KSK
KSK is a German family-owned industrial engineering firm that designs and manufactures custom water-cooled plant systems — including furnace covers, closed-loop cooling circuits, and waste heat recovery — for European steel producers and metal recyclers operating electric arc and ladle furnaces.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersHaltern am See, Germany
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What KSK does
KSK Kuhlmann - System - Kühltechnik GmbH is a German family-owned industrial engineering company founded in 1983 and headquartered in Haltern am See, North Rhine-Westphalia, with a secondary manufacturing facility in Brandenburg an der Havel. The company specializes in water-cooled plant systems for energy-intensive melting and recycling processes, serving primarily the German and broader European steel and metal recycling industries. KSK's core offerings include water-cooled furnace covers, closed-loop cooling circuits, pump stations, flue gas cooling, and waste heat recovery systems (including Organic Rankine Cycle) for electric arc furnaces, ladle furnaces, bath melting furnaces, and submerged arc furnaces. Technical differentiation rests on proprietary closed-loop cooling circuit technology with liter-accurate leakage detection, EC motor-managed dry coolers, frequency-controlled pumps, and modular copper pipe-bending and welding capabilities for components up to 40,000 kg and over 9 meters in size. Named customers include ThyssenKrupp, Schmiedewerke Gröditz, Aperam Genk, DEW Witten, and Georgsmarienhütte.
The group operates through four wholly-owned subsidiaries: KSK System Kühl Technik (SKT, core cooling), KSK Stahl System Technik (SST, steel system technology, originally SSB Stahl-System-Bau founded 1995), KSK Elektro Technik Automation (ETA, electrical/PLC/crane automation), and KSK APD (apparatus construction). Revenue is generated through project-based, custom-engineered equipment sales and professional engineering services (planning, FEM/CFD simulation, commissioning, automation, retrofit), priced per quotation with multi-year contract cadence. The go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales — no intermediaries — supported by a biennial proprietary maintenance conference (KSK Instandhaltertag, 3rd edition in June 2026) and active LinkedIn/Instagram/Facebook channels. Ownership remains with the founding Huscher family and co-managing director Andreas Höwedes; the company has 54 employees and no external institutional investor exposure.
KSK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- KSK
- Legal name
- KSK Kuhlmann - System - Kühltechnik GmbH
- Website
- https://ksk-skt.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- KSK is a German family-owned industrial engineering firm that designs and manufactures custom water-cooled plant systems — including furnace covers, closed-loop cooling circuits, and waste heat recovery — for European steel producers and metal recyclers operating electric arc and ladle furnaces.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
KSK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Cooling Systems & Furnace Equipment
- NAICS
- Industrial Process Furnace and Oven Manufacturing (333994), Power Boiler and Heat Exchanger Manufacturing (332410), Heating Equipment (except Warm Air Furnaces) Manufacturing (333414)
- SIC
- Industrial Process Furnaces & Ovens (3567), Heating Equipment, Except Electric & Warm Air Furnaces (3433)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment (IMAHAEAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers) (IMAHAEAC), Chillers & Cooling Plant Equipment (IMAHAKAE), Refractory, Furnace & Kiln Maintenance Services (IMAIACAG)
Keywords
Where KSK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Haltern am See
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
KSK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Industrial Equipment Manufacturing: Design, manufacture, and supply of custom water-cooled plant systems for electric arc furnaces, ladle furnaces, and melting/recycling processes. Products include furnace covers, cooling systems, flue gas components, and waste heat utilization systems. Revenue is project-based with custom-engineered equipment sold as one-time deliverables.
- Engineering and Technical Services: Engineering services including planning, damage analysis, consulting, commissioning, safety engineering, project management, concept and design engineering, FEM/CFD simulation, automation, and technical documentation. Services are provided as project-based consulting engagements.
- Mechanical Fabrication and Assembly: Mechanical manufacturing, assembly, repair, and maintenance services for industrial equipment. Includes copper welding, pipe bending, and on-site installation at customer facilities.
- Automation and Control Systems: Electrical construction, control cabinet building, PLC programming, crane automation, and retrofit services for industrial control systems and switching systems.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing for industrial equipment and engineering services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
KSK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
KSK designs, engineers, manufactures, and commissions custom water-cooled plant systems for industrial melting and recycling furnaces, including furnace covers, closed-loop cooling circuits, pump stations, flue gas cooling, and waste heat recovery systems. The company also delivers engineering, automation (PLC, crane control), and apparatus construction services to steel producers, metal recyclers, and chemical industry operators. All equipment is custom-engineered in Germany and commissioned on-site at customer facilities.
