PCH Technical Trade
PCH Technischer Handel GmbH is a German distributor of occupational safety products and industrial technology supplies, serving industrial sectors, local authorities, and skilled trades via seven locations across Germany and the Benelux, supported by e-commerce, field sales, and in-house custom plastics manufacturing in Dresden.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersPotsdam, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What PCH Technical Trade does
PCH Technischer Handel GmbH is a German occupational safety and industrial technology distributor headquartered in Potsdam, operating seven physical locations across Germany (Potsdam, Balingen, Bautzen, Berlin, Dresden, Magdeburg) and the Netherlands (PCH Benelux B.V. in Loon op Zand). The company sells branded personal protective equipment, workwear, safety footwear, fall protection systems, hearing protection, and standardized industrial supplies sourced from major manufacturers including Honeywell, 3M, MSA, Mascot, LOWA, ELTEN, Ansell, Petzl, and DuPont, combined with system supply services that integrate electronic ordering, logistics, and procurement optimization for enterprise customers.
Beyond pure distribution, PCH operates an in-house plastics manufacturing capability at its Dresden facility, producing customized plastic parts via CNC processing (drilling, milling, welding, moulding, trimming) for over ten years. The business model is hybrid: enterprise field sales and personal consultation through seven locations serve industrial sectors, local authorities, and skilled trades, while e-commerce storefronts (pch-shop.de and pch-shop.nl) capture SMB and transactional demand. Service modules such as orthopaedic foot protection, prescription safety glasses, custom earmoulds, skin protection plans, automated dispensers, image/logo clothing, and on-site product testing (climbing towers, fall protection rigs) extend value beyond commodity resale.
The company is privately held under Managing Director Dirk van Elten, with no disclosed parent, institutional, or venture capital ownership. It maintains ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certifications, EcoVadis Bronze (2022, 2023, 2025), ClimatePartner climate-neutral certification, and UN Global Compact participation. Headcount is reported at 51-100, no revenue is publicly disclosed, and the firm funds operations and incremental capex (including 2025 EU/Saxony co-funded Dresden production expansion) from internal cash flow.
PCH Technical Trade firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- PCH Technical Trade
- Legal name
- PCH Technischer Handel GmbH
- Website
- https://pch-24.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- PCH Technischer Handel GmbH is a German distributor of occupational safety products and industrial technology supplies, serving industrial sectors, local authorities, and skilled trades via seven locations across Germany and the Benelux, supported by e-commerce, field sales, and in-house custom plastics manufacturing in Dresden.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
PCH Technical Trade industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Occupational Safety and Industrial Technology Distribution
- akta.pro primary industry
- Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets) (CRADALAJ)
Keywords
Where PCH Technical Trade is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Potsdam
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
PCH Technical Trade business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Occupational Safety Products: Sale of branded occupational safety products including PPE, workwear, safety footwear, fall protection equipment, hearing protection, and skin protection. Products are sourced from multiple brand partners and distributed through physical locations and online shop.
- Industrial Technology Products: Sale of industrial technology products including drive technology, sealing agents, standardized parts, and industrial supplies. Dresden location offers custom plastic parts manufacturing.
- System Supply Services: Comprehensive system supply services including system supply, electronic ordering processes, logistics solutions, and consultancy services for procurement optimization
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
PCH Technical Trade product offering
Product offeringCore offering
PCH Technical Trade is a B2B-focused distributor of branded occupational safety and industrial technology products, supplying several thousand customers through seven physical locations across Germany and the Benelux plus the pch-shop.de and pch-shop.nl e-commerce storefronts. Its product portfolio spans personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety footwear, workwear, gloves, helmets, eye and hearing protection, fall protection systems, and skin protection, alongside industrial supplies including drive technology, sealing agents, and standardized parts. The company complements distribution with system supply services (procurement optimization, electronic ordering, logistics), consultancy, custom plastic parts manufacturing at its Dresden facility, and specialized offerings such as orthopaedic foot protection, prescription safety eyewear, and customized image clothing.
Product overview
PCH Technical Trade operates as a B2B/B2C distributor and online retailer of occupational safety products and industrial technology supplies. The core offering consists of the PCH Online Shop platform combined with system supply services for integrated procurement optimization. The product portfolio includes personal protective equipment (PPE) categories such as safety footwear, protective gloves, helmets, eye protection, hearing protection, fall protection systems, and workwear, supported by specialized services including orthopaedic foot protection, prescription safety glasses, earmoulds, and skin protection plans. The PCH Industrial Technology division provides standardized industrial parts, drive technology, sealing agents, and custom plastic parts manufacturing. Additional services include logo/image clothing customization, automated dispensers, and climate-friendly logistics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Occupational Safety Products Wide range of branded personal protective equipment (PPE) including safety footwear, protective gloves, helmets, eye protection, hearing protection, and fall protection equipment. Targeted at industrial companies, local authorities, and skilled trades needing compliant workplace safety equipment.
