Galvanoform

What Galvanoform does

Galvanoform Innovative Technologies GmbH is a German precision tooling manufacturer headquartered in Lahr, Baden-Württemberg, founded in 1956 and operating with 130+ employees across more than 10,000 m² of production space. The company is the self-described largest European manufacturer of precision electroforming tools, running more than 30 galvanic bath installations (50-50,000 liters) and producing tools ranging from micro-precision parts to large industrial tools up to 9,000 mm in length. Its core technology is electroforming (Galvanoplastik) — an electrolytic metal deposition process that builds nickel and nickel-copper shells directly onto a mandrel — supplemented by precision laser welding (workshop and mobile on-site, 24-48 hour response), metallization/coating of 3D-printed and optical parts, and a proprietary GalNiFe nickel-iron alloy developed in 2013 for carbon and glass fiber tooling with springback compensation.

The company's revenue is generated primarily through one-off sales of electroforms (Galvanoschalen), electroformed cavities, and complete tools (Komplettwerkzeuge) to industrial B2B customers across verticals — automotive OEMs and Tier 1/2 suppliers (BMW, Audi, Daimler, VW, Porsche, Faurecia, Yanfeng), aerospace (Airbus, Boeing, Airbus Helicopters, GKN Aerospace, Leonardo, FACC, Bombardier), sanitary/kitchen products (Blanco, PLADOS), and medical devices (Otto Bock) — plus professional-services revenue from tool repair, restoration, and metallization/coating engagements. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, supported by worldwide representatives and premium service partners across 30+ countries, with active exhibiting at trade shows including Fakuma, JEC World, and K Fair. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is engagement-specific; ISO 9001:2015 quality certification and the Baden-Württemberg ECOfit environmental standard are in force.

Ownership is private and independent; in 2019, GAJA GmbH (managed by former FRIMO Group CEO Hans-Günter Bayer) became a new shareholder, with Jürgen Obergföll serving as Managing Director alongside Bayer. There is no disclosed external funding, no M&A history, and no public revenue figures in the source material. The company positions itself as a full-lifecycle partner — from product development through series production — with emphasis on environmental responsibility (430 kWp on-site PV, 255 tonnes CO2 saved annually) and ongoing materials-science collaboration through Fraunhofer IWM and Fraunhofer IPA.

Name

Galvanoform

Legal name

GALVANOFORM Innovative Technologies GmbH

Website

https://galvanoform.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

GALVANOFORM Innovative Technologies GmbH is a German precision tooling manufacturer, founded in 1956 and based in Lahr, producing electroformed nickel and nickel-copper molds and complete tools for automotive, aerospace, sanitary, and medical OEMs, complemented by laser welding and metallization services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Electroforming Tool Manufacturing

NAICS

Industrial Mold Manufacturing (333511), All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299)

SIC

Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Thermoforming Tooling, Mold & Die Manufacturing (IMANAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Additive Manufacturing for Metals (Metal 3D Printers & Post-Processing) (IMAHADAG)

Keywords

• Precision electroforming tools
• Nickel tooling manufacturing
• Galvanic mold making
• Laser welding services
• Metallization coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Lahr

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Tool Manufacturing: Manufacture and supply of electroforms, electroformed cavities (Galvanoschalen), and complete tools (Komplettwerkzeuge) for plastic processing industries. Products range from micro-precision parts to large tools up to 9,000 mm in length.
2. Tool Repair and Restoration Services: Precision laser welding, micro-welding, and engraving services for repair and restoration of existing molds and tools. Includes mobile on-site service for non-transportable tools and in-factory precision welding.
3. Surface Metallization/Coating Services: Galvanic coating services for 3D-printed parts, optical molds, and individual custom parts with nickel, copper coatings to improve mechanical and thermal properties.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Galvanoform manufactures precision electroformed nickel and nickel-copper molds (Galvanoschalen) and complete tool systems (Komplettwerkzeuge) for plastic processing industries, using electrolytic metal deposition in more than 30 galvanic bath installations. The company supplies enterprise manufacturers in automotive, aerospace, sanitary, and medical device sectors, producing tools from micro-precision parts up to 9,000 mm in length, and additionally offers precision laser welding repair services and galvanic metallization coatings for 3D-printed and custom parts.

