Graepel North America

What Graepel North America does

Graepel North America Inc. is the US manufacturing subsidiary of Graepel SE (formerly Friedrich Graepel AG), a family-owned German precision sheet metal company founded in 1889. Established in Omaha, Nebraska in 2006 as a one-person operation by current CEO Mark Zumdohme, the entity has grown to 65 employees and operates a manufacturing facility at 13220 Lynam Drive, Omaha, producing perforated sheet metal components and assemblies for North American OEMs. Its parent group employs 1,000+ staff across Germany (Löningen, Seehausen), Hungary (Szekszárd), India (Derabassi), and the United States.

The company's core offering is a portfolio of precision-engineered perforated sheet metal products and formed components built on proprietary technologies including Graepel-DuraVent (high-performance ventilation grilles with up to 80% free cross-section and anti-corrosion coating), Graepel-ColorGrip, Graepel PERCUS, Graepel Persity, the Graepel-Profilroste family of 20+ grating profiles (Graepel-City, Eco, Garden, Stabil, Universal, etc.), and the patent-protected Baumschutzrost tree-protection grate system. Manufacturing capabilities span cold forming, stamping, punching, drawing, welding, bending, and in-house surface finishing (powder coating, galvanizing). Vertically integrated services include engineering, prototyping, toolmaking, and surface treatment, enabling single-source supply of install-ready assemblies. Quality certifications cover ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, DIN EN 15085, TISAX, and DIN EN ISO/IEC 27001.

The business model is B2B direct enterprise sales to OEM customers, with pricing negotiated per contract on manufactured-to-order components, typically under long-term supply agreements. Named anchor customers include John Deere, Caterpillar, Case IH, CLAAS, DAF Trucks/PACCAR, Iveco/Nikola, and Linde Material Handling, supplemented by architectural, municipal, defense, railway, and new-energy segments. Revenue mechanics rely on engineering-driven design-in, prototyping, and serialized production; the group reported 28% revenue growth in fiscal year 2022, while the North American subsidiary targets a minimum of 7.5% annual growth. Go-to-market combines direct account management with participation in Agritechnica, ARCHITECT@WORK, and other industry trade shows. Marketing, sustainability/CSRD-aligned reporting, and a workforce development program (ICATT dual apprenticeship, in partnership with the German American Chamber of Commerce) round out the operational footprint.

Name

Graepel North America

Legal name

Graepel North America Inc.

Website

https://graepel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Graepel North America is the Omaha, Nebraska manufacturing subsidiary of German family-owned Graepel SE, producing precision perforated and formed sheet metal components and assemblies for OEM customers in agricultural machinery, construction equipment, trucks/buses, and material handling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sheet Metal Components Manufacturing

NAICS

Machine Shops (33271)

SIC

General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Body Panels, Doors, Hoods & Closures Manufacturing (IMACAGAH)

Keywords

• Perforated sheet metal
• Metal stamping components
• Sheet metal manufacturing
• OEM parts supplier
• Ventilation grilles

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Sheet Metal Components Manufacturing: Graepel designs, engineers, and manufactures custom and standard perforated sheet metal components, parts, and assemblies for OEM customers in agricultural machinery, construction equipment, trucks/buses, trailers, forklifts, motorcycles, defense, and architecture. Revenue is generated through direct sales of manufactured parts and assemblies, typically under long-term supply agreements with major vehicle OEMs.
2. Engineering and Development Services: Graepel acts as a development partner for customers, providing engineering, prototyping, tooling, and surface finishing services as part of the product lifecycle. These services are bundled with part manufacturing.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Graepel North America manufactures and supplies precision-engineered perforated sheet metal components and assemblies to OEM customers, including ventilation grilles, structural panels, body parts, gratings, stair treads, and tree protection systems. The company operates as a vertically integrated system supplier combining engineering, prototyping, tooling, forming, perforation, welding, and in-house surface finishing (powder coating, galvanizing) for industries such as agricultural machinery, construction equipment, trucks, buses, trailers, forklifts, motorcycles, defense, and architectural infrastructure.

