What Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen does

Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen is a Netherlands-based specialist in ergonomic lifting equipment, founded in 1974 by Leo Rijsbergen in Veenendaal, Utrecht, and currently headquartered in Ede. The company operates as a value-added distributor and application integrator of premium ergonomic lifting brands, holding authorized dealer relationships with TAWI, Vacu-Jojolift, Hovmand, Logitrans, PARATUS, Payne, STS Handling, and Palletmaster. Its portfolio spans vacuum lifters for bags, boxes, drums, and jerrycans; mobile lifting aids (Hovmand Impact series with capacities from 70 kg to 200 kg); drum, box, and jerrycan tilters (capacities up to 1,000 kg for boxes and 350 kg for drums); pallet changers (Payne and PARATUS, the latter using patented sliding technology achieving pallet changes in under 30 seconds); pallet magazines, lift tables, mobile lift columns, stackers, scissor pallet trucks, and drum handling systems. Product variants include RVS (stainless steel) for hygienic environments, IP66-rated for wet conditions, and ATEX-certified for explosive atmospheres.

The business model combines equipment sales (purchase or lease) with recurring service revenue from legally mandated annual safety inspections, preventive maintenance contracts, and repair services delivered by certified field technicians (VCA, forklift, and aerial work platform certified). A custom-engineered lifting solutions line (maatwerk) addresses unique workplace requirements. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales with quote-based pricing; prospects are invited to test equipment with their own materials at the 450 m² Experience Center in Ede, located near the A30 motorway. Marketing channels include the company website, participation in trade shows such as Empack, and direct consultation with account managers. Primary customer verticals are food & beverage (including KLM Catering, Le Duc, SanoRice, Vreugdenhil Dairy Foods, Royal Fassin, Kerry Group), pharmaceutical (ACE Pharmaceuticals), logistics and distribution, chemicals, and industrial manufacturing. The company is privately held, appears family-influenced (with Bert Rijsbergen continuing as a key figure and Data Protection Officer), and operates with approximately 12 employees serving the Dutch market.

Name

Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen

Legal name

Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen

Website

https://erkon.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen is a Netherlands-based specialist distributor of ergonomic lifting equipment since 1974, serving enterprise customers in food, pharmaceutical, logistics, and industrial sectors through multi-brand hardware, custom solutions, and certified maintenance services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Construction and Mining (except Oil Well) Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (423810), Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53241), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537), Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080)

akta.pro primary industry

Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lifting & Hoisting Rental & Leasing (IMAHAJAN), Dumbwaiter & Material Lift Service & Maintenance (BPABAIAJ), Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Ergonomic lifting equipment
• Vacuum lifting systems
• Material handling solutions
• Pallet changing equipment
• Industrial drum handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Ede

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of ergonomic lifting equipment including vacuum lifters, drum turners, pallet changers, tilting devices, and mobile lifting solutions. Customers can purchase or lease equipment.
2. Service, Maintenance & Inspection: Annual safety inspections (legally required), preventive maintenance contracts, repair services, and installation services performed by qualified service technicians (VCA, forklift, and aerial work platform certified).
3. Equipment Leasing: Customers can choose to buy or lease tilting equipment, pallet changers, and other devices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen sells and leases ergonomic lifting equipment including vacuum lifters, mobile lifting aids, drum and box tilters, pallet changers, pallet magazines, lift tables, and scissor pallet trucks, supplied as an official dealer of brands such as TAWI, Vacu-Jojolift, Hovmand, Logitrans, PARATUS, and Payne. The company complements its hardware portfolio with custom-engineered lifting solutions, certified field service, annual safety inspections, and preventive maintenance contracts for industrial, warehouse, and workshop customers in the Netherlands. Operations are anchored by a 450 m² Experience Center in Ede for product demonstrations and customer-side testing.

