Laweco Maschinen- Und Apparatebau Gmbh

What Laweco Maschinen- Und Apparatebau Gmbh does

LAWECO Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH is a German specialty manufacturer founded in 1979 and headquartered in Espelkamp, North Rhine-Westphalia. The company designs and produces customized scissor-lift tables and electro-mechanical lifting systems (hydraulic, spindle, CHAIN-LINE push-chain, and BELT-LINE belt drives) for industrial plant integration, intralogistics loading, and custom one-off applications, plus the CARGO MASTER line of aircraft ground handling equipment (container/pallet loaders, transporters, lifting transporters) including battery-electric GREEN LINE variants. Products handle loads from sub-tonne to over 150 tonnes and are deployed across automotive (e.g., Volkswagen Poznan), aerospace, sheet metal processing, woodworking, paper, railway, and airport ground handling (e.g., Munich Airport) industries.

The business model is project-based custom manufacturing with engineering-led direct sales: each system is quoted individually against customer specifications, with no standard price list or distribution channel. Revenue streams consist of hardware sales of lifting systems and CARGO MASTER equipment, an aftermarket spare parts business with 1-2 working day delivery, and professional services covering planning, maintenance, and technical consulting. Production occurs exclusively at the 10,500 sqm Espelkamp facility using NC/DNC-controlled machinery, ISO 9001:2015 certified processes, and CANbus vehicle control systems for the airport product line. Customers engage through the multilingual website inquiry forms, direct contact with named product managers, and industry trade fairs.

The company is a private GmbH that underwent an ownership transition in April 2025: Dietmar Lagemann, the long-time managing director, acquired the shares previously held by the founding Brinkmeyer family, with Viktor Dick taking a partial stake; both now serve as managing partners. There is no evidence of external institutional investment. The firm employs over 120 staff (as of 2014, the most recent disclosure) and competes as a niche premium supplier in batch-size-one industrial lifting and the airport ground support equipment market.

Name

Laweco Maschinen- Und Apparatebau Gmbh

Legal name

LAWECO Maschinen- und Apparatebau GmbH

Website

https://laweco.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

30-40 word factual description:

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lifting Equipment

NAICS

Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), General Industrial Machinery & Equipment (3560)

akta.pro primary industry

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

Keywords

• Scissor lift tables
• Industrial lifting systems
• Aircraft ground handling equipment
• Custom lifting solutions
• Hydraulic lifting platforms

Headquarters

HQ city

Espelkamp

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Lifting Tables and Lift Systems (B2B Manufacturing): LAWECO designs and manufactures customer-specific scissor lift tables and lifting systems across multiple drive types (hydraulic, spindle, push-chain, belt). Each system is tailored to individual customer requirements across diverse industrial applications. Revenue is generated through direct project-based sales to engineering companies, manufacturers, and logistics operators. Production lead times are managed through a modular, configurable component approach.
2. CARGO MASTER Aircraft Ground Handling Equipment: The CARGO MASTER brand encompasses a full range of airport cargo handling equipment including container/pallet loaders (CML series), transporters (CMT), and lifting transporters (CMLT). Products are sold globally to airports and ground handling companies. The GREEN LINE electric variants command premium pricing due to lower total cost of ownership.
3. Spare Parts Supply and Replacement Components: LAWECO stocks and supplies original replacement parts for all its lifting systems and constructions. Parts are typically delivered within 1-2 working days after order clarification. Pre-emptive individual spare parts packages are offered at the time of commissioning to cover wear-prone components. Documentation of every production step enables precise identification and re-supply of components even years after original delivery.
4. Customer Service, Maintenance and Technical Consulting: LAWECO provides comprehensive project support from planning through to spare parts supply. Services include consultancy and planning, transparent design cooperation with customers, and maintenance contracts covering oil/filter changes, cylinder and bearing replacements. Service department headed by dedicated contact partner.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LAWECO designs, manufactures, and services custom-engineered scissor lift tables and lifting systems across hydraulic, spindle, push-chain (CHAIN-LINE), and belt (BELT-LINE) drive technologies, with load capacities reaching 150 tonnes for industrial customers. The company also manufactures the CARGO MASTER brand of aircraft ground handling equipment, including container/pallet loaders, transporters, and lifting transporters, sold to airport operators and ground handling companies globally. All products are custom-configured per inquiry, supported by dedicated engineering contacts from planning through spare parts supply.

Product overview

LAWECO is Europe's leading manufacturer of customized lifting solutions (Hebesysteme) based in Espelkamp, Germany. The product portfolio centers on industrial scissor-lift tables and aircraft ground handling equipment. Core lifting table products include: System lift platforms (customized for industrial plants with capacities over 100 tonnes), Loading lift platforms (for truck loading), Flat lift Safety-Line (low-profile 80mm height for pallets), Spindle lift platforms, Push-chain CHAIN-LINE platforms, Belt BELT-LINE platforms (mechanical, no hydraulic oil), Special/custom constructions, and Pallet feeding stations. The CARGO MASTER sub-brand covers aircraft ground handling equipment including electric and diesel container/pallet loaders (CML 7, CML 14-35), transporters (CMT 7), and lifting transporters (CMLT 3.7-3.6), all featuring scissor lift technology. Products span hydraulic and electro-mechanical drives, serve industries including automotive, aerospace, sheet metal, paper, railway, and aircargo, and are sold throughout Europe with over 40 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CARGO MASTER: Traditional brand for aircraft ground handling equipment including container and pallet loaders, transporters, and lift platforms used at airports worldwide.
• BELT-LINE
• CHAIN-LINE
• Flat Lift Safety-Line
• Flachlift Star
• GREEN LINE

