What Kurtz GmbH does

Kurtz GmbH, operating commercially as Kurtz Ersa, is a German mechanical engineering company founded in 1779 in Spessart, Bavaria, and family-owned in its seventh generation. It operates across four core business units: Electronics Production (stencil printers, reflow/selective/wave soldering systems, rework systems, optical inspection, press-fit, line automation, and semiconductor vacuum soldering via Kurtz Ersa Semicon), Particle Foam Processing (shape moulding machines, pre-expanders, and turnkey systems for protective packaging), Factory Automation (dispense, screwing, pick & place, laser solutions, and micro & nano assembly via SCHILLER AUTOMATION and Kurtz Ersa Smart Production), and Additive Manufacturing (metallic 3D laser printing). Underlying technologies include precision mechatronics, vacuum soldering for semiconductor back-end packaging, and a growing digitization layer (Kurtz Ersa CONNECT) for Industry 4.0 connectivity.

The business generates revenue through four streams: (1) industrial machinery sales (capital equipment quote-priced per configuration), (2) professional services (Ersa Services and Kurtz Services covering training, spare parts, upgrades, retrofits, and global support), (3) consumables and accessories (solder, flux, tips, fume extraction sold via direct e-commerce Ersa Shop), and (4) turnkey solutions for particle foam production. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales executed through wholly-owned subsidiaries in the United States, China, India, and Mexico, complemented by demo and application centers and a heavy trade-show presence (Productronica, Electronica, APEX, FOAM EXPO Europe, Formnext, SMTA). In May 2026 the company divested its Foundry Machinery Division to Austria's Fill to refocus on these four core segments, and in June 2026 it achieved its first EcoVadis Gold sustainability rating while targeting CO2-neutral operations by its 250th anniversary in 2029. Leadership consists of CEO Thomas Mühleck and Advisory Board Chairman Rainer Kurtz, with continued family ownership concentration.

Name

Kurtz GmbH

Legal name

Kurtz GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://en.kurtz.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

1779

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kurtz GmbH (Kurtz Ersa) is a seventh-generation, family-owned German mechanical engineering company manufacturing electronics production equipment, particle foam processing machines, factory automation systems, and metallic 3D printers, serving industrial manufacturers globally through direct subsidiaries in the US, China, India, and Mexico.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Machinery & Electronics Production Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), All Other Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (333248)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

Keywords

• Electronics production equipment
• Particle foam moulding
• Industrial soldering machines
• Factory automation systems
• Additive manufacturing equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Spessart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery Sales: Sale of capital equipment including electronics production equipment (soldering machines, stencil printers, rework systems), particle foam processing machines (shape moulding machines, pre-expanders), factory automation systems, and additive manufacturing 3D metal printers. Primary revenue stream from B2B equipment sales to manufacturers.
2. Professional Services: Ersa Services including service hotline, training & seminars, original spare parts, upgrades & retrofits, global service and sales network support, demo & application center services, and machine capability studies.
3. Consumables and Accessories: Solder, flux and consumables, soldering irons and solder sets, soldering tips and desoldering tips, solder wires, fluxes and solder pastes for ongoing customer needs.
4. Turnkey Solutions: Kurtz Turnkey complete solutions for particle foam processing including integrated systems and support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Kurtz GmbH (operating as Kurtz Ersa) is a globally active mechanical engineering company that designs, manufactures, and services industrial capital equipment across four business units: Electronics Production (soldering machines, stencil printers, rework and inspection systems), Particle Foam Processing (shape moulding machines, pre-expanders, turnkey systems), Factory Automation (dispense, screwing, pick & place, laser, micro/nano assembly), and Additive Manufacturing (metallic 3D laser printing). The company sells direct to industrial manufacturers and supports installed equipment through global spare parts, training, upgrades/retrofits, and a service network.

Product overview

Kurtz Ersa is a globally active mechanical engineering company offering a diversified portfolio of industrial manufacturing solutions across four core business units: Electronics Production (high-end systems for electronics manufacturing including stencil printers, soldering machines, rework systems, optical inspection, and automation), Particle Foam Processing (shape moulding machines, pre-expanders, and turnkey solutions for protective packaging and insulation), Factory Automation (intelligent automation concepts including dispense, screwing, pick & place, laser solutions, and micro/nano assembly through its subsidiary SCHILLER AUTOMATION), and Additive Manufacturing (metallic 3D laser printing systems). The company also provides comprehensive after-sales services through Ersa Services and Kurtz Services, plus digitization solutions via Kurtz Ersa CONNECT platform. Founded in 1779 and based in Spessart, Germany, the company operates globally with subsidiaries and representatives worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ersa: Product brand for soldering equipment, rework systems, and electronics production tools including soldering stations, irons, and fume extraction systems.

