IFT – Institut für Fördertechnik und Logistik, Universität Stuttgart

What IFT – Institut für Fördertechnik und Logistik, Universität Stuttgart does

IFT is a non-profit, public-law research institute embedded within the University of Stuttgart, founded in 1927, that conducts applied research and development in intralogistics, material handling, ropeway engineering, and construction machinery. The institute is organized into three departments: Rope Technology, Technical Logistics in Material Flow Automation, and Technical Logistics in Logistics Processes, employs approximately 40 staff, and operates 2,200 m² of laboratory space. It serves industrial clients (ropeway operators, automotive, logistics, construction machinery), public-sector regulators, and the broader academic community through collaborative research, expert reviews, and post-graduate education.

Its core technical assets include proprietary non-destructive rope-testing devices (SMRT, SVRT, SDRT) developed with industrial partner MESOMATIC, the long-established Feyrer formula for rope fatigue estimation, material flow simulation platforms, condition monitoring systems for roller chains, and an active program in AI/ML methods (deep reinforcement learning, computer vision, machine learning, large language models) applied to logistics problems. IFT has held the status of a Certified Expert Body for ropeways since 1950 and participates in international and European standardization bodies (OIPEEC, EWIV).

IFT's business model is a multi-source public funding stack rather than a commercial revenue model. Income derives from third-party research grants (DFG, AiF, EU frameworks such as Horizon Europe), industry-funded collaborative projects, tuition from the MASTER:ONLINE distance-learning post-graduate program in logistics (in operation since 2002), and fee-based training seminars. The institute does not publish financial figures, and revenue is not separately disclosed from institutional transfers or grant inflows.

Name

IFT – Institut für Fördertechnik und Logistik, Universität Stuttgart

Legal name

Institut f%FCr F%F6rdertechnik und Logistik (IFT) | Universit%E4t Stuttgart

Website

https://ift.uni-stuttgart.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1927

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IFT is a non-profit university research institute at the University of Stuttgart conducting applied research in intralogistics, ropeway technology, and material flow automation for industry, public regulators, and academia via funded research, proprietary testing devices, and the MASTER:ONLINE post-graduate program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Research and Rope Testing Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Engineering Services (54133), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

Cableway Operations, Maintenance & Ropeway Engineering Services (THAIAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) & Advanced Inspection (Phased Array, TOFD, Guided Wave) (EUAEAKAF), Structural & Civil Inspection (Steel, Concrete, Foundations) (EUAEAHAI)

Keywords

• Rope technology testing
• Intralogistics automation research
• Material flow simulation
• Ropeway certification services
• Logistics research institute

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Basic research financed by public funding bodies (DFG, AiF, EU programs). The institute conducts both fundamental and applied research, with applied research funded through industry cooperation projects and research collaborations with industrial partners.
2. Industry Research Collaborations: Applied research projects conducted in cooperation with industrial partners. Own laboratories, workshops, and testing halls enable short-term, individual, and application-oriented implementation of research results.
3. MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement: Extra-occupational online study program offered in cooperation with IAT Stuttgart and Fraunhofer IAO. Provides continuing education for logistics professionals, with individual modules or full Master of Business Engineering degree.
4. Training Seminars and Workshops: Seminars and workshops on rope technology, rope applications, rope monitoring, and rope testing offered to industry and technology professionals.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IFT – Institut für Fördertechnik und Logistik is a university research institute at the University of Stuttgart that develops and tests wire and fibre rope technology, conducts destructive and non-destructive rope inspections, and operates as a certified Expert Body for ropeways and ski lifts since 1950. It also performs applied research and consulting in technical logistics, including material flow simulation, automated guided vehicles, and AI-based optimization of intralogistics systems, and delivers accredited continuing education through the MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement program.

Product overview

IFT is a university research institute organized into three core departments: Rope Technology, Technical Logistics (Material Flow Automation), and Technical Logistics (Logistics Processes). The institute develops and manufactures rope testing equipment (SMRT, SVRT, SDRT series) in cooperation with MESOMATIC GmbH, provides destructive and non-destructive rope testing services, and serves as an Expert Body for Ropeways since 1950. Research activities include AI/ML applications in logistics (deep reinforcement learning, machine learning, computer vision), with simulation capabilities using Plant Simulation and AnyLogic. The institute also offers continuing education through MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement and professional training seminars.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement: A continuing education program offered by IFT in cooperation with IAT Universit%E4t Stuttgart and Fraunhofer IAO, enabling online and part-time study of logistics management leading to a Master of Business Engineering (MBE) degree.

