Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH

What Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH does

Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH, founded in 1911 and headquartered in Aalen-Wasseralfingen, Germany, is a privately held family-owned manufacturer operating two integrated business lines: precision steel components (primarily crankshafts) and induction hardening machines. The company is the world's largest manufacturer of large crankshafts (1.5–8 meters in length, 1–12 MW power range) serving marine, energy, rail, industrial, and large-engine applications, and also produces automotive crankshafts (up to 1.3m, 850 kW output) on fully automated lines with an annual capacity of 400,000 units. Its second business unit, established in 1952, designs and manufactures proprietary induction hardening machines (BAZ-2, FAST-NG, FLEX 1.5, FLEX 4.0, VHM 1000, UM) and inductors, including 3D-printed inductors via selective laser melting since 2019.

ALFING operates a vertically integrated production chain under one roof — forging, heat treatment (induction hardening, gas nitriding, nitrocarburizing), CNC machining, surface treatment, stroke peening/deep rolling (a patented process for fatigue strength enhancement), assembly, and repair — supported by an in-house material testing laboratory with ISO 9712-certified non-destructive testing, hardness testing, and metallography capabilities. The company is accepted by all major classification societies (ABS, BV, CCS, ClassNK, CR, DNV, IRS, KR, LR, RINA, RMRS, Türk Lloyd) and holds IATF 16949:2016, ISO 9001/14001/45001/50001, and AEO certifications.

ALFING makes money through direct enterprise B2B sales of custom-manufactured precision components (project-specific, quote-based) and induction hardening machines (over 560 delivered worldwide), supplemented by aftermarket services (spare parts, preventive maintenance, remote support, retrofits, training, and SLAs) delivered through service teams in Germany, China, USA, and Mexico. The company sells via a dedicated regional sales force with 100% subsidiary MAFA Shanghai (est. 2013) and 50/50 joint venture Guilin Fuda ALFING (est. 2018) for the Chinese market, plus service offices in Plymouth (USA) and two locations in Mexico. Approximately 1,100–1,400 employees work across 150,000+ m2 of production floor space at the German headquarters, with strategic leadership under Managing Director/CEO Konrad Grimm.

Name

Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH

Legal name

Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH

Website

https://mafade.alfing.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1911

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH is a 114-year-old German family-owned manufacturer and the world's largest producer of large crankshafts (up to 8m), also supplying automotive crankshafts and proprietary induction hardening machines to engine manufacturers, automotive OEMs, and industrial customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Crankshaft Manufacturing

NAICS

Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351), Turned Product and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (33272)

SIC

Metal Forgings & Stampings (3460), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Furnaces, Kilns & Thermal Processing Equipment (IMAHAEAE)

Keywords

• Crankshaft manufacturing
• Induction hardening machines
• Precision steel components
• Forged steel parts
• Engine components

Headquarters

HQ city

Aalen-Wasseralfingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Precision Steel Components (Crankshafts & Other Parts): The company's primary revenue stream from manufacturing and selling precision steel components — large crankshafts for engines (1.5–8m range), automotive crankshafts (up to 1.3m, up to 850 kW output, up to 20,000 RPM), and other rotating symmetric precision parts such as drive shafts, extruder screws, compressor shafts, railway track parts, propellers, and wicket gates. Components are sold fully finished, assembled, dynamically balanced, cleaned, and packaged.
2. Induction Hardening Machines: Design, manufacture, and sale of induction hardening machines (BAZ-2, FAST-NG, FLEX 1.5, FLEX 4.0, VHM 1000, UM, EWM) and associated inductors. Machines are sold globally to engine manufacturers and industrial clients. The company has delivered over 560 crankshaft hardening machines worldwide.
3. Aftermarket & Spare Parts: Spare parts, preventive maintenance, remote support, training, retrofits and extensions, and service agreements (SLA) for hardening machines. Service is delivered globally through own service teams in Germany, China, USA, and Mexico.
4. Repair & Refurbishment Services: Crankshaft repair services including qualified damage assessment, machining, assembly/disassembly, and thermal spray coating to restore components and extend service life.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH manufactures precision steel components—primarily large and automotive crankshafts up to 8 meters—and designs, engineers, and produces its own induction hardening machines and inductors. Operations span forging, heat treatment, mechanical machining, surface treatment, component strength enhancement, assembly, and repair, delivered fully finished and balanced from a single facility.