Product overview

Graepel is a global system supplier of precision-perforated sheet metal products and sheet metal components, established in 1889 with manufacturing operations across Germany (Löningen, Seehausen/Altmark), Hungary, India, and North America (Omaha, Nebraska). The company operates as a single integrated portfolio of sheet metal solutions rather than a platform-based architecture. The core product lines include perforated metal sheets (Lochbleche) and sheet metal parts (Blechpressteile) serving the vehicle, defense, construction, industrial, and new energy sectors. Supporting product families include sheet metal grating systems with 20+ variants (Graepel-City, Graepel-Eco, Graepel-Garden, Graepel-Stabil, Graepel-Universal, and specialized variants), stair treads, spiral stair treads, ladder rungs, and architectural products such as facade panels, tree protection grates, and bridge deckings. Innovation products include Graepel-DuraVent (high-performance ventilation grille), Graepel-ColorGrip, Graepel PERCUS, and Graepel Persity. Engineering and manufacturing services including development partnership, sheet metal processing, tooling, and surface treatment technology support the product portfolio.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Graepel-DuraVent: High-performance ventilation grille with corrosion protection coating
• Graepel-ColorGrip
• Graepel PERCUS
• Graepel Persity

Products and services

• Perforated Metal Sheets (Lochbleche) Precision-engineered perforated metal sheets produced via high-precision stamping processes, serving as base material for ventilation, filtration, structural, and architectural applications across vehicle, industrial, and architectural segments.
• Sheet Metal Parts (Blechpressteile) Custom-formed sheet metal components including covers, structural parts, body panels, doors, and specialty stamped pieces designed for vehicle manufacturers, construction equipment, and industrial machinery OEMs.
• Sheet Metal Grating Systems (Blechprofilroste) Non-slip sheet metal profile gratings available in 20+ variants (including Graepel-City, Graepel-Eco, Graepel-Garden, Graepel-Glide, Graepel-Gumminoppe, Graepel-Indoor, Graepel-Stabil, Graepel-Stabil Xtrem, Graepel-Universal, and others) used for walkways, platforms, stairs, industrial flooring, and vehicle access applications.
• Ventilation Grilles (Lüftungsgitter) Ventilation and radiator grille solutions for vehicles, industrial equipment, and new energy systems, featuring up to 80% free cross-section for optimal airflow while preventing ingress of dirt, stones, and insects.
• Facade Panels (Fassadenpaneele)