Product overview
KSK System Kühl Technik is a family-owned industrial engineering company specializing in water-cooled systems for energy-intensive melting and recycling processes. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of products and services centered around water-cooled plant systems for steel production, metal recycling, and industrial cooling applications. Core products include electric arc furnaces, ladle furnaces, submerged arc furnaces, flue gas cooling systems, waste heat recovery (including Organic Rankine Cycle), and industrial cooling systems. The product portfolio is complemented by engineering services including planning, automation, and apparatus construction. Manufacturing is conducted in Germany (Haltern am See and Brandenburg an der Havel), producing custom-built individual components that can weigh up to 40,000 kg and exceed 9 meters in size.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Electric Arc Furnace Systems (Elektrolichtbogenofen)
Quantifiable outcome
- Significantly longer service life of water-cooled components compared to refractory-lined versions
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use KSK
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
KSK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
KSK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.
- Schmiedewerke GröditzcoreMajor customer partnership for supply of water-cooled furnace cover and cooling system for 50t electric arc furnace. Successful modernization project completed during winter shutdown 23/24.
- Berufskolleg OstVest des Kreises RecklinghausensupportingEducational partnership for theoretical training of apprentices. KSK's practical training is combined with theoretical education at this vocational school for metalworking trades.
- Phoenix ContactsupportingPhoenix Contact conducted a workshop at KSK ETA on Lean processes, manufacturing simulations, cardboard engineering, and optimization of manufacturing workstations.
- Schulungs- und Servicezentrum Vest GmbH (Sus Vest)supportingPartner for welding training demonstrations at career fairs. Sus Vest provides welding simulation equipment using Extended Reality 3D glasses for virtual welding training.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
KSK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Danieli: Italian supplier of equipment and plants for the steel industry, with strong EAF and ladle furnace offerings; competes head-to-head for the same retrofits KSK targets.
- Tenova: Specializes in metal-producing technologies and EAF optimization; overlaps with KSK's water-cooled furnace covers, automation, and waste heat recovery.
- SMS group: German-based plant builder for the steel industry (EAF, secondary metallurgy, rolling). Same customer base and core equipment categories as KSK, but at vastly larger scale and broader scope.
- Fives: French industrial engineering group with EAF (Promeos/Fives ECL), combustion, and steel services — overlapping footprint in EAF thermal systems and industrial cooling.
- Inductotherm Group: Specialist in melting and heating technologies (induction and resistance furnaces) for steel, foundry, and recycling — directly comparable niche of high-temperature furnace systems.
- Clyde Bergemann (B&W Environmental): Supplies waste heat recovery and flue gas cleaning for steel and metals plants — directly comparable to KSK's flue gas cooling and waste heat / ORC product lines.
- Primetals Technologies: Global leader in metallurgical plant technology with deep footprint in EAF, ladle furnace, and continuous casting equipment — directly comparable to KSK's water-cooled furnace and steel plant systems.
- Küttner: German engineering firm supplying equipment and technologies for the steel, foundry, and metallurgical industries — covers melting, recycling, and cooling areas directly competitive with KSK.
- Andritz Metals: Supplies equipment for the metals processing chain including heat treatment and furnace technologies; competes in adjacent EAF/mechanical plant equipment to KSK.
Broad incumbents
- ABB Process Industries / Metals: Large incumbent automation and electrification supplier to metals plants, competing against KSK ETA for control, drives, and switchgear scope on EAF/ladle furnace upgrades.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
KSK social profiles
Digital presenceKSK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
KSK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
KSK subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
KSK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
KSK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about KSK
What does KSK do?
KSK designs, engineers, manufactures, and commissions custom water-cooled plant systems for industrial melting and recycling furnaces, including furnace covers, closed-loop cooling circuits, pump stations, flue gas cooling, and waste heat recovery systems. The company also delivers engineering, automation (PLC, crane control), and apparatus construction services to steel producers, metal recyclers, and chemical industry operators. All equipment is custom-engineered in Germany and commissioned on-site at customer facilities.
Is KSK a public or private company?
KSK is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was KSK founded?
KSK was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is KSK based?
KSK is headquartered in Haltern am See, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does KSK make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Industrial Equipment Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are engineering and Technical Services, mechanical Fabrication and Assembly and automation and Control Systems.
Who are KSK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Danieli, Tenova, SMS group, Fives, Inductotherm Group, Clyde Bergemann (B&W Environmental), Primetals Technologies, Küttner and Andritz Metals. ABB Process Industries / Metals is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does KSK have an API?
No public API is recorded for KSK.
What industry is KSK in?
KSK's product category is Industrial Cooling Systems & Furnace Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAEAE, Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment, with a secondary code of IMAHAEAC, Heat Transfer Equipment (Heat Exchangers, Boilers, Condensers). Its NAICS code is 333994 and its SIC code is 3567.