AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau

What AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau does

AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau GmbH & Co. KG is a German specialist manufacturer of load handling devices and lifting systems for automated intralogistics, headquartered in Haiger and operating for more than 50 years (founded 1969). The company designs and produces custom-engineered equipment—telescopic forks, rotary devices, transfer cars, lifting systems, and push-pull systems—used on customers' storage and retrieval machines (Regalbediengeräte), automated guided vehicles (FTS/AGV), and on AFB's own transfer car platforms. Its product portfolio is organized into modular families (Miniload for small-parts storage, Mediload single/double/multi-deep and the Vario S variant for mid-range loads, Maxiload for heavy industrial loads) and serves payload ranges from 20 kg to over 50 tonnes across temperature envelopes of -35°C to +400°C. Configurable prong adjustment systems, redundant drive trains, and Ex-area certifications enable 24/7 continuous operation in harsh industrial environments.

The company's customer base spans eight primary verticals—automotive, steel and metal, tire, paper and printing, pharmaceutical, agriculture and vertical farming, food and beverage, and wood processing—with named accounts including BMW, KION Group, Miele, Wacker, Evonik, Rhenus Logistics, Knauf, Fresenius Kabi, and Henkell & Co. Distribution is handled through direct enterprise field sales from the Haiger headquarters supplemented by regional representatives, with installations reportedly active in more than 30 countries. Revenue is generated primarily from custom equipment sales (each unit engineered to customer specifications) plus recurring aftermarket streams including retrofit, repair and maintenance, spare parts and specialized tools, and operator training.

Operationally, AFB is a privately held GmbH & Co. KG limited partnership with 11-50 employees, no disclosed parent company or institutional investor, and no recorded M&A, funding rounds, or leadership changes in the available data. The company emphasizes "Made in Germany" manufacturing at its single Haiger facility and pairs every sale with engineered documentation and lifecycle services, positioning on application-specific customization rather than catalog standardization.

Name

AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau

Legal name

AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://afb-gmbh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau GmbH & Co. KG is a German specialist manufacturer (founded 1969, Haiger) of custom load handling devices and lifting systems for automated intralogistics, serving automotive, steel, pharma, food, and other industrial customers in 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Material Handling Equipment

NAICS

Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)

SIC

Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Loading/Unloading & Transfer Equipment (Telescopic Conveyors, Loaders, Tipplers) (IMAHABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hoists (Electric, Manual & Pneumatic) (IMAHAJAG)

Keywords

• Load handling devices
• Intralogistics equipment
• Telescopic forks
• Material handling systems
• Warehouse automation

Headquarters

HQ city

Haiger

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Equipment Manufacturing: AFB designs and manufactures customized load handling devices and lifting systems based on customer-specific requirements. Products include telescopic forks, transfer cars, rotary devices, and specialized handling equipment. Each unit is tailored to specific applications, load types, and operational environments.
2. Aftermarket Services: Comprehensive service offerings including retrofit of existing systems, repair and maintenance services, spare parts supply, and specialized AFB tools. Training services are also provided for customer personnel.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau GmbH & Co. KG develops and manufactures customized load handling devices (Lastaufnahmemittel) and lifting systems for intralogistics. The product range covers telescopic fork units (Miniload, Mediload single/double/multi-deep, Maxiload, Vario S), rotary devices, vertical conveyors, eccentric lifting devices, transfer cars with various configurations, and push-pull systems. Equipment is engineered for loads from 20 kg to over 50 tonnes, operating in temperature ranges from -35°C to +400°C, and is used on storage and retrieval machines (SRM), automated guided vehicles (AGV), and AFB's own transfer cars.

