Gutmann

What Gutmann does

Gutmann (legal name: Süddeutsche Bürsten- und Kunststoffabrik Eugen Gutmann GmbH) is a German manufacturer of mechanical surface cleaning tools and system components, founded in 1922 in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen and now headquartered in Leonberg. The company operates three production facilities — two in Leonberg, Germany and one in Košice, Slovakia — and is family-owned through its third generation, with Managing Director Dott. Giorgio Crotti. Its product portfolio spans disk brushes, cylinder brushes, sweeping brushes, side brooms, stenter frame brushes for textile machinery, and a line of drive plates (GREY SHARK, ORANGE TIGER, HYBRID BEAR, BLACK SHARK) that are integrated into floor cleaning and scrubbing machines. Differentiated technologies include patented laser welding (GREY SHARK, 2010), modular pad holder systems (HYBRID BEAR, 2022), antibacterial drive plates (ORANGE TIGER, 2021), and CLEANSTER double-bristle technology (2015) that reduces water and chemical consumption by up to 25%.

The company manufactures using a combination of polymer processing (injection moulding, structural foam), bristling and bonding technologies, and precision CNC machinery, with in-house tool, fixture, and prototype construction. It claims to clean "millions of square meters daily" across buildings, trains, airplanes, outdoor areas, and manufacturing processes worldwide. Products are sold B2B through direct engagement with cleaning machine OEMs and industrial customers on a quote-based, project-specific model spanning verticals including contract/building cleaning, outdoor/municipal cleaning, solar/PV, healthcare/pharmaceutical, food processing, textile processing, and consumer cleaning equipment manufacturers. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; the company's go-to-market relies on direct sales, downloadable technical documentation, and an inquiry-based website channel rather than reseller networks. No public revenue, headcount, or funding figures are disclosed; the firmographic listing of 1-10 employees is inconsistent with the company's three-plant operational footprint and is treated as an undercount.

Name

Gutmann

Legal name

Süddeutsche Bürsten- und Kunststoffabrik Eugen Gutmann GmbH

Website

https://egutmann.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1922

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Gutmann is a 100-year-old German B2B manufacturer of mechanical cleaning tools — brushes, drive plates, and system components — sold to cleaning machine OEMs and industrial customers across building, healthcare, solar, food, and textile verticals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Cleaning Brushes and Drive Plates

NAICS

Broom, Brush, and Mop Manufacturing (339994)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Brooms, Brushes & Dustpans (CRAJAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sponges, Scouring Pads & Scrubbers (CRAJAIAC), Dusters & Dusting Tools (CRAJAIAE)

Keywords

• Industrial cleaning brushes
• Drive plates and pads
• Brush manufacturing
• Mechanical surface cleaning
• Technical brush components

Headquarters

HQ city

Leonberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Cleaning Tool Manufacturing and Sales: Manufacture and sale of mechanical surface cleaning tools including brush disks, cylinder brushes, drive plates, sweeping brushes, side brooms, and technical brushes. Revenue generated from product sales to B2B customers including cleaning machine manufacturers and industrial clients.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Gutmann manufactures and sells mechanical surface cleaning tools and system components, including disk brushes, cylinder brushes, drive plates (Treibteller), sweeping brushes, side brooms, technical brushes, and coupling systems. The company offers full-service development from initial concept and design through prototyping, testing, pre-series, and serial production for cleaning machine manufacturers and industrial customers across multiple sectors.

Product overview

Gutmann (Süddeutsche Bürsten- und Kunststoffabrik Eugen Gutmann GmbH) is a German manufacturer of cleaning tools for mechanical surface cleaning with over 100 years of experience. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into two main categories: Cleaning Brushes (disk brushes, cylinder brushes, sweeping brushes, side brooms, padrolls, solar cleaning brushes) and Drive Discs/Plates (GREY SHARK, ORANGE TIGER, HYBRID BEAR, BLACK SHARK, bristled drive plates). Specialty products include the CLEANSTER eco-friendly brush technology and technical brushes (strip brushes, plug-in roller brushes, stenter brushes). The portfolio is complemented by functional/system components and coupling systems. Products serve diverse industries including building cleaning, outdoor cleaning, solar/photovoltaic, healthcare, food industry, textile processing, and manufacturing processes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GREY SHARK: Laser-welded drive plate for floor cleaning machines, 100% recyclable, autoclavable for hygiene-sensitive areas.
• ORANGE TIGER
• HYBRID BEAR
• CLEANSTER

