What Mafu does

MAFU is a German industrial automation group headquartered in Rosenfeld, Baden-Württemberg, specializing in feeding, handling, and untangling solutions for difficult-to-separate bulk material parts such as springs, bent wire parts, and circlips. Founded in 1976 by Manfred Fuß, the group operates eight wholly-owned subsidiaries (MAFU Automation, Systemtechnik, Mechanik, Wenness, Havemo, Robotics, Hensle, Sherpa) employing more than 350 people across Germany and Switzerland, and serves industrial manufacturing, semiconductor, medical/pharmaceutical, metalworking/CNC, and automotive customers.

The product portfolio centers on patent-protected untangling technology, supported by feeding systems (stainless steel spiral conveyors, polyamide bowl feeders, step lifts, ball feeders, high-performance linear feeders), flexible feeding platforms (MAFU Flex, Performance Flex, HeavyFlex), palletizing systems (PTS Line, HIGHCUBE, Heavy HIGHCUBE), CNC machine tool automation (robot cells handling parts from 1 kg to 500 kg), Industry 4.0-enabled screw tightening systems with measurement and visualization, and — through MAFU Robotics — vacuum and cleanroom wafer handling for semiconductor front-end equipment (CVD, PVD, etching). Computer vision and image-processing features are embedded in CNC and screwdriving lines, supplemented by a co-development partnership with Visicontrol on AI-based quality assurance.

Revenue is generated primarily through direct enterprise sales of custom-engineered automation hardware, complemented by standardized product lines, professional manufacturing services (MAFU Mechanik, MAFU Systemtechnik), and aftermarket service and components. Pricing is quotation-based rather than list-published, and go-to-market relies on a dedicated field sales force, a dense trade show calendar (Motek, AMB, SchraubTec, SemiCon Europa, Medical Technology Ireland, Visionen), the new Tuningen Technology Center for live demonstrations, and partnership co-marketing with Stäubli, Zimmer Group, Harro Höfliger, and VDMA. The group is privately held, led by Managing Partner and CEO Ralph Lehleuter, with no external institutional investment disclosed.

Name

Mafu

Legal name

MAFU Holding GmbH

Website

https://mafu.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

MAFU is a privately held German industrial automation group of eight subsidiaries specializing in feeding, untangling, and material handling systems for bulk parts. Serving industrial manufacturing, semiconductor, medical technology, and CNC machining customers with 350+ employees across Germany and Switzerland.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339), Machinery Manufacturing (333)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Bulk Solids Handling & Processing Equipment (Conveying, Silo, Feeders) (IMAHAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Conveying, Feeding & Accumulation Systems (Packaging Lines) (IMAHAOAK), End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

Keywords

• Industrial automation systems
• Feeding technology equipment
• Untangling bulk materials
• Palletizing automation
• CNC machine automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Rosenfeld

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices11 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automation Systems Sales: Sale of complete automation systems including untangling technology, feeding systems, palletizing systems, CNC automation, and screw tightening systems. Revenue generated from custom-engineered solutions and standardized product lines.
2. Manufacturing Services: Precision parts manufacturing, CNC machining, assembly services, and product development from prototype to series production. MAFU Mechanik provides precision parts while MAFU Systemtechnik offers complete manufacturing services including assembly of functional modules.
3. Service & Components: Aftermarket services including spare parts, maintenance, round conveyors, linear drives, hopper systems, testing systems, and control devices.
4. Vacuum and Clean Room Handling: Specialized handling systems for semiconductor manufacturing, including wafer handling in vacuum environments for CVD, PVD, or etching processes.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MAFU manufactures and sells automation systems for industrial production, including patent-protected untangling technology for difficult bulk material parts (springs, bent wire parts, circlips), feeding and conveyor technology, flexible feeding systems, palletising systems, CNC machine tool automation (robot cells up to 500 kg), and screw tightening systems with Industry 4.0 capability. The company also offers precision parts manufacturing services and after-sales service and components.

Product overview

MAFU Automation is a market leader in feeding and supplying bulk material parts that are difficult to keep untangled, such as springs, bent wire parts, and circlips. The company offers an integrated portfolio of automation solutions organized into five core product categories: Untangling Technology (including drum feeders, ring feeders, separation systems, and untangling modules), Feeding Technology (stainless steel spiral conveyors, polyamide bowl feeders, step lift conveyors, ball feeders, and high-performance linear feeding systems), Flexible Feeding Systems (MAFU Flex, Performance Flex, HeavyFlex, and Flexibowl Components), Palletising Systems (PTS Line, HIGHCUBE, and Heavy HIGHCUBE for addressing labor shortages), Machine Tool Automation (robot cells for CNC automation handling parts from 1 kg to 500 kg), and Tightening Systems (screw driving machines, screw technology, measurement technology, and visualization for quality assurance). The company also provides comprehensive service and components support. MAFU positions itself as a full-solution provider with Industry 4.0 capabilities, intelligent image processing, and a new Technology Center for demonstrations and feasibility testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MAFU Flex: Flexible feeding system
• Performance Flex
• HeavyFlex
• PTS Line
• HIGHCUBE
• Heavy HIGHCUBE

