Berges

What Berges does

Berges is a privately held German-Italian specialist manufacturer of mechanical continuously variable speed drive technology, founded in 1926 in Marienheide, Germany by brothers Carl and Wilhelm Berges. The company produces adjustable V-belt pulley systems that deliver stepless mechanical speed regulation for power transmission across a 0.25 to 200 kW range, marketed as a robust alternative to electronic variable-frequency drives in harsh industrial environments. The company is controlled by Berges Mechanics GmbH, an Italian entity headquartered in Naturns (South Tyrol), which acquired both the German operating subsidiary Berges Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. KG in 2021 and the Italian subsidiary Berges Italiana GmbH in 2018. Berges employs approximately 50 staff across its Marienheide production facility and its Naturns site, and claims to be the only manufacturer worldwide offering the full spectrum of both symmetrical and asymmetrical pulley drive technology, with cumulative deliveries exceeding 1 million pulleys.

The company's product portfolio centers on five lines: symmetrical variable speed pulleys (up to 160 kW), asymmetrical variable speed pulleys (up to 200 kW) acquired from Becker Antriebe GmbH in 2003, complete variable speed motor units, ATEX-certified explosion-protected variable speed units (certified since 2004), and the RGAE assembly unit for retrofit applications. Underlying technology relies on adjustable mechanical pulleys with V-belt drives rather than electronic control, with the value proposition emphasizing simplicity, robustness in harsh environments, lower total cost of ownership, and avoidance of sensitive electronics. The company holds ISO 9001 quality management certification and ATEX hazardous-environment certification, and traces its trade-show presence to the first Hannover Messe in 1947.

Berges generates revenue through direct sales of mechanical drive components to industrial machinery OEMs under a sales-led, quote-based pricing model with technical consultation. Customer segments span packaging and filling machines, agricultural machinery, conveyor and food-processing systems, and heavy industry applications including mixing equipment, pumps, textile machines, machine tools, and construction machinery. Distribution is direct-to-OEM with field sales support, supplemented by a modest digital footprint (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, corporate website with downloadable technical data sheets) and trade-event participation. Geographic markets are centered on Germany and Italy, with the company asserting a worldwide distribution claim, though no international revenue breakdown is disclosed.

Name

Berges

Legal name

Berges Antriebstechnik GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://berges.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1926

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Berges is a privately held German-Italian manufacturer of mechanical continuously variable speed drive technology, producing adjustable V-belt pulley systems for 0.25 to 200 kW power transmission. The company serves industrial machinery OEMs in packaging, agricultural, and heavy industry sectors from Marienheide, Germany and Naturns, Italy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mechanical Drive Technology / Power Transmission Components

NAICS

Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612), Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Linear Motion & Mechanical Power Transmission (Ball/roller screws, linear guides, bearings, couplings) (IMAHAGAM)

Keywords

• Mechanical drive technology
• Variable speed pulleys
• Power transmission systems
• ATEX certified drives
• Industrial drive components

Headquarters

HQ city

Marienheide

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. Mechanical Drive Components Sales: Manufacturing and sales of mechanical variable speed pulleys, drive systems, and related components. Products include symmetrical and asymmetrical pulleys, variable speed units, ATEX-certified units, and assembly units.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Berges manufactures mechanical variable speed drive technology, including symmetrical and asymmetrical V-belt pulleys, variable speed motor units, ATEX-certified explosion-proof drive units, and the RGAE assembly unit. The portfolio covers stepless mechanical speed regulation for power transmission from 0.25 to 200 kW and is sold directly to industrial machinery manufacturers as a robust mechanical alternative to electronic drive control in harsh environments.

Product overview

Berges offers a comprehensive portfolio of mechanical variable speed drive technology products, positioning itself as the only manufacturer worldwide providing the complete range of symmetrical and asymmetrical pulley drive systems. The product lineup centers on stepless mechanical speed regulation for power transmission from 0.25 to 200 kW. Core offerings include symmetrical and asymmetrical variable speed pulleys (handling 160 kW and 200 kW respectively), variable speed motor units, ATEX-certified explosion-protected units, and the RGAE assembly unit for retrofit applications. The portfolio is designed for industrial environments where robust mechanical solutions are preferred over sensitive electronics, serving applications in agricultural machinery, food processing, construction equipment, textile machines, pumps, conveyor systems, mixing equipment, and machine tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Symmetrical Variable Speed Pulleys (Symmetrische Verstellscheiben)

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivery reliability > 96%
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Becker Antriebe GmbHcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2003Acquired the entire product segment of asymmetrical pulley drives from Becker Antriebe GmbH in 2003, significantly expanding Berges' product portfolio and technological capabilities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Flender GmbH (Siemens): Siemens-owned German mechanical drives and gearboxes manufacturer; broader portfolio and global scale make it a broad incumbent competitor rather than a direct niche specialist like Berges.
• Siemens: Diversified industrial technology group whose drive systems business overlaps with Berges' installed base; competes indirectly across many of the same OEM end markets.
• ABB: Global industrial conglomerate offering motors, drives (including variable speed), and automation; competes with Berges across industrial end markets while offering a much broader and more diversified portfolio.

Direct peers

• SEW-Eurodrive: Global German-headquartered manufacturer of drive technology, gear motors, electronic drives, and mechatronic systems; directly competes with Berges in industrial variable-speed and geared drive applications.
• Bonfiglioli Riduttori: Italian-based manufacturer of gearmotors, gearboxes, and drive systems for industrial automation; shares Berges' Italian-German footprint and is a direct competitor in industrial variable-speed drive applications.
• Bauer Gear Motor: Specialist in gear motors and variable-speed drive solutions for industrial applications; comparable product scope to Berges' Verstellgetriebemotoren line.
• Lenze SE: German-based drive and automation technology specialist offering gearboxes, motors, and variable speed drive solutions; directly referenced on Berges' website as a retrofit partner, making it the most directly comparable European mechanical drive peer.
• David Brown Santasalo: Specialist in mechanical power transmission including gear units and variable-speed solutions for industrial applications; comparable niche specialty mechanical drive positioning to Berges.
• Nord Drivesystems: German family-owned manufacturer of geared motors, electric drives, and drive electronics; comparable in size profile, family-ownership structure, and product positioning to Berges in mechanical variable-speed drives.
• PIV Drives GmbH: German specialist in mechanical variable-speed drives (PIV variable-speed gearboxes); one of the closest direct competitors to Berges in purely mechanical continuously variable drive technology.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC8O4d7A0uconlUesSJ5TkIw
• Facebookfacebook.com/bergesmotion
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/berges-mechanics
• Instagraminstagram.com/berges_motion

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Berges