Ulmia

What Ulmia does

ULMIA GmbH is a German manufacturer of premium woodworking hand tools and workbenches, operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of ANTON KESSEL GmbH (ANKE). The brand traces its heritage to 1888 through ANKE's origins as a Swabian sawmill, with ANKE acquiring the ULMIA name and trademark rights in 2002 to extend its portfolio into hand planes, saws, precision measuring tools, and workbenches. Manufacturing is conducted in-house at the parent's facility in Langenenslingen, Germany, with woods sourced from German sustainable cultivation and components including anodized aluminum and recyclable plastics.

The core product platform centers on the Alu-Line series — hand planes featuring anodized aluminum soles tested to 7.5 km planing distance and a magnetic interchangeable-blade system — complemented by the MFT 1200 foldable aluminum multifunction table, a 360° vernier precision bevel, the redesigned Gehrungssäge 352/352L miter saw, the Winkelkoffer Black Edition angle set, and traditional woodworking workbenches. Differentiation rests on durability testing, ergonomic one-handed operation, rust-free aluminum construction, and German manufacturing.

ULMIA sells exclusively through authorized specialty dealers (Fachhandel) and does not transact directly with end customers. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales with no recurring streams, and pricing is set independently by dealers. The addressable customer base spans professional craftsmen (primary), educational institutions, industrial manufacturing facilities, and DIY enthusiasts in German-speaking markets, with a bilingual website and EU GPSR compliance suggesting modest international reach. The company is led by Managing Directors Jürgen Lichtner and Wolfgang Maile.

Name

Ulmia

Legal name

ULMIA GmbH

Website

https://ulmia.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

ULMIA GmbH is a German manufacturer of premium woodworking hand tools (planes, saws, precision bevels) and workbenches, sold exclusively through authorized specialty dealers (Fachhandel) to professional craftsmen, educational institutions, industrial buyers, and DIY enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Woodworking Hand Tools

NAICS

Saw Blade and Handtool Manufacturing (332216), Cutlery and Handtool Manufacturing (33221)

SIC

Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Wood Mouldings, Millwork & Trim (IMADADAG)

Keywords

• Woodworking hand tools
• Hand planes
• Workbenches
• Precision bevels
• Miter saws

Headquarters

HQ city

Langenenslingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Woodworking Tools Sales: ULMIA generates revenue through the sale of woodworking hand tools (planes, saws, measuring instruments) and workbenches. Products are sold as one-time purchases through authorized dealers. No recurring revenue streams are indicated.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ulmia manufactures and sells premium woodworking hand tools and workbenches from its facility in Langenenslingen, Germany. The product range spans hand planes (Hobel), miter saws (Gehrungssägen), precision bevels (Schmiegen), workbenches (Hobelbänke), multifunction tables (MFT), and scribe marking tools, all targeted at professional craftsmen, woodworking schools, industrial joineries, and serious DIY users. Distribution is handled exclusively through authorized specialty dealers in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and selected international markets.

Product overview

ULMIA is a German woodworking tools brand offering a portfolio of hand planes, multifunction tables, precision measuring tools, and miter saws designed for professional craftsmen and woodworkers. The product line centers on the Alu-Line series featuring anodized aluminum construction with interchangeable blade technology, complemented by precision angle tools and workbenches. All products are manufactured in-house by ANTON KESSEL GmbH, which acquired the ULMIA brand rights in 2002. The company sells exclusively through authorized dealers and emphasizes quality craftsmanship with a focus on ergonomics and sustainable materials including recyclable plastics and German-sourced woods.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Alu-Line Hobel Premium hand plane with anodized aluminum body for corrosion resistance; marketed to professional craftsmen and serious hobbyists.
• Multifunktionstisch MFT 1200 Stationary multifunction table/workstation for industrial woodworking and assembly operations.
• Winkelkoffer Black Edition Limited-edition angle/miter case in black finish, combining marking and angle-measurement tools.
• Gehrungssäge 352 / 352L Manual miter saw (Gehrungssäge) for precision cutting of miters and angles in wood and woodworking applications.
• Präzisions-Schmiege Precision bevel (Schmiege) with 360° vernier scale for measuring and transferring angles in joinery and carpentry work.
• ULMIA Hobelbänke (Workbenches) Wooden workbenches made from beech wood with blackened steel hardware and precision-machined steel corner joints, marketed to craftsmen, schools, and industrial users.

Quantifiable outcome

• 7.5 km planing distance with no effect on planing pattern

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ANTON KESSEL GmbH (ANKE)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002In 2002, ANTON KESSEL GmbH (ANKE), a German company with history dating back to 1888, acquired the name and trademark rights of ULMIA. ANKE manufactures workbenches and sheet steel products and now produces ULMIA bench and woodworking tools in-house. ULMIA GmbH operates as part of the ANKE group, expanding the product portfolio to include woodworking hand tools.
• freywerbung GmbHminorGTM or Marketing Partnerfreywerbung GmbH (88348 Bad Saulgau) is a business partner that supports ULMIA in making the internet offering and website more interesting for visitors through marketing services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Knipex: German premium pliers and hand tool manufacturer. Comparable as a German family-owned premium hand-tool brand with strong trade and industrial customer base, similar channel structure, and similar heritage positioning.
• Lie-Nielsen Toolworks: US premium hand tool manufacturer specializing in hand planes, saws, and traditional woodworking tools. Comparable as a niche premium hand-tool brand focused on hand planes and professional/serious hobbyist woodworkers.
• Hultafors: Swedish premium hand tool brand owned by Hultafors Group (latour industries). Comparable as a European premium hand tool brand with heritage positioning serving professional construction and trade customers.
• Bahco (SNA Europe): European hand tool brand owned by Snap-on Incorporated. Comparable as a heritage hand-tool brand with saws, planes, and woodworking tools serving professional craftsmen across European markets.
• Veritas Tools: Canadian premium woodworking hand tool brand (division of Lee Valley Tools). Comparable as a premium woodworking hand tool specialist serving serious craftsmen with planes, marking tools, and workbenches.
• Festool: German premium power and hand tool maker (owned by TTS Tooltechnic Systems) serving professional carpenters, joiners, and woodworkers. Directly comparable to ULMIA in target customer (German tradesperson) and premium positioning, though Festool is significantly larger and power-tool focused.
• Wera Tools: German premium hand tool manufacturer specializing in screwdrivers, bits, and innovative hand tools. Comparable as a German Mittelstand premium hand-tool brand with strong 'Made in Germany' positioning serving professional trades.

Broad incumbents

• Stanley Black & Decker: Global tool giant owning Stanley, DeWalt, and other brands. Comparable at the broad category level (hand tools, woodworking tools) but operates at vastly larger scale with much broader product portfolios including power tools.
• Robert Bosch Power Tools: German industrial conglomerate's professional power tools division. Comparable as a German-based premium tool brand serving professional carpenters and woodworkers, though primarily focused on power rather than hand tools.

Emerging players

• Woodpeckers: US-based premium woodworking tool and accessory maker focused on precision tools, jigs, and workbenches. Comparable as a niche premium brand targeting professional and prosumer woodworkers with precision engineered products.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ulmiagmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ulmia-gmbh

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 Ulmia