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 80% free cross-section on ventilation grilles, achieving excellent air intake area to installation size ratio while blocking dirt, stones, and insects.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Thorsten Trippler (Executive)coreOthers · 16 April 2026Thorsten Trippler was appointed to the Management Board of Friedrich Graepel AG as of April 2026, joining existing board members Carlo Graepel and Felix Graepel to strengthen executive leadership.
• Marie-Christin Maier (Executive)coreOthers · 1 August 2025Marie-Christin Maier took over management of Graepel GmbH and Graepel Süd GmbH as of August 1, 2025, leading sales and commercial operations at these entities.
• CLAAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep, longstanding partnership with CLAAS, a leading global agricultural machinery manufacturer. Graepel supplies DuraVent ventilation grilles for CLAAS AXION-9 series tractors and AXION 900 series combines. Graepel's products were featured on award-winning CLAAS tractors.
• John DeerecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey OEM partnership with John Deere spanning agricultural machinery and construction equipment. Graepel supplies custom doors for John Deere excavator series and ventilation components. John Deere was one of the first major customers to support Graepel North America.
• CaterpillarcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding OEM partnership with Caterpillar for construction equipment components. Caterpillar was among the early key supporters of Graepel North America's establishment.
• DAF Trucks / PACCARcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic supplier relationship with DAF Trucks (a PACCAR company), awarded the Supplier Performance Award 'Leader' in both 2023 and 2024.
• Linde Material HandlingmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraepel started a new collaboration supplying components for Linde's Xi10-Xi20 electric counterbalance forklifts, expanding into the electric material handling segment.
• Iveco / NikolamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint development and manufacturing partnership for battery panels used in Iveco/Nikola electric trucks, representing Graepel's entry into the commercial EV segment.
• Solvaro GmbHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGraepel acquired Solvaro GmbH as a wholly-owned subsidiary, expanding its product portfolio and market presence in the sheet metal/perforated metal solutions space.
• Stadt Magdeburg (City of Magdeburg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative development of innovative urban tree protection solutions, including a patented Baumschutzrost (tree protection grate) system with integrated bicycle parking functionality, serving as a pilot project that led to the broader 'Grüne Städte' (Green Cities) product line.
• Nebraska Department of Economic DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNebraska state economic development agency provided comprehensive support to Graepel North America from inception, including site selection assistance, residential information, and ongoing support for facility expansions.
• German American Chamber of Commerce (GACC Midwest)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMark Zumdohme serves on the board of the German American Chamber of Commerce Midwest. Graepel participates in GACC programs and the ICATT dual apprenticeship program developed by the chamber.
• Blühstreifenmanagement des Zweckverbandes HasetalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnership for biodiversity promotion: Graepel Löningen collaborated with the bloom strip management organization to establish a 1,600 sqm wildflower meadow on company premises, supporting Graepel's sustainability and biodiversity commitments.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• RMIG: RMIG is one of the world's largest manufacturers of perforated metal, serving industrial, architectural, and OEM customers globally. It is a direct competitor to Graepel's core perforated sheet and component business across vehicle, architectural, and industrial segments.
• Lichtgitter GmbH: Lichtgitter specializes in steel and stainless steel gratings, perforated metal planks, and stair treads for industrial and architectural applications. Comparable to Graepel's grating and architectural infrastructure product portfolio.
• Wieland Group (Wieland-Werke): Wieland-Werke manufactures precision metal products including perforated and structured metal components for industrial and architectural applications. Comparable product overlap with Graepel in perforated sheets and engineered metal surfaces.
• Solvaro GmbH: Solvaro GmbH is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Graepel SE (acquired 2023) specializing in perforated metal products for vehicle interiors. It overlaps directly with Graepel's perforated metal offering and is treated here as a direct peer given its retained brand and overlapping product portfolio.
• Welser Profile: Austrian-headquartered Welser Profile manufactures custom steel and special metal profiles for automotive, construction, and industrial OEM customers. Comparable to Graepel's body-in-white structural parts, channels, and brackets business serving vehicle OEMs.
• McNichols Company: McNichols is a US-leading distributor and processor of perforated metal, bar grating, and expanded metal products serving industrial, architectural, and OEM customers. Directly comparable to Graepel's perforated metal and grating product lines in the North American market.
• Bopp AG: Swiss-based Bopp AG is a specialist precision perforated metal manufacturer serving filtration, acoustics, architectural, and OEM applications. Comparable to Graepel in product type, manufacturing approach, and customer mix in industrial and architectural markets.
• Meiser GmbH: Meiser is a German manufacturer of metal gratings, perforated metal, and stair treads serving industrial, architectural, and infrastructure markets. Direct competitor to Graepel's Blechprofilroste and stair tread product families.

Broad incumbents

• Kirchhoff Automotive: Kirchhoff Automotive is a global Tier 1 supplier of complex metal components and assemblies for the automotive industry. Comparable as a larger established incumbent in stamped and welded metal parts serving major vehicle OEMs alongside Graepel.
• Gestamp Automoción: Gestamp is a global Tier 1 supplier of metal automotive components (body-in-white, chassis) with significantly larger scale than Graepel. Broadly comparable as an incumbent automotive metal components competitor to Graepel's vehicle OEM business, though operating across a much wider product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@graepel
• Facebookfacebook.com/GraepelAG
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/graepel-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/graepelcompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 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 Graepel North America