Kelch GmBH

What Kelch GmBH does

Kelch GmbH is a German precision-tooling manufacturer founded in 1942 and headquartered in Weinstadt near Stuttgart, where it develops, manufactures, and sells tool holders (HSK, PSC, SK steep tapers), tool presetters under the KENOVA set line (BASIC, INDUSTRIAL, PREMIUM tiers), measuring and process-monitoring equipment (Safecontrol 4.0, test arbors, gauges), shrinking technology (i-tec M, i-tec SLOTT), cone cleaners (RoWi II/III), vertical balancing machines (TB 100/TB 200), and a TUL modular workshop-logistics system. The company claims the world's largest selection of tool presetters and differentiates through proprietary material engineering — using gray/spheroidal cast iron and mineral casting with matched coefficients of thermal expansion to deliver sub-0.1mm precision stability under temperature variation — together with in-house telecentric optics co-developed with a German premium lens manufacturer, full Made-in-Germany manufacturing, and in-house electronics, mechanics, and software development. Since 2005, Kelch has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Harbin Measuring & Cutting Tool Group Co., Ltd. (HMCT) under Managing Director Peng Lin, with international subsidiaries in the USA (KELCH Inc., 1997), Switzerland (KELCH AG, 1998), and the UK (KELCH UK, 2002), and a distribution network across 30+ countries.

Kelch serves enterprise customers in automotive and supplier industries, aerospace, energy, mould and die making, and mechanical engineering — with a publicly disclosed reference base that includes Bosch, John Deere, Liebherr, MTU Aero Engines, Premium Aerotec, Kennametal, Komet, Röhm, SEW-Eurodrive, Voith, CeramTec, and Heidelberg. Revenue is generated primarily through direct field sales (a regional sales-manager organization covering D/A/CH and international territories) of customized hardware, supplemented by after-sales service, calibration, warranty and maintenance programs, and Smart Factory Services (engineering, tool management, financial services). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is set through consultation-based quoting. The company has ~70 employees at the Weinstadt facility, is actively operating with a 2025 product catalog and 2026 trade-show commitments (AMB Stuttgart, 120 sqm booth, new V244 and RoWi III launches), and runs marketing through its website, newsletter, social media, downloadable resources, and on-site/digital consultation appointments.

Name

Kelch GmBH

Legal name

Kelch GmbH

Website

https://kelch.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1942

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kelch GmbH is a German precision-tooling manufacturer (founded 1942, Weinstadt) producing tool holders, KENOVA tool presetters, shrinking/balancing/cleaning equipment, and workshop logistics for the metalworking industry, serving automotive, aerospace, and industrial OEMs worldwide as a subsidiary of China's HMCT.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Tooling and Machining Periphery Equipment

NAICS

Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517), Special Die and Tool, Die Set, Jig, and Fixture Manufacturing (333514), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513)

SIC

Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Cutting Tools, Tooling & Workholding (Cutters, Inserts, Chucks, Fixtures) (IMAHADAB)

Keywords

• Precision tooling
• Tool presetters
• Tool holders
• Shrinking technology
• Workshop logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Weinstadt-endersbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Tool Hardware Sales: Sale of tool holders (HSK, PSC, SK steep tapers), tool presetters, measuring equipment, cleaning devices, shrinking units, balancing machines, and workshop logistics equipment (TUL tool carriers, transport trolleys, workbenches).
2. Service and Maintenance: After-sales service including warranty, maintenance packages, repair services, calibration of measuring equipment, and Smart Factory Services (engineering, tool services, financial services).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kelch GmbH develops, manufactures, and sells precision tool holders (HSK, PSC, SK steep tapers), tool presetting devices (KENOVA set line in BASIC, INDUSTRIAL, and PREMIUM tiers), measuring technology, cleaning systems (RoWi cone cleaners), shrinking technology (i-tec M), balancing machines (TB 100/200), and workshop logistics solutions (TUL tool carriers, trolleys, workbenches) for the metalworking and machining industry. The company offers the world's largest selection of tool presetters and produces all products in-house at its Weinstadt, Germany facility.