- PCH Industrial Technology Industrial supplies including standardized parts, drive technology, sealing agents, and customized plastic parts manufacturing (drilling, milling, welding, moulding, trimming) produced at the Dresden facility. Targeted at industrial buyers requiring technical parts and bespoke plastic components.
- Fall Protection / Height Safety Competence Centre Specialist competence centre for personal protective equipment against falls from heights, including harnesses, cable winches, tripods, and rescue equipment, supported by testing facilities such as the steel scaffold and climbing tower at the Dresden and Balingen showrooms. Targeted at trades, industry, and height access professionals.
- Orthopaedic Foot Protection Individual orthopaedic solutions for safety footwear including custom insoles, 3D measurements, and semi-orthopaedic insoles for optimal fit. Targeted at workers needing customized protective footwear.
- Prescription Safety Glasses Custom prescription safety eyewear meeting individual vision requirements while fulfilling workplace safety standards. Targeted at workers requiring vision correction combined with certified eye protection.
- Individual Hearing Protection (Earmoulds) Custom-made earmoulds providing personalized hearing protection with precise fit tailored to specific work applications and ear geometry. Targeted at workers in noisy industrial environments.
- Automated Dispensers Automated dispensing systems for PPE products in workplace settings, enabling on-demand access to safety consumables. Targeted at industrial employers managing large workforces.
- Skin Protection Plans Comprehensive workplace skin protection concepts including protective creams, cleansing agents, and care products. Targeted at industrial and trade workplaces with skin exposure risks.
- Image Clothing / Logo Service Corporate workwear branding services including logo printing and customized image clothing for businesses. Targeted at companies seeking branded employee workwear.
- System Supply Service Integrated procurement solution optimizing supply chains and reducing procurement costs through customized system supply partnerships, including electronic ordering processes and logistics solutions. Targeted at enterprise customers seeking procurement optimization.
- Logistics Services High-performance logistics services with climate-friendly dispatch through DPD and DHL shipping partners, supporting both online shop orders and enterprise system supply. Targeted at customers requiring reliable product delivery.
- PCH Online Shop E-commerce platform (pch-shop.de and pch-shop.nl) for occupational safety products and industrial technology supplies, featuring online ordering, account management, and personalized customer settings. Targeted at SMBs, individual tradespeople, and enterprise buyers using self-serve ordering.
Quantifiable outcome
- Procurement cost optimization through system supply integration
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use PCH Technical Trade
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
PCH Technical Trade technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
PCH Technical Trade partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
13 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- LoctiteminorIndustrial adhesives manufacturer. PCH Industrietechnik together with Loctite hosted workshop on bonding technology possibilities for maintenance and repair professionals.
- HoneywellcoreBrand partner supplying safety products including hearing protection and respiratory equipment. Honeywell products featured in PCH offerings and trade fair demonstrations.
- MascotcoreWorkwear brand partner specializing in high-quality work clothing distributed through PCH locations and online shop.
- LOWAcoreSafety footwear brand partner providing professional safety shoes for industrial and trade applications.
- ELTENcoreLeading safety footwear manufacturer. PCH has partnered with ELTEN for 3D measurement stations at events for custom fitting and semi-orthopaedic insoles.
- SkyloteccoreFall protection equipment specialist. Partner for PCH Competence Centre for Fall Prevention with products including ACX cable winch, tripods, harnesses, and rescue equipment.
- MSA SafetycoreSafety technology partner co-exhibiting at trade fairs. Products include networked gas detection devices (ALTAIR io™ 4), compressed air breathing apparatus, self-rescue devices, and PRD fall protection equipment.
- AnsellcoreProtective gloves specialist. Partner providing ultra-thin cut protection gloves, wet grip gloves, and AlphaTec series protective clothing featured in product demonstrations and trade shows.
- PetzlcoreFall protection equipment manufacturer. Co-organized Petzl Expert Days 2025 in Leipzig - a two-day practical seminar on PPE for fall protection attended by trades, industry, and height access professionals.
