FGMA

What FGMA does

FGMA (Fachbetriebsgemeinschaft Maschinenbau e.V.) is a German non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) headquartered in the Frankfurt am Main / Darmstadt region, officially recognized in November 2017 as a Güte- und Überwachungsgemeinschaft under the Federal Water Act framework (AwSV — Verordnung über Anlagen zum Umgang mit wassergefährdenden Stoffen). It functions as a sectoral quality and monitoring body for specialist companies that handle water-hazardous substances in the mechanical engineering, elevator industry, and metalworking sectors, serving approximately 180 member companies with a staff of around six.

The association's core offering is the Fachbetriebszertifizierung (specialist company certification), administered through an admission monitoring examination (€280), a biennial regular monitoring examination (€230), and structured training programs (€410 + €85 examination fee for members; online seminars at €380). Members are subject to recurring compliance monitoring tied to AwSV obligations, creating a steady cycle of fees, examinations, and re-certification. Membership is segmented into VDMA-affiliated firms (€340/year) and non-affiliated firms (€540/year), positioning the association as an industry-recognized signaling mechanism for specialist competence in installations handling water-hazardous materials.

The business model is a hybrid association-and-services structure: recurring annual dues provide a stable revenue base, while examination fees and training programs generate transactional income layered on top. There is no evidence of capital raises, M&A activity, geographic expansion beyond Germany, or adoption of digital or AI-enabled service delivery. The organization operates as a traditional regulatory-adjacent industry body, with revenue closely tied to the size and compliance activity of its member base rather than to contracted enterprise customers or scalable technology products.

Name

FGMA

Legal name

Fachbetriebsgemeinschaft Maschinenbau e.V.

Website

https://fgma.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FGMA is a German non-profit association, recognized under federal water law (AwSV) since 2017, that certifies and monitors roughly 180 specialist companies in mechanical engineering, elevator, and metalworking that handle water-hazardous substances, generating revenue from membership dues, examinations, and training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Compliance Certification

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Business Associations (813910), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Management & Toxic Substances Compliance (TSCA, REACH, GHS/SDS, PFAS Programs) (EUAHABAE)

Keywords

• Specialist company certification
• Water protection compliance
• Equipment inspection services
• Qualification training programs
• Mechanical engineering association

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

FGMA is a German member-owned nonprofit association that certifies mechanical engineering companies as "Fachbetriebe" (specialist companies) under §62 AwSV for handling water-hazardous substances, conducts expert equipment inspections (Anlagenprüfung) by qualified examiners, and provides qualification training and continuing education for designated specialist company representatives (Fachbetriebsbeauftragte). The association, recognized as a Güte- und Überwachungsgemeinschaft under water law since November 1, 2017, serves approximately 180 member companies across mechanical engineering, elevator, and metalworking sectors through annual membership dues, certification fees, and training fees.

Product overview

FGMA (Fachbetriebsgemeinschaft Maschinenbau e.V.) is a professional association for the German mechanical engineering industry focused on plant-related water protection and environmental compliance. Rather than a unified software platform, FGMA offers a portfolio of certification, inspection, and training services. The core offerings include: Fachbetriebszertifizierung (Expert Company Certification) for companies handling water-hazardous substances under AwSV regulations; Anlagenprüfung (Equipment Inspection) conducted by qualified experts; and Schulungen (Training Programs) including Qualifizierungsschulung and Fortbildungsveranstaltungen for Fachbetriebsbeauftragte. Additional services include the FGMA Info-Brief quarterly newsletter and a Mitgliederbereich (Member Area) for accessing documents and resources. FGMA acts as a recognized Güte- und Überwachungsgemeinschaft (quality and monitoring association) under VDMA, providing its approximately 180 member companies with certification, expert inspections, training, and industry exchange opportunities focused on preventive environmental protection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fachbetriebszertifizierung (Expert Company Certification) Certification program for companies in mechanical engineering to become recognized Fachbetriebe (expert companies) under German water protection law (WHG/AwSV). The certification demonstrates compliance with §62 AwSV regulations for handling water-hazardous substances and permits use of the FGMA monitoring trademark. Targeted at member companies in mechanical engineering, elevator, and metalworking sectors.
• Anlagenprüfung (Equipment Inspection) Inspection services conducted by qualified expert examiners (Sachverständige) to verify equipment and systems meet water protection standards. Includes Aufnahme-Überwachungsprüfung (initial admission inspection, €280) and Regel-Überwachungsprüfung (recurring biennial inspection, €230), applicable for one specialist group and one specialist company representative. Targeted at certified Fachbetriebe and member companies.
• Schulungen und Qualifizierungsmaßnahmen (Training and Qualification Programs) Training and qualification programs for designated specialist company representatives (Fachbetriebsbeauftragte) under §62 AwSV. Includes Qualifizierungsschulung (qualification training at €410 per participant plus €85 examination fee) and Fortbildungsveranstaltungen (continuing education events in-person at €410 or online seminar at €380 per participant). Covers Fachbetrieb requirements for metalworking, elevator, and general mechanical engineering sectors.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Recent moves3 records

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland: Major global testing, inspection, and certification organization headquartered in Germany that performs AwSV-relevant plant inspections and industrial certifications at much larger scale and broader scope than FGMA's niche specialist focus.
• TÜV NORD: German technical inspection and certification body delivering industrial and environmental compliance services; addresses the same AwSV-regulated mechanical engineering and water-hazardous substance markets as FGMA.
• TÜV SÜD: Global German testing and certification organization providing industrial inspection and environmental compliance services that overlap with FGMA's specialist company certification and equipment inspection offerings.
• DEKRA: Leading German testing, inspection, and certification body offering industrial and environmental compliance services; competes with FGMA in equipment inspection and certification but operates across many industries and geographies.

Others

• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau): The German mechanical and plant engineering industry association under whose umbrella FGMA operates; comparable as the broader trade association ecosystem player, with FGMA serving as a specialist subgroup within VDMA.
• RAL Deutsches Institut für Gütesicherung und Kennzeichnung: German institute for quality assurance and labeling that recognizes Gütegemeinschaften and administers RAL quality marks; conceptually comparable to the regulatory recognition framework that legitimizes FGMA's monitoring designation.
• DVGW (Deutscher Verein des Gas- und Wasserfaches): German technical and scientific association for gas and water, recognized for setting standards and certifying companies in adjacent water-related technical disciplines; comparable as a similar standards and monitoring body in the broader water-protection ecosystem.
• DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung: Germany's national standards body, comparable as a recognized technical and regulatory body involved in defining the compliance frameworks (DIN/EN/ISO standards) that anchor AwSV-aligned certifications such as those FGMA administers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fgma

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 FGMA