Knobloch

What Knobloch does

Knobloch Industrievertretungen is a privately held, family-owned German sales representative firm (Industrievertretungen) headquartered in Mannheim. The company acts as the exclusive regional sales partner for nine manufacturers of building and lighting technology, including ETHERMA (electric heating), FRÄNKISCHE (pipes and shaft systems), Helios Ventilatoren (fan technology), JUNG (electrical installation and KNX building automation), Kleinhuis and NIEDAX (electrical installation materials), SAA Schaltanlagen (electrical controls/switchgear), SUN CRACKS (LED lighting), and viveroo (iPad-based smart home control centers). It sells and provides technical consultation to architects, engineers, electrical installers, and wholesale distributors across the Nordbaden/Pfalz region in southwestern Germany.

The firm operates a three-tier distribution model (industry → wholesale → trade/installer) and supports its principals with a field sales team, an in-house technical training function (including a dedicated KNX specialist), and a 1,500+ sqm covered facility comprising warehouse, showroom, and training room. The current legal entity (Ralph Knobloch Industrievertretungen) was established in 2001 as the successor to Wolfgang Knobloch GmbH & Co. KG, whose lineage traces back to a business originally acquired from Arthur Eisen on July 1, 1985. Ralph Knobloch is Managing Director, and family members (Sandra Knobloch in HR/accounting, Patrick Knobloch in technical field sales) hold operational roles.

Knobloch generates revenue through sales commissions on manufacturer products facilitated through its regional distribution network. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The company employs approximately 10–11 staff across sales management, field sales, order processing, warehouse, training/secretariat, and driving functions, and is currently hiring for an additional warehouse position. There is no external investment, no parent company, no disclosed financials, and no indication of digital, software, or AI-based operations.

Name

Knobloch

Legal name

Ralph Knobloch Industrievertretungen

Website

https://r-knobloch.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Knobloch Industrievertretungen is a family-owned German sales representative firm in Mannheim that acts as the exclusive regional sales partner for nine building and lighting technology manufacturers, serving architects, engineers, installers, and wholesalers in the Nordbaden/Pfalz region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Mannheim

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Manufacturer Sales Representation: Knobloch acts as the exclusive sales partner for leading building and lighting technology manufacturers in the Nordbaden/Pfalz region. Revenue is generated through commissions on sales facilitated through the 3-tier distribution network (industry → wholesale → trade/installer).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Knobloch Industrievertretungen is a regional industrial sales representative that sells and provides expert consultation on building and lighting technology products on behalf of nine leading manufacturers (ETHERMA, FRÄNKISCHE, Helios, JUNG, Kleinhuis, NIEDAX, SAA, SUN CRACKS, viveroo). Operating through a three-tier distribution model (Industry → Wholesale → Trade/Installer), the firm serves architects, engineers, installers, and wholesale trade customers in the Greater Nordbaden/Pfalz region, supported by a 1,500+ sqm facility with warehouse, showroom, and training room.