- DuPontcorePersonal protection equipment partner. Co-presented at Petzl Expert Days 2025 on solutions for protection against dangerous particles and aerosols.
- ClimatePartnercoreClimate protection certification partner. PCH received climate-neutral company certification and supports certified climate protection projects including emPOWERing Africa and Cooking Stoves Zambia.
- EcoVadiscoreSustainability ranking provider. EcoVadis awards bronze certificates following assessment across Environment, Labour and Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.
- UN Global CompactcoreUN initiative participant. PCH committed to ten universal principles centered around human rights, labour standards, environmental protection and anti-corruption.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
PCH Technical Trade competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Ansell: Global PPE manufacturer specializing in hand and body protection; listed as a PCH brand partner — comparable safety-products vertical but a manufacturer upstream of PCH's distribution role.
- Grainger: US-headquartered global MRO and industrial supply distributor with deep PPE/Safety category and omnichannel (catalog, e-commerce, branch) model — comparable product mix and customer type, but at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.
- MSC Industrial: North American metalworking and industrial supply distributor with strong safety/PPE assortment and direct-sales-plus-e-commerce model — comparable distribution mechanics and customer profile, broader geographic scale.
- Brenntag: Germany-headquartered global chemical and ingredients distribution leader with industrial-supply adjacency — comparable large-scale European B2B distribution expertise, though focused on chemicals rather than PPE.
- uvex: German PPE manufacturer (head/hand/body protection) selling both direct and through distributors — adjacent value-chain position; competes with PCH at the brand level while also being a potential supplier.
Direct peers
- Würth: German-headquartered global leader in industrial supply, fasteners, tools, and PPE, serving trades, industry, and automotive through direct field sales and online channels — directly comparable B2B industrial distribution model with overlapping PPE categories and similar system-supply capabilities.
- MEWA Textil-Service: Germany-based workwear and PPE service provider offering textile rental, protective clothing, and industrial safety products to industrial and trade customers — directly comparable customer base and recurring service-style commercial model.
- CWS Workwear: European workwear and hygiene services provider supplying rental workwear, PPE, and safety solutions to industrial and public-sector customers — comparable customer verticals and recurring service economics, with broader European geographic reach.
- Kötter Unternehmensgruppe (Kötter Safety/Services): German family-owned facility services and safety provider with PPE/workwear supply and consultancy components — directly comparable German industrial safety distribution and recurring-service model.
Regional players
- Rexel: France-based global electrical products distributor with adjacent industrial safety portfolio serving European installers and industrials — comparable European industrial B2B distribution footprint, but specialized in electrical rather than PPE core.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
PCH Technical Trade social profiles
Digital presencePCH Technical Trade compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
PCH Technical Trade financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
PCH Technical Trade leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
PCH Technical Trade subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
PCH Technical Trade funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
PCH Technical Trade 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 PCH Technical Trade
What does PCH Technical Trade do?
PCH Technical Trade is a B2B-focused distributor of branded occupational safety and industrial technology products, supplying several thousand customers through seven physical locations across Germany and the Benelux plus the pch-shop.de and pch-shop.nl e-commerce storefronts. Its product portfolio spans personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety footwear, workwear, gloves, helmets, eye and hearing protection, fall protection systems, and skin protection, alongside industrial supplies including drive technology, sealing agents, and standardized parts. The company complements distribution with system supply services (procurement optimization, electronic ordering, logistics), consultancy, custom plastic parts manufacturing at its Dresden facility, and specialized offerings such as orthopaedic foot protection, prescription safety eyewear, and customized image clothing.
Is PCH Technical Trade a public or private company?
PCH Technical Trade is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was PCH Technical Trade founded?
PCH Technical Trade was founded in 1999. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is PCH Technical Trade based?
PCH Technical Trade is headquartered in Potsdam, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does PCH Technical Trade make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Occupational Safety Products are the primary driver. The others are industrial Technology Products and system Supply Services.
Who are PCH Technical Trade's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Ansell, Grainger, MSC Industrial, Brenntag and uvex. Direct peers are Würth, MEWA Textil-Service, CWS Workwear and Kötter Unternehmensgruppe (Kötter Safety/Services). Rexel is listed as a regional player.
Does PCH Technical Trade have an API?
No public API is recorded for PCH Technical Trade.
What industry is PCH Technical Trade in?
PCH Technical Trade's product category is Occupational Safety and Industrial Technology Distribution. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADALAJ, Protective Disposable Wear (Masks, Gloves, Shoe Covers, Hairnets).