Schaffran Propeller Service GmbH

What Schaffran Propeller Service GmbH does

Schaffran Propeller Service GmbH is a privately held German marine propulsion manufacturer headquartered in Lübeck, operating under the legal entity name SCHAFFRAN PROPELLER + SERVICE GmbH (HRB 4099, Registergericht Lübeck). The company designs and builds custom marine propellers and complete shaft systems, including fixed-pitch propellers (3–7 blades, bronze or stainless steel), hydraulic variable-pitch propellers (3–5 blades, 45°–120° adjustment angles with optional sail position), and full stern gear packages with component lengths up to 16 metres. Engineering is performed in-house at the Lübeck facility using Finite Element Method (FEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools, complemented by specialized measuring technology for quality assurance. The firm has held ISO 9001:2015 certification from Bureau Veritas continuously since 2001 and produces components certified to multiple international classification societies (ABS, BV, DNV, LRS, RINA).

The business serves a vertical maritime customer base across motor and sailing yachts, naval and government vessels, search-and-rescue operators (notably the German DGzRS fleet), passenger ferries and river cruise ships, and special-purpose vessels including research ships and offshore support craft. Pricing is project-specific and quote-based, with each propeller engineered to the customer's vessel requirements and classification-society specifications; revenue is generated primarily through one-time new-build project sales, plus ongoing repair and overhaul services, contract machining work, and worldwide spare parts and on-site assembly. The go-to-market is direct sales with consultative engagement from design through after-sales, supplemented by trade-show presence (SMM Hamburg) and a bilingual (German/English) website for international reach. Managing Director Stefan Lange leads the business from the Lübeck headquarters, which houses the design, manufacturing, and repair workshops.

The company traces its heritage to the 1911 founding of Lübecker Motorenfabrik Lehne & Co. and the 1932 establishment of Schaffran-Propeller as a design office in Hamburg. Subsequent milestones include relocation to Lübeck (1957), the merger with the Lehne entity (1967), re-establishment as the current GmbH (1996), ISO 9001 certification (2001), and a major machinery expansion adding 14m and 16m lathes plus additional drilling capacity (2009). Today's offering integrates custom design, in-house heavy machining, classification-society-certified production, and aftermarket services for both Schaffran and competitor propeller systems, positioning the firm as a niche quality-oriented supplier in the German and broader European marine propulsion market.

Name

Schaffran Propeller Service GmbH

Legal name

SCHAFFRAN PROPELLER + SERVICE GmbH

Website

https://schaffran-propeller.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schaffran Propeller Service GmbH is a privately held Lübeck-based marine propulsion manufacturer designing and building custom fixed-pitch and hydraulic variable-pitch propellers, complete shaft systems, and repair services for yachts, naval, government, search-and-rescue, and passenger vessels worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Marine Propulsion Systems

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Ship Building and Repairing (336611), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)

SIC

Engines & Turbines (3510), Ship & Boat Building & Repairing (3730)

akta.pro primary industry

Propellers & Waterjets (IMAJAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Propulsion Drives, Gearboxes & Shaftlines (IMAJAHAD), Propulsion MRO, Spares & Field Service (Overhauls, retrofits, upgrades) (IMAJAHAN), Propulsion Integration, Commissioning & Testing (Factory/sea trials, alignment) (IMAJAHAM), Marine Hybrid & Electric Propulsion Systems (IMAJAHAC)

Keywords

• Marine propeller manufacturing
• Ship shaft systems
• Variable pitch propellers
• Propeller repair services
• Contract machining services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lübeck