Product overview

Knobloch Industrievertretungen is a sales representation company (Industrievertretungen) rather than a product company. It serves as the sales partner for leading manufacturers of building and lighting technology, covering the North Baden/Palatinate region. The company represents nine brands: ETHERMA (electric heating systems), FRÄNKISCHE (pipes and system components), Helios Ventilatoren (fan technology), JUNG (electrical installation and building automation), Kleinhuis and NIEDAX (electrical installation materials), SAA Schaltanlagen (electrical controls and switchgear), SUN CRACKS (LED lighting solutions), and viveroo (iPad-based smart home control centers). Knobloch operates through a three-tier distribution model via industry, wholesale, and specialist trade/installers, maintaining over 1,500 sqm of covered storage area and a showroom for customer consultations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ETHERMA electric heating systems Electric heating systems including floor, wall, and infrared heating, plus frost protection solutions for outdoor areas, roofs, and pipes; offered to architects, engineers, installers, and wholesale trade in Nordbaden/Pfalz.
• FRÄNKISCHE pipe and shaft systems Pipes, shafts, and system components made of plastic and metal for building construction (above and below ground), civil engineering, automotive, and industrial applications.
• Helios Ventilatoren fan technology Over 3,000 catalogued fan device types covering all pressure and power ranges for industry, commerce, and residential ventilation applications.
• JUNG electrical installation and KNX building technology Premium solutions spanning classic electrical installation to intelligent KNX-based building technology, combining design and innovation for modern building automation.
• Kleinhuis electrical installation technology Eight decades of innovation in electrical installation technology; part of the NIEDAX GROUP since 2000, serving electrical trade and industry through three-tier wholesale distribution.
• NIEDAX cable management and installation systems Over 90 years of experience in electrical installation materials; more than 45,000 articles distributed worldwide across 29+ countries, available regionally through Knobloch.
• SAA Schaltanlagen Auerbach switchgear and controls Planning, design, and manufacture of electrical controls and switchgear, produced by a 49-employee specialist team in Auerbach for machine construction and electrical installation companies.
• SUN CRACKS LED lighting solutions Practical, energy-efficient, easy-to-install LED lighting systems; needs-oriented and economical lighting concepts for improved work quality, visual comfort, and atmosphere.
• viveroo iPad-based smart home control centers Novel control centers based on iPads for the smart-home and multimedia market, combining innovation, technology, marketing, and sales expertise in an internationally operating technology product line.
• Showroom product consultation (Materialproben) In-person product consultation in Knobloch's redesigned Mannheim showroom using material samples from all represented manufacturer brands; offered to architects, engineers, installers, and trade customers by appointment.
• Training workshops and seminars Workshops and seminars held in Knobloch's dedicated training room to educate architects, engineers, installers, and trade customers on latest building and lighting technology products and innovations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 1,500 sqm of covered storage and logistics area ensuring fast product availability
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ETHERMA - Deutschland GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorETHERMA is a specialist for electric heating systems with nearly 40 years of experience. Products include floor, wall, and infrared heating systems, as well as frost protection solutions for outdoor areas, roofs, and pipes. Manufactured in their own production facilities.
• FRÄNKISCHE ROHRWERKE Gebr. Kirchner GmbH & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFRÄNKISCHE develops, produces, and markets pipes, shafts, and system components made of plastic and metal. Products serve building construction (above and below ground) as well as automotive and industrial applications.
• Helios VentilatorencoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOne of the leading European manufacturers of fan technology, offering an exceptionally large, finely graduated product series in all pressure and power ranges for industry, commerce, and residential use. Over 3,000 catalogued device types.
• JUNG (ALBRECHT JUNG GMBH & CO. KG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium provider of advanced solutions for classic electrical installation to intelligent building technology. Combines design ambition and innovation strength for modern building automation and KNX systems.
• Kleinhuis (Hermann Kleinhuis GmbH + Co. KG)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver eight decades of innovation in electrical installation technology. Part of the NIEDAX GROUP since 2000. Focuses on high-quality products and partner-oriented sales policy through the 3-tier distribution channel.
• NIEDAX GmbH & Co. KGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWith over 90 years of experience in electrical installation materials, Niedax offers a broad range of over 45,000 articles through own sales subsidiaries and production facilities in more than 29 countries worldwide.
• SAA – Schaltanlagen Auerbach GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialists in planning, project development, and manufacturing of electrical controls and switchgear. Located in Auerbach in the Saxon Vogtland. Team of 49 highly qualified employees. Reliable supplier for renowned machine construction and electrical installation companies.
• SUN CRACKS GmbH & Co. KGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLED lighting solutions that are practice-oriented, energy-efficient, and easy to install. Professionally develops needs-based and economical lighting concepts. Products improve work quality, visual comfort, and mood.
• viveroo GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternationally operating technology company manufacturing novel control centers based on iPads for the Smart Home and multimedia market. Core competencies include innovation, technology, marketing, and sales.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Global manufacturer of electrical distribution, building automation, and energy management solutions (including KNX-compatible systems). A principal-relevant overlap with Knobloch's portfolio; competes indirectly by enabling installers to source products direct, bypassing the regional agent.
• Siemens Smart Infrastructure: Division of Siemens covering building automation, electrical installation, and energy management. Comparable to Knobloch at the category level — overlapping with KNX, lighting, and HVAC product domains represented in Knobloch's portfolio — but operating at vastly larger scale and as a manufacturer rather than an agent.
• ABB: Global electrification, motion, and automation manufacturer with strong German building-installation brands (notably Busch-Jaeger). Competes with Knobloch's represented principals — particularly JUNG and Kleinhuis — by offering integrated KNX-compatible building-automation systems direct to wholesalers and installers.
• Hager Group: German-headquartered specialist in electrical installation and building automation, including KNX solutions. A direct substitute for several of Knobloch's represented principals (JUNG, Kleinhuis) and competes for the same architect- and installer-led specification opportunities across Germany.

Emerging players

• Stiebel Eltron: German specialist manufacturer of electric heating, hot water, and heat-pump technology. Competes directly with one of Knobloch's principal brands (ETHERMA) in the German electric-heating category and is therefore a strategic counterparty for the same architectural and installer customer base Knobloch serves.

Direct peers

• FEGA & Schmitt Elektrogroßhandel: German regional electrical wholesaler serving installers, industrial customers, and the Fachhandel across multiple German regions. Comparable to Knobloch in business model (B2B electrical distribution with field-sales coverage of trade customers) but with multi-region scale that Knobloch lacks.
• Sonepar Deutschland: German arm of Sonepar, the world's largest B2B electrical products distributor. Operates a multi-branch wholesale and field-sales model serving architects, installers, and the Fachhandel across Germany — directly comparable to Knobloch's 3-tier distribution and trade-channel focus, but at vastly greater scale and with broader product breadth.
• Obeta Elektro: German electrical wholesaler with a cooperative ownership structure combining independent regional Elektro-Fachgroßhandlungen. Closely comparable to Knobloch in serving the German electrical trade and installer channel, with overlapping principals and a similar field-sales-driven GTM.
• Rexel Germany: German subsidiary of global electrical distributor Rexel, serving electrical installers, contractors, and industrial customers via branches and field sales. Comparable to Knobloch in target customer (architects, engineers, installers, wholesalers) and category (electrical installation and building technology), though with national rather than single-region coverage.
• Adalbert Zajadacz: Independent German electrical wholesaler serving installers, industrial buyers, and the electrical trade. Comparable to Knobloch in serving the same German Fachhandel and installer customer base, with an overlapping line card of premium European electrical and building-technology principals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Knobloch