K. Lips AG

What K. Lips AG does

K. Lips AG is a Swiss industrial equipment distributor and authorized service partner headquartered in Altstätten, St. Gallen, founded in 1937 and operating under the "Kremlin" brand. The company holds exclusive Swiss distribution rights for SAMES KREMLIN industrial coating equipment and serves tradespeople, woodworking and cabinet shops, plastics manufacturers, and sandblasting contractors across Switzerland.

The core product portfolio centers on SAMES KREMLIN Airmix coating systems — semi-atomization technology combining air and hydraulic pressure for high-quality finishes with reduced overspray — together with manual spray guns including the Kremlin FPRO G featuring patented Vortex rotary atomization. Supporting offerings include pressure sandblasting equipment (notably the Rosetta unit, described as the most purchased sandblaster in Switzerland), solvent distillation units (15L) that recycle solvents to reduce VOC costs, RPB Nova 3 blast helmets, compressors, accessories, consumables, and rental and secondhand equipment categories.

The business operates a sales-led B2B go-to-market combining a dedicated e-commerce webshop (shop.kremlin.ch), direct sales from the Altstätten headquarters, field engagement for larger installations, and digital marketing across Google Ads, social channels, and a content/blog presence. Revenue is generated through hardware sales, professional services (installation, commissioning, training, warranty repair), equipment rentals, and used-equipment resale, with quote-based pricing and tiered payment terms. With 9 employees and a 10–30 year customer-tenure profile, K. Lips AG functions as a focused niche distributor rather than a scaling technology platform.

Name

K. Lips AG

Legal name

K. Lips AG

Website

https://kremlin.ch

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

K. Lips AG is the exclusive Swiss distributor and service partner for SAMES KREMLIN industrial coating and sandblasting equipment, serving Swiss woodworking shops, plastics manufacturers, and renovation trades with Airmix spray systems, spray guns, and related accessories since 1937.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Coating Equipment

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Application Equipment & Coating Services (Contract Coating, Surface Prep) (IMAEAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Surface Preparation Equipment (Shot Blasting, Scarifiers, Grinders) (IMAHALAL)

Keywords

• Industrial coating equipment
• Spray painting systems
• Sandblasting equipment
• Surface treatment technology
• Airmix coating systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Altstätten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of spray equipment, sandblasting equipment, compressors, and accessories for surface treatment applications. Products include Kremlin FPRO G spray guns, Airmix systems, sandblasting machines (Rosetta), and RPB Nova 3 blast helmets.
2. Professional Services: Installation, commissioning, training, and after-sales service for equipment. Warranty services provided at company domicile in Altstätten. Repair and revision services with 3-month guarantee on repaired components.
3. Rental Equipment: Rental installations (Mietanlagen) available for temporary use, providing equipment access without capital purchase.
4. Used/Secondhand Equipment: Sale of occasion (used/pre-owned) equipment through dedicated category.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

K. Lips AG distributes and services SAMES KREMLIN industrial coating and surface treatment equipment in Switzerland, including Airmix coating systems, manual spray guns with Vortex atomization technology, solvent distillation units, pressure sandblasting machines, and protective accessories. The company complements equipment sales with installation, commissioning, training, repair, and rental services for tradespeople, woodworking shops, plastics manufacturers, and sandblasting contractors.

