Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH

What Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH does

Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH is a privately held German special-purpose machine builder (Sondermaschinenbau) headquartered in Nersingen-Straß, Bavaria. The company designs, engineers, constructs, assembles, and services custom industrial machines, operating entirely in-house across the full value chain from construction through assembly to training and service. Its portfolio centers on two main lines: (1) bespoke cross-industry special machines and (2) catalyst assembly plants (Katalysator Montageanlagen), where the company claims a world-leading position with over 100 proprietary systems deployed at customer facilities globally. Supporting technologies include LabVIEW-based test and control software, image processing (vision) systems, laser measurement and inspection systems, Sonic Drilling (high-frequency resonance drilling), and an Industry 4.0 solution framework.

The flagship branded product is VPS-Roberta®, a registered robot-controlled, self-contained sales unit designed to autonomously fulfill customer requests around the clock. The company serves two primary vertical segments: automotive and exhaust technology (catalyst production for emission control) and cross-industry industrial manufacturing (custom automation and quality inspection). All sales are conducted through direct enterprise field sales to industrial buyers, with no disclosed digital distribution channel. The company is ISO 9001 certified (QAS International) and holds an EcoVadis Silver sustainability rating.

The business model is project-based capital equipment sales (one-time license/equipment revenue) supplemented by professional services for software development, integration, training, and ongoing service. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted per project based on customer specifications. The installed base — 191 machines, 106 catalyst/exhaust plants, presence in 18 countries across 45 customer locations — represents a multi-year track record. No funding rounds, M&A, parent company, or public market activity is disclosed; the firm operates as an independent private GmbH with no stock exchange listing.

Name

Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH

Legal name

Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH

Website

https://kirschenhofer-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH is a German special-purpose machine builder (Sondermaschinenbau) serving automotive/exhaust and industrial manufacturing customers with custom machines, catalyst assembly plants, and supporting automation technologies such as LabVIEW, image processing, and laser measurement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Special Machine Building

NAICS

Machinery Manufacturing (333), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing (33331), Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment, Nec (3569)

akta.pro primary industry

Chemical Processing Equipment (Reactors, Mixers, Agitators) (IMAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Special machine building
• Catalyst assembly plants
• Industrial automation systems
• Laser measurement systems
• Image processing systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Nersingen-Straß

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Special Machine Manufacturing: Design, construction, and assembly of customized special machines for various industries. Revenue is generated through one-time capital equipment sales for custom-engineered solutions.
2. Catalyst Assembly Plants: World-leading supplier of catalyst production plants, with over 100 systems deployed globally. Revenue from plant construction, installation, and commissioning.
3. Software Development & Integration: Custom software development, LabVIEW programming, image processing, and laser measurement system integration services.
4. Training and Service: Comprehensive customer training and ongoing service support for installed machines and systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH designs, builds, and services custom special machines (Sondermaschinenbau) and catalyst assembly plants (Katalysator Montageanlagen) for industrial enterprises, with over 100 catalyst plants and 191 machines deployed worldwide. The company also develops and integrates supporting technologies including LabVIEW-based control software, image processing systems, laser measurement systems, Sonic Drilling processes, and the VPS-Roberta® robotic sales unit. All value chain stages from construction to assembly, training, and service are handled in-house.

Product overview

Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH is a special-purpose machine builder with over 25 years of experience and 40+ employees. The company offers a portfolio of products centered on custom machine building (Sondermaschinenbau) and catalyst assembly plants (Katalysator Montageanlagen), supplemented by specialized systems including image processing (Bildverarbeitungssysteme), laser measurement (Lasermesssysteme), LabVIEW-based test and measurement software, and Sonic Drilling technology. Their flagship product VPS-Roberta® is a robotic self-contained sales unit. All services from construction to assembly, training, and service are handled in-house, with systems deployed at over 100 facilities across 18 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VPS-Roberta®: A modern, robot-controlled and self-contained sales unit that independently fulfills customer wishes at any time of day.

Products and services

• Sondermaschinenbau (Custom Special Machine Building) Tailored, cross-industry complete custom machine building solutions delivered from a single source, covering construction, assembly, training, and service for industrial customers.
• Katalysator Montageanlagen (Catalyst Assembly Plants) Custom-engineered catalyst production and assembly plants for the automotive and exhaust-technology industry, claimed to be in use at more than 100 facilities globally.
• Bildverarbeitungssysteme (Image Processing Systems) Machine vision systems designed for a wide range of industrial applications and components, used for inspection and quality assurance in manufacturing.
• Lasermesssysteme (Laser Measurement Systems) Innovative laser-based measurement and inspection systems deployed across various industries for precision quality control.
• VPS-Roberta® Modern, robot-controlled, self-contained sales unit that autonomously fulfills customer wishes at any time of day, providing 24/7 automated retail-style fulfillment.
• Sonic Drilling Advanced drilling process using high-frequency resonance energy, offered as part of the company's custom machine building and processing capabilities.

Quantifiable outcome

• 191 machines deployed worldwide
• +3 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 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.

• Selected Suppliers (unspecified)minorOthersThe company states it works only with absolutely reliable, selected suppliers for components and materials, though no specific supplier names are mentioned.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Krones AG: German specialist machinery leader in beverage/filling line engineering with strong in-house controls, integration, and service capabilities. Comparable business model of custom-engineered capital equipment with full lifecycle service.
• GEA Group: Large German process equipment manufacturer serving chemical, food, and pharma with reactors, mixers, separators, and complete process lines. Overlaps with Kirschenhofer's catalyst plant and custom process equipment activities at broader scale.
• Bühler Group: Swiss process and plant engineering specialist delivering complete production facilities with strong automation/integration capabilities. Comparable for cross-industry custom plant engineering with measurement and control integration.
• Andritz AG: Austrian plant engineering group building complete industrial process lines for chemicals, pulp/paper, metals, and environmental technology. Relevant comparable for full-line process plant delivery and aftermarket support.

Regional players

• SMS group GmbH: German heavy industrial plant engineer for metals and process industries with full-line capability and integrated automation. Relevant regional comparable for plant engineering with high in-house automation content.

Direct peers

• Dürr AG: German industrial automation and process technology group with a strong automotive exhaust/catalyst equipment franchise (e.g., painting and exhaust technology). Directly comparable to Kirschenhofer's catalyst assembly plant business and custom industrial automation offering.
• Multivac Group: German mid-market specialist machinery maker for packaging and processing with significant in-house automation, vision, and laser systems integration. Closely comparable to Kirschenhofer's image processing and laser measurement plus custom machine building stack.
• HEITEC GmbH: German mid-market supplier of custom automation, special machines, and industrial software/controls. Highly comparable to Kirschenhofer's Sondermaschinenbau + LabVIEW/image-processing stack for industrial OEMs.

Others

• Festo AG: Global automation component and subsystem supplier with strong factory/process automation hardware and software. Comparable as a peer technology supplier for industrial automation within custom machine building.
• Bürkert Fluid Control Systems: German process control and fluid handling component supplier commonly integrated into chemical process lines. Comparable as an ecosystem supplier to catalyst and chemical plant builders such as Kirschenhofer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kirschenhofer-maschinen-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Kirschenhofer Maschinen GmbH