Product overview

Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen is a Netherlands-based specialist in ergonomic lifting equipment, operating since 1974. Its portfolio is organized around a core hardware platform supplemented by multiple product categories and services. The product lineup centers on vacuum lifters (Vacu-Jojolift and TAWI brands, covering bags, boxes, drums, and jerrycans), mobile lifting aids and lift trucks (Hovmand-branded Impact series), and a range of tilting devices including box/crate tilters (Logitilt, Rotator), drum tilters (Multi Drum Turner), jerrycan tilters, and RVS tilters for hygienic environments. Supporting equipment includes pallet changers (Payne and PARATUS brands), pallet magazines/automata (Palletmaster), lift tables, mobile lift columns, stackers, drum handling systems, scissor pallet trucks (Logitrans), and the TAWI Container Unloader. Several products are available in specialized variants: RVS (stainless steel) for food and pharmaceutical industries, IP66-rated for wet environments, and ATEX-certified for explosive atmospheres. Custom manufacturing services (maatwerk) address unique workplace requirements. Erkon also operates a 450 m² Experience Center in Ede for live product demonstrations and testing, and provides annual safety inspections, maintenance contracts, and repair services through certified field technicians.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vacuum Lifters (Vacuümheffers) Ergonomic vacuum lifting devices for bags, boxes, drums, and jerrycans using suction technology. Available in RVS (stainless steel) and ATEX-certified variants for food and pharmaceutical industries. Includes accessories such as column jib cranes, wall jib cranes, crane rail systems, suction cups, grippers, quick-change systems, and lift hoses. Brands include Vacu-Jojolift (VJL103 through VJL320, capacities 30-120 kg) and TAWI systems (TP-series 35-65 kg, VM-series 30-50 kg).
• TAWI Container Unloader Mobile platform equipped with an integrated vacuum lifter and powered conveyor belt for efficient and ergonomic unloading of containers. Lifts up to 50 kg and supports dragging loads up to 80 kg.
• TAWI Mobile Order Picker (MOP) Mobile vacuum lifter unit compatible with any type of forklift or pallet truck, enabling ergonomic order picking of bags and boxes up to 80 kg.
• Mobile Lifting Aids / Lift Trucks (Verrijdbare tilhulpen / Hefwagens) Mobile lifting aids and lift trucks for lifting, turning, and tilting. Includes Hovmand-branded models (Impact 70, Impact 80, Impact 90, Impact 130, Impact 200) with various load capacities. Available in standard, IP66, and RVS (stainless steel) versions.
• Jerrycan Tipper (Jerrycan-kantelaar) Ergonomic device for lifting, tilting, and emptying plastic jerrycans. Small model handles 15, 20, or 25 L cans up to 40 kg; Large model handles 60 L cans up to 80 kg. Equipped with a manual rotation unit and rotates 360° with stops every 30°. Compatible with GO-lift, Hovmand Impact 70, Impact 80, Impact 90, and Impact 130.
• Box/Bin Tilter (Kistenkantelaar) Machines for transporting, lifting, and tipping boxes, mesh boxes, and bins. Includes Logitilt (tilts up to 90°) and Rotator models (tilts up to 180° with touchscreen display). Both models available with standard or wide-track chassis. Max load capacity: 1,000 kg.
• Drum Tilter / Multi Drum Turner (Vatenkantelaar) Ergonomic drum tilter with flexible grips that adapt to drums of any diameter (300-600 mm) without tools. Electric opening/closing, tilting, lifting, and lowering. Capacity up to 350 kg, lift height up to 2,100 mm, rotates 360°. Available in hand-propelled or electric mobile versions and wide-track configuration.
• Payne Pallet Changer (Palletwisselaar / Palletkantelaar) Machine for safely and efficiently switching pallets by clamping and tilting (180°). Handles all pallet types (euro and block pallets) up to 2,000 kg. Available for purchase or lease, including short-term rental.
• PARATUS Pallet Changer (Palletwisselaar) Fast pallet changer that slides pallets away in under 30 seconds using patented technology, placing the load directly on a new pallet. Made in Germany with heavy-duty roller-bearing slide and integrated spring mechanism. Available in CLASSIC, MOBILE, MULTI, and LIFT variants. Capacity up to 2,000 kg. Optional RVS version.
• Pallet Magazine / Dispenser (Palletautomaat) Automated pallet magazine for efficient stacking and unstacking of pallets, reducing physical strain and preventing long-term absence. Brands include Palletmaster.
• Lift Tables (Heftafels) Ergonomic lifting tables for raising goods to a comfortable working height, available in manual and electric versions.
• Mobile Lift Columns (Mobiele hefkolommen) Mobile lift columns providing height-adjustable lifting for various industrial applications.
• Stackers (Stapelaars) Stackers for stacking and handling pallets and heavy goods, available in manual and electric configurations.
• Drum Handling Equipment (Vatenhandling) Equipment for safe handling, tilting, and emptying of drums, available in various configurations including STS drum handlers and Multi Drum Turner.
• Logitrans Scissor Pallet Truck (Schaarpallettruck) Scissor pallet truck from Logitrans for ergonomic lifting of pallets to comfortable working heights. Available in manual and electric versions, with lifting capacity up to 1,500 kg (1,000 kg from 470 mm lift height). RVS (stainless steel) version available for hygienic environments in food and pharmaceutical industries.
• Custom Lifting Solutions (Maatwerk tilhulpmiddelen) Custom-designed lifting aids tailored to specific workplace requirements, including RVS (stainless steel) configurations, high IP ratings, ATEX certifications, and specialized attachments for unique handling needs.
• Service, Maintenance & Inspection (Service, Onderhoud & Keuring) Annual mandatory safety inspections, preventive maintenance, repairs, and installation services performed by certified service technicians (VCA, forklift, and aerial work platform certified). Includes maintenance contracts with flexible frequency.
• Experience Center Ede A 450 m² demonstration and testing facility in Ede where customers can test Erkon products with their own goods. Serves as a key advisory and sales engagement channel. Central location near A30, accessible from Utrecht, Arnhem, and Amersfoort regions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminated manual lifting of heavy bags (20-25 kg milk powder)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and standard.

• TAWIcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial dealer of TAWI vacuum lifting systems, mobile order pickers, container unloaders, and high-frequency lifters. TAWI products are featured extensively across product categories including bag, box, and drum handling.
• HovmandcoreTechnology or IntegrationAuthorized dealer of Hovmand mobile lifting devices including Impact 70, Impact 80, Impact 130, and Impact 200M series. Featured in multiple customer case studies.
• LogitranscoreTechnology or IntegrationDealer of Logitrans products including scissor pallet trucks, Logitilt, and Rotator tilting devices. RVS and standard models available.
• Vacu-JojoliftcoreTechnology or IntegrationDealer of Vacu-Jojolift (VJL series) vacuum lifters including VJL103, VJL124, VJL165, VJL188, VJL210, and VJL320 models for bag and material handling.
• PARATUScoreTechnology or IntegrationDealer of PARATUS pallet changers including CLASSIC, MOBILE, MULTI, and LIFT variants. German-made equipment with patented sliding technology.
• PaynestandardTechnology or IntegrationDealer of Payne pallet changers and pallet tilting equipment for pallet exchange operations in food and logistics industries.
• STS HandlingstandardTechnology or IntegrationDealer of STS drum handling equipment for ergonomic and efficient drum manipulation in industrial environments.
• PalletmasterstandardTechnology or IntegrationDealer of Palletmaster automated pallet stacking equipment for automated storage and handling of pallets.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TAWI: Swedish OEM of vacuum lifting systems, mobile order pickers, and container unloaders. Erkon's principal supplier for the TAWI product line but competes directly with Erkon in vacuum lifting product category across European industrial customers.
• Hovmand: Danish manufacturer of mobile lifting aids including the Impact 70/80/130/200M series. Erkon's authorized dealer for these products but competes in the same mobile lifting aids category with overlapping end customers.
• Binar Handling: Swedish manufacturer of ergonomic vacuum lifting systems and bag-handling equipment. Directly competes with Erkon's vacuum lifting portfolio (Vacu-Jojolift/TAWI) for industrial food and pharma customers across Northern Europe.
• Logitrans: Danish manufacturer of scissor pallet trucks, Logitilt tilters, and Rotator tilting devices. Erkon's principal supplier but competes directly with Erkon in pallet handling and tilting solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Demag: Established industrial crane, hoist, and material handling equipment manufacturer. Operates broadly in lifting equipment with overlapping capabilities for industrial customers in factory and warehouse environments.
• Konecranes: Global leader in overhead cranes, hoists, and material handling equipment. Adjacent to Erkon's lifting solutions space with broader product portfolio including industrial cranes serving similar manufacturing customers.
• Columbus McKinnon: Major North American manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and lifting solutions. Broad incumbent in industrial lifting with overlapping product categories such as chain hoists and lifting accessories used in industrial applications.
• Bolzoni Auramo: Italian manufacturer of material handling attachments including forks, clamps, and lifting solutions. Overlaps with Erkon's material handling product portfolio serving similar industrial customer base.
• Jungheinrich: Major intralogistics provider with broad portfolio of forklifts, pallet trucks, and warehouse equipment. Adjacent incumbent with overlapping products in pallet handling and warehouse material handling.
• Toyota Material Handling: European arm of Toyota's material handling division offering forklifts, pallet trucks, and warehouse equipment. Broad incumbent with overlapping product lines in pallet handling and warehouse material movement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/erkon-tilhulpmiddelen

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Erkon Tilhulpmiddelen