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Propeller and Shaft System Sales: Project-related construction and manufacturing of new fixed-pitch propellers, variable-pitch propellers, and complete shaft systems. Custom-designed products tailored to specific vessel requirements and classification society regulations.
2. Repair and Overhaul Services: Repair, maintenance, and overhaul services for propellers and shaft systems. Includes blade straightening, welding, pitch modification, polishing, balancing, and grinding services. Also covers recreational vessel repairs.
3. Contract Machining: Job work services for industrial parts including turning, milling, and drilling operations on components up to 16m length. Services include propeller shafts, rudder shafts, flanges, bushings, and bearings.
4. Spare Parts and Assembly Service: Worldwide spare parts supply and on-site assembly services for fixed-pitch and variable-pitch propeller systems. Replacement blades for variable-pitch propellers from various manufacturers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Schaffran Propeller + Service GmbH designs, engineers, and manufactures custom marine propulsion systems at its Lübeck headquarters, including fixed-pitch propellers, hydraulic variable-pitch propellers, and complete shaft/stern gear systems. The company also provides repair, overhaul, and performance-modification services for propellers and shaft systems, a worldwide spare parts and on-site assembly service, and contract machining for industrial parts up to 16 metres in length.

Product overview

Schaffran Propeller + Service GmbH offers a unified portfolio of marine propulsion products centered on custom-designed propellers and shaft systems. The core offerings consist of fixed-pitch propellers and hydraulic variable-pitch propellers (the company's original product since the 1960s), complemented by complete shaft systems (Wellenanlagen/Stern gears). The product range spans from initial design and manufacturing through to after-market support including repair services and contract machining operations. All products are engineered at the Lübeck headquarters and tailored to individual customer specifications, with particular focus on high efficiency, minimal fuel consumption, and noise/vibration minimization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• High efficiency with minimum fuel consumption through optimized propeller design using FEM and CFD applications
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Schottel GmbH: German marine propulsion specialist producing controllable-pitch propellers, azimuth thrusters, and complete propulsion systems for ships, yachts, and special vessels. Closely comparable in product scope (propellers + shaft systems) and European customer base.
• Brunvoll AS: Norwegian manufacturer of azimuth thrusters, controllable-pitch propellers, and complete marine propulsion packages for offshore, navy, and merchant vessels. Comparable as a specialized European propeller/thruster engineering house serving similar end markets.
• Nakashima Propeller Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of marine propellers and stern gear systems with extensive classification-society certifications and a similar custom engineering model. Comparable product portfolio (fixed/controllable pitch, shafts, repair services) and global customer reach.
• Teignbridge Propellers International: UK-based propeller manufacturer producing fixed-pitch and controllable-pitch propellers for commercial, naval, and superyacht applications. Closely comparable as a heritage European propeller specialist with custom-engineering and MRO capabilities.
• Voith Turbo (Voith Schneider Propeller): German propulsion specialist behind the Voith Schneider Propeller and related marine drive systems. Comparable on variable-pitch/controllable-pitch propeller engineering for vessels including ferries, naval, and special-purpose ships.
• Hermann Bussmann GmbH & Co. KG: German propeller manufacturer and MRO provider specializing in controllable-pitch and fixed-pitch marine propellers. Highly comparable as a German mid-market specialist with similar product range, classification-society approvals, and European customer base.

Broad incumbents

• MAN Energy Solutions: Tier-1 supplier of marine engines, turbochargers, and propulsion systems for merchant and naval vessels. Comparable on propulsion component manufacturing and classification-society-qualified engineering, but at vastly larger scale.
• ABB Marine & Ports: Global supplier of marine electric propulsion, Azipod podded drives, and integrated propulsion systems. Comparable in propulsion system scope and growing relevance as hybrid/electric transition accelerates; broader portfolio but overlapping end customers.
• Wärtsilä: Global marine technology major offering engines, propellers, integrated propulsion systems, and lifecycle services. Overlaps with Schaffran in propeller/shaft scope but operates as a broad incumbent across the full marine value chain.

Regional players

• MWB Motorenwerke Bremerhaven: German ship repair yard and propeller service provider offering machining, propeller repair, and shaft services. Comparable on the MRO/aftermarket side of the marine propulsion value chain, especially for vessels operating in Northern European waters.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schaffran-propeller-service-gmbh

Compliance1 record

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 Schaffran Propeller Service GmbH