Product overview

GALVANOFORM is a precision tooling manufacturer specializing in electroforming and complete tool solutions. The company operates as a single integrated portfolio centered on electroformed nickel and nickel-copper tools (Galvanoschalen), complemented by complete tool systems (Komplettwerkzeuge), precision laser welding services, and metallization/coating services. Tool offerings span multiple types including silicone, slush, spray, in-mould graining (IMG), RIM/ROM, and laminating tools. The company produces tools ranging from micro-precision parts to large tools up to 9,000 mm in length, utilizing over 30 galvanic bath installations (50-50,000 liters) across more than 10,000 m² of production area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Galvanoschalen (Electroforms) Precision electroformed nickel and nickel-copper tools for plastic molding, manufactured using galvanoplasty processes for spray, slush, RIM/ROM, laminating, and in-mould graining applications. Used by enterprise customers in automotive, aerospace, sanitary, and medical device manufacturing.
• Komplettwerkzeuge (Complete Tools) Complete tool systems combining electroformed shells with steel or aluminum support structures for full production tooling, ranging from micro-precision parts to large tools up to 9,000 mm in length. Sold to enterprise manufacturers across automotive, aerospace, sanitary, and medical device sectors.
• Precision Laser Welding Service High-precision laser welding services for mold and tool repair, including mobile on-site service, precision workshop welding, repair welding, deposition welding, and contract welding with grain repair accuracy in the 0.1-0.2 mm range. Includes 24-48 hour emergency service across Germany and neighboring countries.
• Metallization / Coating Service Galvanic coating service for parts from additive manufacturing / 3D printing, optical molds, and custom coating applications using hard nickel, pure nickel, or copper to improve hardness, stability, chemical resistance, EMC shielding, thermal conductivity, wear resistance, and UV resistance. 2-3 day turnaround.
• Spray Tools (Spray-Werkzeuge) Multi-layer nickel-copper tools for spray processes with hard nickel (42-50 HRc), sulphamate nickel, and hard copper layers for optimal thermal conductivity and deep penetration. Used in automotive interior manufacturing.
• Slush Tools (Slush-Werkzeuge) Electroformed nickel tools for slush processes with process temperatures up to 250°C and demoulding at approximately 40°C. Made from sulphamate nickel with 20-25 HRc hardness. Used for automotive interior skins.
• In-Mould Graining Tools (IMG-Werkzeuge) Porous nickel tools for negative vacuum molding that reproduce grain structures without distortion, used for TPO, PVC, and foil processing. Features 45 HRC surface hardness and approximately 500,000 molding cycle service life.
• Laminating Tools (Laminierwerkzeuge) Nickel shell and steel substructure tools for CFRP/GFRP component production at 130-180°C and up to 7 bar pressure, with excellent autoclave temperature behavior and vacuum bag sealing. Used in aerospace composite manufacturing.
• RIM/ROM Tools Tool systems combining grained nickel tools with steel or aluminum upper tools for reaction injection molding (RIM/ROM) processes, with layer thicknesses of 8-15 mm or economical 4-6 mm options. Used in automotive and consumer goods molding.
• Silicone Tools (Silikonwerkzeuge) Quick-turnaround silicone tools for small production runs using spray-process methodology, producing 50-100 molded skins per tool. Used for prototyping and short-run production.
• GalNiFe (Nickel-Iron Alloy) Proprietary nickel-iron alloy developed by Galvanoform in 2013 with low coefficient of thermal expansion, specifically designed for carbon fiber material processing with spring-back compensation. Trade-secret-protected composition.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tools manufactured up to 9,000 mm in length, from micro-precision parts to large industrial tools
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Fraunhofer IWM (Institute for Mechanics of Materials)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegular cooperation partner for quality assurance and R&D. Fraunhofer IWM provides materials science expertise supporting continuous improvement of electroforming processes and tool materials.
• Fraunhofer IPA (Institute for Production Engineering and Automation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner for production technology and automation. Supports GALVANOFORM in optimizing manufacturing processes and quality control systems.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/galvanoform

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Galvanoform