Product overview

Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH is a manufacturing company offering two core product lines: precision steel components (particularly crankshafts) and induction hardening machines. The crankshaft portfolio includes crankshafts for large engines (1.5-8 meters, 1-12 MW power range) and automotive crankshafts (up to 1.3 meters, 850 kW output). The hardening machine portfolio includes BAZ-2 and FAST-NG (automotive applications, up to 700mm), FLEX 1.5 (truck/bus/agricultural, up to 1.5m), and FLEX 4.0 (large crankshafts, 1.5-4.5m), as well as VHM 1000 and UM (universal/powertrain applications). Supporting products include custom inductors (including 3D-printed since 2019), washing machines, additional modules (barcode reading, RFID inductor management, energy monitoring), energy efficiency services, experimental testing, and comprehensive after-sales service. The company operates from Germany (headquarters) with subsidiaries in China and joint ventures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Crankshafts for Large Engines (Großkurbelwellen) Custom-manufactured crankshafts for large engines in the 1–12 MW power range, 1.5 to 8 meters in length, serving marine, energy, industrial, and large engine applications. ALFING positions itself as the world's largest manufacturer of large crankshafts.
• Crankshafts for Automotive Crankshafts for passenger cars, commercial vehicles, agricultural machinery, motorsports, and high-performance applications up to 850 kW output and 20,000 RPM, with lengths up to 1.3 meters. Produced on fully automated manufacturing lines with annual capacity of approximately 400,000 units.
• BAZ-2 Hardening Machine

Quantifiable outcome

• Components up to 8 meters in length can be machined
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Guilin Fuda ALFING Large Crankshaft Co. Ltd. (ALFU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 May 201850/50 joint venture established in May 2018 between Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH and Guilin Fuda Co. Ltd. (a company that has been producing crankshafts, gears, and clutches since 1996). Located in Guilin, China with sales in Shanghai and Guilin. Annual production capacity approximately 4,000 large crankshafts (length range 1.6–4m). Website: www.alfingfuda.com
• MAFA Shanghai Co. Ltd. (Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler Shanghai Co. Ltd.)coreOthers · 1 April 2013100% subsidiary of Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH established in Shanghai in April 2013. Located in Zhangjiang Hi-Tech Park, Pudong, Shanghai. Handles sales and service for the Chinese market, serving over 20 engine manufacturers in China with large crankshafts and induction hardening machines. Also has operations in Taicang.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eldec: German manufacturer of induction heating technology and equipment for industrial manufacturing, part of Schunk Group. Directly comparable to ALFING in induction technology for industrial hardening and heating applications with overlapping German industrial customer base.
• Doncasters Group: UK-based manufacturer of precision cast and forged components serving aerospace, industrial gas turbines, and high-performance industrial markets. Comparable to ALFING in precision forged components for demanding applications requiring tight tolerances and fatigue strength.
• Bharat Forge: Indian multinational and one of the world's largest forging companies by installed capacity. Manufactures forged crankshafts, connecting rods, and drivetrain components for automotive, industrial, and aerospace applications — directly comparable to ALFING's precision crankshaft forging business.
• Leistritz: German family-owned manufacturer of precision forged components and pumps, including precision-machined shafts and extruder screws for industrial applications. Comparable to ALFING in precision forging of cylindrical components and German industrial customer base.
• Hirschvogel: German family-owned forging company producing forged steel components primarily for automotive applications including transmission and chassis parts. Comparable to ALFING in automotive-grade forged steel component manufacturing and German Mittelstand heritage.
• Teksid: Italian manufacturer of cast iron crankshafts and castings, owned by Stellantis. Serves global automotive OEMs with engine and transmission castings — comparable to ALFING as a major European crankshaft supplier to OEMs, though Teksid's process is casting rather than forging.
• EFD Induction: Norwegian manufacturer of induction heating equipment for industrial applications including brazing, forging, hardening, and heat treatment. Directly comparable to ALFING's induction hardening machine product line with overlapping customer base.
• Ellwood Crankshaft Group: US-based specialty crankshaft manufacturer serving large engine, marine, and power generation markets. Directly comparable to ALFING's large crankshaft business with direct overlap in industrial engine end markets and similar size-class components.

Broad incumbents

• Inductotherm Group: US-based global manufacturer of induction heating and melting equipment across a broader industrial portfolio. A broad incumbent in industrial induction technology with broader scope than ALFING's hardening-focused machine line but with significant product overlap.
• SMS group: German manufacturer of metallurgical plant and rolling mill technology for the metals industry. Broad incumbent in heavy industrial machinery with overlapping customers in steel processing and metal component manufacturing, comparable to ALFING's broader industrial profile at scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xxing.com/pages/maschinenfabrikalfingkesslergmbh
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/MaschinenfabrikAlfingKesslerGmbHAalen/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maschinenfabrik-alfing-kessler
• Instagraminstagram.com/mafa.alfing

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 records

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 Maschinenfabrik ALFING Kessler GmbH