Products and services

• Electronics Production Equipment Portfolio Smart high-end systems and equipment for electronics manufacturing including stencil printers, soldering machines (reflow, selective, wave), rework systems, optical inspection systems, semicon vacuum soldering systems, and soldering tools & accessories. Sold to industrial electronics manufacturers.
• Particle Foam Processing Equipment Complete solutions for molding and block production of particle foam materials used for protective packaging and insulation applications. Includes shape moulding machines, pre-expanders, and turnkey systems. Sold to particle foam packaging and insulation manufacturers.
• Factory Automation Systems Intelligent automation concepts from Kurtz Ersa and SCHILLER AUTOMATION for industrial manufacturing processes, including dispense solutions, screwing solutions, pick & place solutions, laser solutions, and micro & nano assembly. Sold to industrial manufacturers.
• Additive Manufacturing (3D Metal Printing) Equipment Metallic 3D laser printing solutions (industrial 3D metal printers) enabling entry into additive manufacturing for prototyping and production parts. Sold to industrial manufacturers seeking additive manufacturing capabilities.
• Kurtz Ersa CONNECT Digitization Platform Digitization platform for electronics production connectivity, data management, and Industry 4.0 integration. Sold to electronics production manufacturers operating Kurtz Ersa equipment.
• Ersa Services Comprehensive after-sales service offerings including service hotline, training and seminars, original spare parts, upgrades and retrofits, global service and sales network support, demo & application center services, and machine capability studies. Sold to industrial manufacturers operating Kurtz Ersa equipment.
• Kurtz Services Services for Kurtz machinery including machine availability optimization, performance increase, know-how transfer, and spare parts management. Sold to particle foam processing manufacturers using Kurtz equipment.
• Semicon Vacuum Soldering Systems Vacuum soldering systems for semiconductor manufacturing operations. Sold to semiconductor manufacturers requiring precision assembly and manufacturing processes.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FillsignificantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 2026Kurtz Ersa sold its foundry machinery division to Austrian machinery manufacturer Fill in May 2026. This represents a strategic divestment allowing Kurtz Ersa to focus on core business areas while Fill expands its casting technology portfolio. Joint press conference held with Fill CEO Andreas Fill and Kurtz Ersa CEO Thomas Mühleck.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Heller Industries: US-based manufacturer of reflow soldering ovens and curing systems for SMT assembly; closely competes with Kurtz Ersa's reflow soldering systems portfolio.
• Koh Young Technology: Global leader in 3D SPI and AOI optical inspection systems for SMT lines; competes head-on with Kurtz Ersa's optical inspection systems sub-product.
• Erlenbach GmbH: European manufacturer of particle foam moulding machines (EPP/EPS); directly competes with Kurtz Ersa's Particle Foam Processing business unit in shape moulding and pre-expander equipment.
• Viscom AG: German manufacturer of automated optical and X-ray inspection systems for electronics manufacturing; direct competitor in the inspection segment where Kurtz Ersa operates.
• ASMPT (ASM Pacific Technology): Global leader in SMT assembly equipment including soldering, packaging, and inspection; competes directly with Kurtz Ersa's electronics production equipment business across soldering and line automation.
• ITW EAE: Division of Illinois Tool Works offering soldering, selective soldering, and wave soldering systems (including the Speedline and Electrovert brands); direct competitor in PCB assembly equipment.
• Rehm Thermal Systems: German manufacturer of reflow soldering, vacuum soldering, and selective soldering systems; geographically and product-portfolio aligned with Kurtz Ersa's soldering equipment.

Broad incumbents

• Trumpf: German industrial machinery leader with relevant presence in laser-based manufacturing (competing with Kurtz Ersa's laser solutions) and metal additive manufacturing (3D laser printing); broader portfolio but overlapping technologies.
• Mycronic: Swedish high-tech electronics equipment company with adjacent offerings in assembly and inspection; overlaps with Kurtz Ersa in electronics production with a broader portfolio across SMT and display manufacturing.
• EPSON Robots / Yamaha Robotics: Industrial robotics and pick-and-place suppliers; compete with Kurtz Ersa's Pick & Place and Factory Automation solutions for electronics production lines.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KurtzErsaChannel
• Facebookfacebook.com/globalaheadsustainable
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kurtz-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Kurtz GmbH