Products and services

• Untangling Technology Patent-protected solutions for untangling springs, bent wire parts, circlips and other difficult-to-handle bulk material parts, including drum technology, ring feeders, separation systems, pre-untangling systems and untangling modules. Sold to industrial manufacturers requiring automated feeding and material handling.
• Feeding Technology Innovative feeding technology for process stability, including stainless steel spiral conveyors, polyamide bowl feeders, step lifts, ball feeders, and high-performance linear systems. Sold to industrial manufacturers requiring automated parts feeding.
• Flexible Feeding Systems Flexible feeding systems including MAFU Flex, Performance Flex, HeavyFlex and Flexibowl Components, providing a single configurable solution for varied part geometries and production requirements. Sold to manufacturers needing flexible, multi-product feeding.
• Palletising Systems Standardized palletising systems including PTS Line, HIGHCUBE and Heavy HIGHCUBE for automated loading and unloading of workpieces, addressing manufacturing labor shortages. Sold to industrial manufacturers and metalworking operations.
• Machine Tool Automation Robot cells for CNC machine automation, including camera-guided systems for flexible applications up to 1 kg, mobile cells for turning and milling up to 70 kg, workpiece and pallet handling for milling up to 300 kg, and modular large cells up to 500 kg. Sold to metalworking companies and CNC machine operators.
• Tightening Systems Screw driving systems with Industry 4.0 capability, including the EVOLUTION/EVO Line, screw technology and tools, measurement technology for quality assurance, and visualization for process safety. Sold to assembly operations and manufacturers requiring automated screwdriving.
• Planar Wafer Handling System First planar wafer handling system that operates floating in vacuum for semiconductor manufacturing processes such as CVD, PVD, and etching. Sold to semiconductor industry customers requiring ultra-clean wafer handling.
• Service & Components After-sales service offering including round conveyors, linear drives, hopper systems, testing systems, control devices, and rental equipment for screw driving systems. Sold to existing MAFU customers requiring spare parts, maintenance, and rental options.

Quantifiable outcome

• Shortened project duration through smooth system integration
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Harro HöfligercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2026Joint presentation at MAFU Innovation Days 2026. Collaboration on safe, precise, and economical feeding processes for medical and pharmaceutical industries. MAFU provides broad spectrum of modern feeding technology while Harro Höfliger contributes solutions in medical and pharmaceutical technology.
• StäublicoreTechnology or Integration · 20 October 2026Joint presentation at MAFU Innovation Days 2026 on cleanroom robotics. Collaboration combining Stäubli's precise robotics with MAFU's flexible feeding technology for pharmaceutical and healthcare automation.
• Zimmer GroupcoreTechnology or Integration · 20 October 2026Joint presentation at MAFU Innovation Days 2026 on gripping technology. Combined gripping technology, robotics, and feeding technology for maximum production efficiency.
• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 October 2026Joint presentation at MAFU Innovation Days 2026. VDMA discusses competitiveness in changing market environment and the opportunities in transformation, emphasizing the role of mid-sized companies like MAFU.
• ARS AutomationminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnership started in 2023. ARS Automation collaboration extended production area at Korb location by over 30%.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Afag Holding AG: Swiss-based automation specialist offering feeding technology, handling systems, and assembly automation. Closely comparable to MAFU on feeding/handling technology for industrial parts, with similar customer base in DACH industrial manufacturing.
• Robojob NV: Belgium-headquartered maker of standardized robotic cells for CNC turning and milling machines. Direct competitor in the SME-focused CNC automation segment where MAFU-Sherpa competes, with similar product positioning for high-wage European manufacturers.
• RNA Automation Ltd: UK-based manufacturer of vibratory bowl feeders, linear feeders, and part-handling automation. Directly competes with MAFU's feeding technology and flexible feeding systems for bulk material parts in industrial assembly applications.
• Halter CNC Automation: Provider of standardized robot cells for CNC machine loading/unloading targeting SME metalworking shops. Directly comparable to MAFU-Sherpa CNC Automation in targeting small and medium metalworking companies seeking turnkey automation.
• DEPRAG SCHULZ GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer of screwdriving and assembly automation technology, including feeding systems and tightening equipment. Directly overlaps with MAFU's tightening systems and feeding technology product lines, serving similar industrial customers in DACH region.
• Weber Schraubautomaten GmbH: German manufacturer of screwdriving and assembly automation systems including feeding and tightening technology. Direct overlap with MAFU's tightening systems product line, serving similar assembly automation customers.

Broad incumbents

• Festo AG & Co. KG: Global German automation incumbent offering pneumatic and electric automation, feeding systems, and assembly solutions. Overlaps with MAFU on feeding/handling but operates at significantly larger scale with a broad product portfolio beyond specialty feeding.
• KUKA AG: Global German robotics and automation company with broad palletizing, machine tending, and assembly automation offerings. Competes with MAFU on palletizing systems and CNC robotic cells but as part of a much larger robotics platform.
• Schunk GmbH & Co. KG: Global German specialist in gripping systems and automation technology. Adjacent competitor to MAFU's handling and feeding systems, with established partner relationship to Zimmer Group — overlapping in CNC automation and assembly markets.
• Brooks Automation: US-based global leader in semiconductor wafer handling and automation equipment. Competes directly with MAFU Robotics in the vacuum wafer handling segment for semiconductor fabs, but at significantly larger scale and broader product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@mafugroup/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/mafugroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mafu-automation
• Instagraminstagram.com/mafugroup/?hl=de

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 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 Mafu