive parts, and construction supplies. Comparable as a large incumbent operating in the same German-speaking industrial channel.

Regional players

• Kellner & Kunz: Austrian industrial distributor specializing in fastening technology, tools, and PPE. Comparable product mix and target customers, though primarily serving Austria rather than Germany.
• Haberkorn: Austrian-headquartered technical B2B distributor of industrial supplies, PPE, and tools serving Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. Comparable in product mix and customer type, though geographically weighted toward Austria/Switzerland.
• Schachermayer: Austrian B2B distributor of hardware, tools, woodworking supplies, and building products. Comparable in serving wood and metalworking craftsmen, though concentrated in the Austrian market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/maschinenkaul

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Machines Kaul