Products and services

• GREY SHARK Drive Plate Drive plate with patented laser-welded harpoon face and carrier. Chemical resistant, sterilizable, autoclavable, and 100% recyclable. Used in floor cleaning machines.
• ORANGE TIGER Antibacterial Drive Plate Antibacterial drive plate with laser-welded harpoon face for hygiene-sensitive areas, achieving ≥99.9% effectiveness against bacteria and germs. Adhesive-free, sterilizable, and autoclavable.
• HYBRID BEAR Hybrid System Hybrid modular pad holder system for eccentric and orbital machines with interchangeable pad holders (WHITE for standard pads, BLACK for velour-backed pads), enabling quick replacement and maximum flexibility.
• CLEANSTER Scrubbing Brush Eco-friendly scrubbing brush with intelligent double-bristle technology that prevents cleaning solution from being ejected. Saves up to 25% water and cleaning chemicals; brush body made from recycled plastic.
• BLACK SHARK Drive Plate Drive plate with chemically bonded harpoon face for all commercially available pads. Designed for high drive force applications with robust bonding and optional shock absorption for vibration reduction.
• Disk Brushes (Bürstenscheiben) Comprehensive line of disk brushes including scrubbing brushes, shampooing brushes, abrasive brushes, polishing brushes, and 5K multi-component brushes for various floor types and cleaning tasks.
• Cylinder Brushes (Bürstenwalzen) Cylinder brushes available in lengths up to 400mm and 1,200mm. Designed for professional surface cleaning, scrubber dryers, carpet cleaning, and escalator cleaning with high line load and smooth operation.
• Sweeping Roller Brushes (Kehrwalzen) Sweeping brushes for indoor and outdoor use with smooth running due to balanced body design. Suitable for sweeping machines, automatic sweepers, and sweeping devices.
• Side Brooms (Seitenbesen) Side brooms for sweepers, sweeping machines, and sweeping equipment for outdoor and indoor use. Perfectly matched to machine and application.
• Professional Padrolls Rollers with textile coverings for gentle wet cleaning. Suitable for high speeds (around 1000 rpm) with optimal cleaning performance due to high linear load.
• Solar Cleaning Brushes Brushes specifically designed for wet or dry cleaning of photovoltaic and solar panels. Uses special fibres to avoid scratch marks on sensitive glass surfaces.
• Strip Brushes (Streifenbürsten) Antistatic and conductive strip brushes available in lengths up to 3,000mm. Used for vacuum cleaner nozzles, splash guards, surface protecting spacers, air flow regulation, wet/dry application, and sealing.
• Plug-in Roller Brushes (Steckwalzenbürsten) Customized plug roller brushes for cleaning, dedusting, washing, applying, structuring, deburring, conveying, transporting, and dosing. Cost-effective segment replacement with flexible density options.
• Stenter Brushes (Spannrahmenbürsten) One of the world's most extensive stenter brush portfolios for textile machines. Products for Artos, Brückner, Famatex, Krantz, Monforts, Montex, Stentex, Marshall Williams. Includes overfeed, postpinning, and cleaning brushes for needle, clip, and chain cleaning.
• Functional and System Components Accessories for cleaning equipment including vacuum cleaners, high pressure cleaners, and steam cleaners. Components and systems for special cleaning processes with brush systems for integrated manual or automated functions.
• Coupling Systems Innovative connection technology for linking cleaning tools to devices and machines. Developed as integrated or modular components for optimal, secure, and friction-locked connections.
• Bristled Drive Plate Economical drive plate with integrated damping for driving common pads. Manufactured from up to 80% recyclate, robust and chemical resistant.
• 5K Disk Brush Scrubbing brush with 5-component trim combining soft, medium, and hard bristles. Designed for uneven and structured floors with special filament mix for dirt removal, reduced noise, and shorter cleaning times.

Quantifiable outcome

• CLEANSTER technology reduces water and cleaning chemical consumption by up to 25%
• +5 more outcomes

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kärcher: Global leader in cleaning equipment and machines; not a direct brush supplier but a key customer type for Gutmann's B2B OEM channel and a benchmark for end-market demand.
• Witte Automotive: German industrial supplier with brush and finishing product divisions serving automotive and industrial markets; broader portfolio than Gutmann but overlaps in technical brush systems.
• Nilfisk: Major cleaning equipment OEM whose scrubber-driers and sweepers consume brush components from suppliers like Gutmann; relevant as a customer-type proxy and industry benchmark.
• Freudenberg SE: Large German family-owned industrial conglomerate with cleaning products, brushes, and surface solutions divisions; competes broadly with Gutmann in cleaning tools and technical brushes but within a much larger portfolio.

Direct peers

• TANIS Incorporated: US/European brush manufacturer focused on industrial and consumer brush applications including cleaning, sweeping, and technical brush systems with a comparable B2B OEM customer profile.
• Osborn (Helmut Rübsamen GmbH): Global industrial brush manufacturer (now part of Jason Industries) producing technical and industrial brushes for surface finishing and cleaning applications; competes with Gutmann in technical brush categories.
• Kullen GmbH: German brush manufacturer specializing in industrial and technical brushes with a similar product portfolio of disc brushes, cylinder brushes, and brush rollers serving cleaning equipment OEMs.
• M+B Bürsten GmbH: German industrial brush maker with comparable product range serving cleaning equipment OEMs; another head-to-head competitor for Gutmann in disc and roller brushes.
• Lessmann GmbH: German industrial brush manufacturer producing disc brushes, roller brushes, and technical brushes for industrial applications. Closest direct competitor to Gutmann with overlapping B2B customers in cleaning machine OEMs and industrial segments.

Emerging players

• FIAP GmbH: German manufacturer of water and cleaning technology including products for pond, pool, and increasingly solar panel cleaning systems; comparable in the emerging solar cleaning brush category.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Gutmann