Product overview

AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau GmbH & Co. KG offers a comprehensive portfolio of load handling devices (Lastaufnahmemittel) and lifting systems for intralogistics applications. The product range includes telescopic fork units (Miniload, Mediload single/double/multi-deep, Maxiload, and Vario S), rotary devices (Rotary Pushing Forks and Rotary Telescopic Forks), lifting systems (Vertical Conveyors and Eccentric Lifting Devices), and transfer cars with various configurations (eccentric lifting, lift mast, integrated conveyor systems). The company also provides push-pull systems with circulating chain or extendable prongs. These products are designed for loads ranging from 20 kg to over 50 tonnes and are used with storage and retrieval machines (SRM), automatic guided vehicles (AGV), and on their own transfer cars. AFB's equipment operates in temperature ranges from -35°C to +400°C and is certified Made in Germany. The company provides comprehensive services including aftersales support, retrofit solutions, repair/maintenance, and training. All products are manufactured at the company's headquarters in Haiger, Germany, and sold successfully in over 30 countries worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Miniload – Single and Multiple Deep Telescopic fork unit for automated small parts warehouses (AKL) with single or multiple deep storage capabilities, designed for loads from 20 kg to 500 kg.
• Mediload – Single Deep Telescopic fork unit for single-deep storage applications, handling loads typically between 500 kg to 1,500 kg for various load carriers.
• Mediload – Double and Multiple Deep Telescopic fork unit designed for double and multi-deep storage configurations, optimizing warehouse space utilization.
• Mediload – Vario S Versatile telescopic fork unit with flexible configuration options for customized storage and retrieval applications.
• Maxiload Heavy-duty telescopic fork unit for loads from 1,500 kg to over 50 tonnes, designed for handling large and heavy load carriers including coils, bars, and machine pallets.
• Rotary Pushing Forks Load handling device with rotating mechanism for picking up and depositing pallets on both sides as well as from the front, suitable for closed pallet window applications.
• Rotary Telescopic Forks Combined rotating and telescopic functionality for three-sided access in box or pallet stores and cross conveyor system environments.
• Vertical Conveyor Lifting unit for vertical transport of load carriers between different height levels in warehouse and production facilities.
• Eccentric Lifting Devices Compact lifting system using eccentric mechanism for precise height adjustment and load handling in various logistics applications.
• Transfer Cars with Eccentric Lifting Device Mobile transfer car equipped with eccentric lifting mechanism for flexible material transport and level adjustment.
• Transfer Cars with Lift Mast System Transfer car with telescopic mast enabling storage and retrieval operations at heights up to 6 meters for buffer storage facilities.
• Transfer Cars with Integrated Conveyor Systems Transfer car incorporating belt conveyor, roller conveyor, or chain conveyor systems for automated loading and unloading operations.
• Push-Pull System with Circulating Chain Load handling system using circulating chain mechanism for pushing and pulling load carriers in automated storage.
• Push-Pull System with Extendable Prongs Push-pull system with adjustable prong spread for flexible handling of different load carrier sizes.
• Service and Aftersales Comprehensive after-sales support including maintenance, spare parts, and technical assistance for installed equipment.
• Retrofit Modernization service to upgrade existing systems with new load handling technology while retaining existing infrastructure.
• Repair/Maintenance Professional repair and maintenance services to ensure optimal performance and longevity of load handling equipment.
• Training Technical training programs for operators and maintenance personnel on AFB equipment operation and service.

Quantifiable outcome

• Equipment operates reliably in temperature ranges from -35°C to +400°C
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stokvis: Specialist manufacturer of telescopic forks and load handling devices for automated storage and retrieval systems, directly comparable to AFB's Miniload/Mediload/Maxiload product lines.
• H+E Herion (H+E): German specialist in load handling devices and storage-retrieval components, addressing the same SRM and intralogistics customer base as AFB.

Emerging players

• Hänel: German specialist in rotary storage systems and lean-lift warehouses; operates in adjacent intralogistics niches with comparable industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• SSI SCHAEFER: Large intralogistics specialist supplying automated storage systems, conveyors and rack solutions, comparable as a buyer/competitor for load-handling technology in the same customer segments.
• TGW Logistics Group: Warehouse-automation integrator offering AS/RS, conveyor and robotics solutions; comparable as both a potential customer and broad competitor for load-handling subsystems.
• Swisslog (KUKA): Intralogistics automation provider under KUKA, active in the same automated-warehouse and storage-retrieval market where AFB's telescopic forks are deployed.
• Vanderlande: Warehouse-automation integrator serving airports, parcel, and warehousing customers; relevant broad incumbent in the same automated storage equipment ecosystem.
• KNAPP: Austrian warehouse- and distribution-logistics automation specialist; comparable as an integrator whose systems depend on or compete with third-party load-handling devices.
• Dematic (KION Group): Global warehouse-automation integrator (and AFB customer via KION) whose automated storage systems rely on specialized load-handling end-effectors like AFB's telescopic forks.
• Jungheinrich: Major intralogistics provider of forklifts, warehouse equipment and automated systems; an AFB customer whose stacker cranes and AS/RS use external load-handling devices.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 AFB Anlagen- und Filterbau