Products and services

• SMRT (Stuttgart Magnetic Rope Testing) Proprietary magneto-inductive rope testing device for non-destructive condition assessment of steel cables, detecting wire breaks (LF), high-resolution rope testing, and loss of metallic area (LMA), with a testing range from 4 mm to 140 mm diameter.
• SVRT (Stuttgart Visual Rope Testing) Visual rope testing device using color cameras, autofocus, and swiveling additional lighting for non-destructive inspection of ropes up to 80 mm diameter; can be combined with all SMRT devices.
• SDRT (Stuttgart Diameter Rope Testing) Non-contact, fully automatic device for precise measurement of rope diameters, part of the SXRT-Welt product family.
• Destructive Rope Testing Services Service-based destructive testing of wire and fibre ropes to determine service life, employing 15 bending machines (up to 500 kN), a tensile testing machine (up to 2,500 kN), and three tension-tension testing machines (up to 2,000 kN); service life estimation is performed using Prof. Feyrer's formula.
• Non-Destructive Rope Testing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Test laboratory for PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) with dynamic drop tower for testing ropes, harnesses, and via ferrata sets
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• MESOMATIC GmbH Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing cooperation partner for the development and series production of rope testing devices. The products of the SXRT-Welt (including SMRT, SVRT, SDRT) are distributed by MESOMATIC. IFT's decades of experience in rope testing device development combined with MESOMATIC's production capabilities create products that are ready for series production and established in practical use.
• Institut für Arbeitswissenschaft und Technologiemanagement (IAT), Universität StuttgartcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partner in the MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement continuing education program. Together with Fraunhofer IAO, IFT and IAT jointly manage this extra-occupational study program qualifying professionals for responsible tasks in logistics management.
• Fraunhofer Institut für Arbeitswirtschaft und Organisation (IAO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partner in the MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement program. The Fraunhofer IAO contributes expertise in work science and technology management to the continuing education offering.
• Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Netzsteuerung (IEH), Universität StuttgartmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the REALIST project (Reality Lab for the accelerated electrification of urban logistics transport in Stuttgart). IEH contributes expertise in energy transmission and high-voltage technology for the electrification of urban logistics transport.
• ARENA2036 Research CampusmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation platform for mobility and production of the future. IFT participates in this research campus as part of the Production Technology Center Stuttgart (PZS), contributing expertise in logistics and material handling for future production systems.
• Produktionstechnisches Zentrum Stuttgart (PZS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Production Technology Center Stuttgart (PZS) is a key research alliance of institutes from the University of Stuttgart focused on production technology. IFT belongs to this center, enabling interdisciplinary collaboration in material handling and logistics.
• Industry Partners (Various)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIFT engages in applied research and industry-funded cooperation projects with various industrial partners across the rope technology, logistics, and mechanical engineering sectors. Research activities focus on projects in wire and fiber ropes conducted with a wide range of partners from industry and science.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Dematic: Global intralogistics integrator offering automated storage, warehousing, and material-handling systems. Overlaps with IFT's material flow automation, AGV, and intralogistics research focus.
• Swisslog: Provider of automated warehouse and distribution-center solutions, including AGVs and shuttle systems. Comparable to IFT as a downstream consumer of advanced material-flow simulation and AI-based control research.
• KNAPP AG: Austrian-headquartered intralogistics specialist in warehouse automation, storage, and order-picking. Overlaps with IFT's R&D in deep-reinforcement-learning warehouse control and AGV coordination.
• LEITNER Group: Major ropeway and cable car manufacturer operating alongside Doppelmayr. Comparable to IFT's served market via its dependence on certified rope inspection, approval, and ropeway engineering services.
• Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group: World's leading manufacturer of cable cars, ropeways, and funiculars. It is a key customer of IFT's expert-body certification and rope testing services and a benchmark for the ropeway industry IFT's NDT work serves.

Others

• Fraunhofer IAO: Fraunhofer IAO is IFT's co-runner of the MASTER:ONLINE Logistikmanagement program and a leading German applied-research institute for production and logistics. It is a peer institution with overlapping intralogistics, AI, and digital-factory research themes.
• MESOMATIC GmbH & Co. KG: Long-standing co-developer and series manufacturer of IFT's SMRT, SVRT, and SDRT rope testing devices. Functions as IFT's commercialization partner for the proprietary NDT device family.
• The AnyLogic Company: Vendor of the AnyLogic multi-method simulation platform used by IFT for material-flow and intralogistics modeling. Adjacent technology peer supplying tooling for IFT's Plant Simulation/AnyLogic-based consulting.

Direct peers

• Tensil International: Tensil develops and markets non-destructive testing equipment (magnetic, inductive, and vision-based) for steel wire ropes. It is the most direct commercial analogue to IFT's SMRT/SVRT/SDRT family and competes in the same rope NDT market.
• Künz GmbH: Austrian-based engineering firm specializing in cranes, ropeway/rope-related systems, and rope testing services. Directly comparable to IFT in destructive rope testing, inspection, and crane/ropeway engineering expertise.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UniStuttgartTV
• Facebookfacebook.com/Universitaet.Stuttgart
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ift-institut-f%C3%BCr-f%C3%B6rdertechnik-und-logistik-universit%C3%A4t-stuttgart
• Instagraminstagram.com/unistuttgart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IFT – Institut für Fördertechnik und Logistik, Universität Stuttgart