Product overview

Kelch GmbH is a German precision tooling company with over 80 years of experience, operating as a system provider for the complete machining process chain. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized into distinct product lines: tool presetters (Werkzeugeinstellgeräte) spanning BASIC, INDUSTRIAL, and PREMIUM lines under the KENOVA set line brand (V244, V3, V6xx, V9xx/V9xx-S, H3); precision tools including HSK, PSC, and SK steep taper tool holders, plus FLEXIBORE® and CoolStream® systems; workshop logistics featuring the TUL modular storage and transport system; measuring equipment including Safecontrol 4.0 process monitoring, test arbors, and gauges; cleaning solutions (RoWi II, RoWi III, Automatic Cone Cleaner); shrinking technology (i-tec® M); and vertical balancing machines (TB 100, TB 200). Services include Smart Factory Services (engineering, tool management, financial services), warranty and maintenance programs, calibration services, and returns management. Products are manufactured at the Weinstadt facility with key components supplied by German partners including Heidenhain, Festo, and Bosch. The company operates under the Harbin Measuring & Cutting Tool Group (HMCT) and maintains global presence through subsidiaries in the USA, UK, Switzerland, and distribution partners across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KENOVA set line BASIC line
• KENOVA set line V3
• KENOVA set line V244
• KENOVA set line H3
• KENOVA set line V6xx
• KENOVA set line V9xx / V9xx-S
• HSK Hollow Shank Taper Tool Holders
• PSC Polygon Shank Taper Tool Holders
• SK Steep Taper Tool Holders DIN 69871
• SK Steep Taper Tool Holders JIS-B6339 / MAS403BT
• FLEXIBORE Flexible Boring System (KFS)
• CoolStream Coolant-Fed Tool System
• Custom Special Tools (Sonderwerkzeuge)
• i-tec M Shrinking Device
• TB 100 Vertical Balancing Machine
• TB 200 Vertical Balancing Machine
• RoWi II Cone Cleaner
• RoWi III Cone Cleaner
• Automatic Cone Cleaner

Quantifiable outcome

• Temperature stability: 0.070mm expansion at 600mm object length with 10K temperature change (vs. 0.140mm for aluminum alternatives)

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BLUECOMPETENCE AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKELCH is a member of the BLUECOMPETENCE Alliance, an industry initiative for sustainability in mechanical engineering. This partnership demonstrates KELCH's commitment to environmental responsibility and sustainable manufacturing practices.
• German Premium Lens ManufacturercoreTechnology or IntegrationKELCH developed high-precision telecentric optics together with a German premium lens manufacturer specifically for KELCH's tool presetting devices, a key proprietary technology component.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Allied Machine & Engineering: US-based metalcutting tooling manufacturer with European operations, supplying boring, drilling, and specialty tooling to the same aerospace, heavy equipment, and energy customers that KELCH supports with tool holding and presetting systems.
• OTTO BIHLER: German metalworking and automation machinery maker with adjacent precision tooling and assembly products. Less direct overlap on presetters but competes in German precision manufacturing peripheral equipment.
• Mapal: German precision tooling manufacturer focused on PCD and indexable tooling systems. Competes with KELCH in adjacent metalworking tooling and serves overlapping automotive and aerospace customers.

Direct peers

• EROWA: Swiss precision tooling, palletizing, and tool presetting specialist. Comparable in tool presetters and workholding automation, often competing on integrated tool-room and 4.0 solutions against KELCH's Smart Factory Services.
• ZOLLER: German tool presetting, measuring, and management solutions provider. Closest direct competitor to KELCH in the KENOVA presetter space, with overlapping BASIC/INDUSTRIAL/PREMIUM tiering and identical end customers in automotive and metalworking.
• HAIMER: German manufacturer of precision tool holders, shrinking and balancing technology, and tool presetters — direct overlap with KELCH's presetting, shrinking (i-tec M), and tool holder portfolios, serving the same European machining customer base.
• SCHUNK: German clamping, gripping, and toolholding technology specialist. Overlaps with KELCH in precision tool holding and workholding, and competes for the same automotive and mechanical engineering OEM contracts.
• Gressel: Swiss-German manufacturer of precision clamping and workholding systems. Direct competitor in clamping and workholding solutions serving the same European machining and mechanical engineering verticals.
• BIG KAISER: Swiss-Japanese precision tool holder and shrinking technology provider. Direct competitor in HSK/PSC tool holders and shrink-fit equipment targeting the same high-precision machining segment.
• Hainbuch: German workholding, clamping, and toolholding specialist. Comparable in precision clamping and toolholder product lines sold to machine tool builders and end users in automotive and aerospace.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/175516485853422
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2425274

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Kelch GmBH