What Tkd Gmbh does

TKD GmbH is a German industrial component manufacturer specializing in precision balls (Kugeln) and slewing bearings/roller slewing rings (Kugeldrehverbindungen / Rollendrehverbindungen) for OEM customers worldwide. The company was founded in November 2011 by French conglomerate Descours & Cabaud in partnership with Carlos Dantas, relocated to Hückeswagen in 2012, and underwent a Management-Buy-Out by the Dantas family in January 2023, making it an independent, family-owned GmbH. Its product portfolio spans precision balls in steel, tungsten carbide, and plastic; four-point-contact slewing bearings in Light and Medium Series (diameters 200–2,500 mm on the standard range, up to 3,500 mm for custom orders); and roller slewing rings for higher-load applications. The company is ISO 9001:2015 certified by TÜV Rheinland, operates warehouses in Hückeswagen and Wuppertal, and serves industries including automotive, mechanical engineering, construction machinery, cranes, mining, renewable energy, pharmaceutical, food processing, and chemical.

TKD generates revenue through direct B2B sales to OEM manufacturers, with a sales-led, relationship-driven go-to-market model. The proprietary TKDPlus concept bundles customized products, technical application support, Just-in-Time delivery, consignment stock, warehousing, and picking/repacking services around the core components. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled per quote through direct contact (phone and contact form). Distribution is direct-to-OEM with global reach, supported by centralized logistics that handle sea/air freight, FIFO with traceability documentation, and reusable packaging. The company qualifies as an A-Supplier with a stated zero-defect policy and Certified Material Test Reports, aiming to embed itself in customer development cycles from concept to serial production.

The strategic posture is that of a niche mid-market industrial specialist rather than a growth-stage technology company. The 2023 MBO shifted ownership from a corporate parent to a family-led structure, and operations were simplified in 2017 through outsourcing of logistics. Public-facing digital infrastructure is minimal — a German/English website with downloadable catalogs and data sheets, Google Analytics for web analytics, and Google Maps for location — with no evidence of app platforms, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities. Customer concentration is opaque, with no named logos in the source data, and the company does not disclose revenue, headcount, or contract values.

Name

Tkd Gmbh

Legal name

TKD GmbH

Website

https://tkd-gmbh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TKD GmbH is a German manufacturer of precision balls and slewing bearings, supplying customized OEM components and logistics services to industrial customers worldwide across automotive, construction, machinery, pharma, and food processing sectors. Founded 2011, family-owned since 2023 MBO.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Hückeswagen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. OEM Product Sales: TKD GmbH generates revenue through the sale of precision balls and slewing bearings to OEM customers. The company provides customized solutions and application-specific products, operating on a project-based and recurring order basis with warehousing and logistics services including Just-in-Time deliveries and consignment stock options.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

TKD GmbH manufactures and sells precision balls (steel, tungsten carbide, plastic) and slewing bearings/roller slewing rings (four-point-contact and roller types, 200–3500 mm diameters) as customized OEM components for automotive, mechanical engineering, construction machines, cranes, renewable energy, and other industrial applications. The company bundles these products with the TKDPlus service concept, providing technical application support, warehousing, Just-in-Time deliveries, consignment stock, and picking/repacking services from concept through series production.

Product overview

TKD GmbH is an industrial component manufacturer specializing in precision balls and slewing bearings for OEM markets. The product portfolio includes Precision Balls (manufactured from steel, tungsten carbide, and plastic materials for diverse applications), and Slewing Bearings (four-point contact bearings in Light and Medium Series with diameters from 200mm to 3500mm). The company also offers Roller Slewing Rings for higher load applications. The TKDPlus concept combines these products with comprehensive logistics, warehousing, and technical application support services. All products are customizable with special dimensions available on request.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• TKDPlus: The proven TKDPlus concept that makes the difference in the OEM market, supported by decentralized structures and central office service guaranteeing high flexibility for general and individual applications.