Product overview

K. Lips AG operates as a specialized distributor of industrial coating and surface treatment equipment under the Kremlin brand. The product portfolio centers on SAMES KREMLIN Airmix coating systems, manual spray guns (including the Kremlin FPRO G Spritzpistole), and related accessories. Supporting this core offering are solvent distillation equipment (Lösemittel Destilliergerät 15L) for VOC cost reduction and sustainability, pressure sandblasting equipment (such as the Rosetta Sandstrahlgerät), and personal protective equipment like the RPB Nova 3 blast helmet. The company also offers compressors, rental systems, and services, serving trades including carpentry, plastics manufacturing, and renovation professionals primarily in Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kremlin FPRO G Spritzpistole Manual Airspray spray gun with new patented Vortex rotary atomization system for high-end coating quality, designed for professional finishing applications.
• Lösemittel Destilliergerät 15L Solvent distillation device with 15L capacity that reduces VOC costs by recycling and distilling solvents used in coating processes, supporting environmentally friendly operations.
• Sandstrahlgerät Rosetta Pressure sandblasting equipment designed as a renovation professional tool, marketed as the most purchased sandblasting equipment in Switzerland.
• Strahlhelm RPB Nova 3 Blast helmet with panoramic view for sandblasting work, featuring tear-off films and weighing 1.7 kg, designed for operator comfort and safety.
• SAMES KREMLIN Airmix Lackieranlagen Airmix coating systems for professional spray painting applications, used by woodworking and plastics manufacturing companies for applying paint and clear coats with high-quality finish.
• Equipment Rental (Mietanlagen) Rental installations for temporary equipment use, allowing customers to access spray painting and sandblasting equipment without capital purchase commitment.
• Used/Secondhand Equipment (Occasion) Sale of pre-owned and used industrial coating and sandblasting equipment through a dedicated category on the webshop.
• Professional Installation and Service Installation, commissioning, training, and after-sales service for SAMES KREMLIN equipment, including warranty service at the Altstätten domicile and repair/revision services with a 3-month guarantee on repaired components.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SAMES KREMLINcoreTechnology or IntegrationSAMES KREMLIN is the primary technology partner and equipment manufacturer whose products K. Lips AG distributes and services in Switzerland. K. Lips AG sells Airmix painting systems, spray guns, and related equipment under the SAMES KREMLIN brand. The partnership includes official distribution rights and authorized service capabilities for SAMES KREMLIN products in the Swiss market.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Venjakob Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of coating, lacquering, and surface finishing systems. Comparable as a European coating line specialist competing in the same wood/plastics finishing end markets.
• Sprimag GmbH: German specialist in industrial coating systems and finishing lines for wood, plastic, and metal. Comparable as a European coating equipment specialist targeting similar woodworking and industrial finishing customers.

Direct peers

• Krautzberger GmbH: German manufacturer of industrial spray painting and surface finishing equipment for wood, metal, and plastic. Comparable as a competing European coating equipment OEM with regional distributor networks.
• Wagner SprayTech (J. Wagner GmbH): German manufacturer of industrial and DIY spray painting equipment including airless, HVLP, and electrostatic systems. Directly comparable as a competing industrial coating equipment brand/distributor serving European tradespeople and manufacturers.
• SATA GmbH & Co. KG: German premium spray gun manufacturer serving automotive refinish and industrial coating applications. Comparable as a competing premium spray gun brand targeting professional finishers, often distributed through regional partners.
• ANEST IWATA: Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of professional spray guns and coating equipment widely distributed in Europe. Directly comparable as a competing premium spray-gun brand in the same customer applications (woodworking, industrial finishing).

Broad incumbents

• Nordson Corporation: US-listed global precision dispensing and coating equipment manufacturer with a substantial industrial coating systems business. Comparable as a broad incumbent whose industrial coating division competes with SAMES KREMLIN's installed base.
• Graco Inc. US-listed global leader in fluid handling equipment, including a large industrial spray and finishing equipment portfolio serving contractors and manufacturers. Comparable as a broad incumbent competing with SAMES KREMLIN technology that K. Lips AG distributes.
• ITW DeVilbiss (Illinois Tool Works): Major manufacturer of professional spray guns, spray booths, and finishing equipment under the DeVilbiss, Binks, and Ransburg brands. Comparable as a competing premium spray-gun brand targeting industrial finishers and automotive refinishers.
• Carlisle Fluid Technologies: Global manufacturer of fluid handling and spray finishing equipment (Binks, DeVilbiss, MS Powder, Ransburg). Comparable as a broad incumbent competitor in industrial spray and powder coating equipment that SAMES KREMLIN customers may evaluate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCu8gjZoHzu8SqBmikl3c8Vw
• Facebookfacebook.com/klipsag
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/k-lips-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/k.lipsag

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 K. Lips AG