Products and services

• Precision Balls (Kugeln) Precision balls manufactured from various materials including steel, tungsten carbide, and plastic for diverse industrial applications such as automotive, mechanical engineering, pharmaceutical, food processing, and the bearing industry. Balls are designed to withstand specific media (water, acids, gases), ambient temperatures, and mechanical loads based on the operating environment, with TKD providing consultation to select the right ball for each customer application.
• Slewing Bearings (Kugeldrehverbindungen) Four-point-contact slewing bearings in Light and Medium Series for approved and economical turntable applications, offered as one or two-row bearings in diameters from 200 mm to 2500 mm. Customized bearings and special dimensions are also available, with the bearings safely absorbing axial and radial loads as well as tilting moments.
• Roller Slewing Rings (Rollendrehverbindungen) Roller slewing rings offered as double row slewing rings, cross roller bearings, or roller bearings for higher-load applications in diameters from 200 mm to 3500 mm. Designed for heavy-duty use cases including construction machines, cranes, mining, and renewable energy applications.
• OEM Logistics and Warehousing Services Comprehensive logistics services for OEM customers including flexible warehousing, warehouse management system, FIFO and traceability with documentation, sea/air freight processing, Just-in-Time deliveries, consignment stock, and minimum safety stock levels. Operated from TKD's warehouses in Hückeswagen and Wuppertal.
• Picking and Repacking Services Need-based picking and repacking services including reusable packaging and container management, Europallet, skeleton containers, small load carriers (KLT-box), and one-way pallets, offered to OEM customers as part of TKD's value-added service bundle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Zero-defect policy aimed at being A-Supplier for all customers
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SKF: Global #1 bearing manufacturer with a comprehensive slewing bearing product line (Kaydon legacy) and a broad portfolio spanning automotive, industrial, and aerospace. Comparable to TKD in slewing rings and precision bearings, but vastly larger and globally diversified.
• JTEKT Corporation: Japanese bearing and steering systems manufacturer with Koyo and Toyoda brand bearings, including slewing rings. Comparable in ball/roller bearings and slewing ring products, with much larger scale and automotive OEM penetration.
• NTN Corporation: Japanese bearing manufacturer offering a wide range of ball and roller bearings, including slewing rings for industrial applications. Direct product overlap with TKD, but broader portfolio and global OEM relationships.
• NSK Ltd. Japanese bearing giant producing ball bearings, roller bearings, and slewing rings for industrial and automotive OEMs. Comparable in product family but operates at much larger scale with deeper R&D resources.
• Timken Company: US-based engineered bearings and power transmission manufacturer. Comparable in industrial bearings and gear-drive products serving heavy-equipment OEMs, including applications overlapping with TKD's slewing ring customer base.
• Schaeffler / Rothe Erde: Rothe Erde is the leading global slewing bearing brand, now part of Schaeffler Group. Directly comparable to TKD in slewing rings and large-diameter bearings, but operates at vastly greater scale with a broader portfolio including automotive and industrial bearings.

Direct peers

• Kaydon Bearings (SKF): Slewing bearing specialist now part of SKF, historically a leading producer of four-point contact and thin-section slewing rings. Directly comparable to TKD's Light/Medium Series four-point contact slewing bearings and small-diameter roller slewing rings.
• Bal-Tec / Micro Surface Corporation: US-based precision ball manufacturer offering steel, tungsten carbide, ceramic, and plastic precision balls for industrial applications. Direct comparable to TKD's precision ball product line in materials and target use cases.
• Winsted Precision Ball Company: US-based manufacturer of precision steel, chrome, stainless, and specialty material balls for bearings, valves, and industrial components. Closest direct specialty competitor to TKD's precision ball business with similar customization capabilities.
• IMO (Schaeffler brand): Specialist slewing bearing brand within Schaeffler Group, focused on large-diameter slewing rings for construction, crane, and renewable energy applications. Most direct comparable to TKD's slewing ring product line in terms of customer use cases and product range.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tkd-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 Tkd Gmbh