Products and services

• System lift platforms (Anlagenhubtische) Customized lifting systems for industrial plant integration, handling loads from standard capacities to over 100 tonnes, with high working cycles and lifting/lowering speeds. Deployed in woodworking, sheet metal processing, paper, automotive, aerospace, railway, and air cargo industries.
• Loading lift platforms (Verladehubtische) Robust loading lift platforms for intralogistics featuring modular design for cost-effective customization, hot-dip galvanizing, self-supporting ground frames, hydraulic loading bridges, and safety features including roll-off protection and gap protection.
• Flat lift Safety-Line (Flachformhubtisch Safety-Line) Premium flat lift platform with only 80mm installation height for handling Euro pallets and Gitterboxen without pit excavation. Load capacity up to 1,300 kg, with reinforced bearings, higher working cycles, and safety micro-strips beneath scissor blades to protect against crushing points.
• Spindle lift platforms (Spindelhubtische) Electro-mechanical scissor lift platform with horizontally mounted lifting spindle that spreads the scissor system for lifting/lowering motion. Offers excellent load change behavior, high positioning accuracy, and no hydraulic fluids, making it suitable for sensitive environments such as automotive or chemical industry.
• Push-chain lift platforms / CHAIN-LINE (Schubkettenhubtische) Electro-mechanical scissor lift platform driven by push-chain connected to the scissor system via gear motor. Combines advantages of belt and spindle technologies, achieving maximum performance without hydraulic oil, with harmonious motion sequence, excellent load change behavior, and maximum positioning precision.
• Belt lift platforms / BELT-LINE (Riemenhubtische) Electro-mechanical scissor lift platform using parallel-mounted flat belts wound on a spool and guided by deflection rollers in the scissor system. Features high smoothness of movement, handles high working cycles and speeds, easy to regulate. Uses patented catch system meeting DIN EN 1570 safety requirements. No hydraulic oil required.
• Special lifting tables (Sonderhubtische) Customized lifting solutions for special requirements including material lifting systems for high-rise construction, freight traffic, transportation, and stationary lorry lifting platforms, developed for specific customer applications beyond standard product lines.
• CARGO MASTER aircraft ground handling equipment Traditional brand for aircraft ground handling equipment including container/pallet loaders, transporters, and lifting transporters, featuring scissor lift platforms and used at major airports worldwide. Includes GREEN LINE electric series (battery-powered, emission-free) and diesel-powered variants.
• CARGO MASTER LOADER CML 7 GREEN LINE Electrically powered container and pallet loader with optimized electro-mechanical drive. Battery-powered (930 Ah lead-acid battery), handles loads up to 7,000 kg at clearance heights up to 3,700 mm (or 5,800 mm with universal loader CML 7-5.6 SU). Uses CANbus control and Load-Sensing hydraulics.
• CARGO MASTER LOADER CML 14-5.6 / CML 35-5.6 (Main-Deck Loaders) Heavy-duty main-deck loaders rated at 14 and 30 tonnes respectively, specifically designed for wide-body aircraft clearance and nose-loading of Boeing 747 and main cargo deck loading/unloading of Airbus A380.
• CARGO MASTER TRANSPORTER CMT 7 7-tonne transporter for large airports, designed as a link between Cargo Loader and Dolly Train. Particularly suitable for transporting heavy and sensitive air cargo items, increasing clearance capacity.
• CARGO MASTER LADER TRANSPORTER CMLT 3.7-3.6 Multi-talent loader and container/pallet transporter with high flexibility and maneuverability for loading aircraft and transporting containers/pallets. The GREEN LINE variant provides an emission-free, low-noise electric drive alternative to diesel.
• Pallet feeding station (Palettenaufgabestation) Compact pallet handling station linking manual pallet handling and automated storage systems. Roller height 80 mm, load capacity 1,500 kg, working stroke 800 mm (heights from 80 to 880 mm). Hydraulic drive (2.2 kW) with 0.37 kW geared motor for integrated roller conveyor. Handles pallet widths of 800 and 1,000 mm via foldable guides.
• Spare parts supply and customer service / maintenance contracts Comprehensive aftermarket support for installed LAWECO lifting systems and CARGO MASTER equipment, including original spare parts (typically delivered within 1–2 working days), pre-emptive spare parts packages at commissioning, maintenance contracts covering oil/filter changes and cylinder/bearing replacement, and consultancy from planning through to commissioning.

Quantifiable outcome

• Operating cost reduction of approximately 53% for electric CARGO MASTER GREEN LINE compared to diesel equivalents, including energy, maintenance, and reduced hydraulic oil changes
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau)minorOthersLAWECO is a member of the VDMA, the German Mechanical and Plant Engineering Association. This is an industry/trade association membership providing access to industry networks, standards-setting participation, and collective representation of German engineering companies.
• ife - Institut für EinzelfertigerminorOthersLAWECO is listed as a member of the ife institute for batch size one (single-item manufacturing). The institute serves as a network for companies that produce individual/customised solutions rather than series production, providing benchmarking, knowledge sharing, and industry expertise specific to custom manufacturing environments.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Goldhofer: German manufacturer of heavy-duty transport vehicles and airport ground support equipment (cargo and passenger). Overlaps with LAWECO on the CARGO MASTER airport loader business and shares a German Mittelstand engineering heritage.
• Pflow Industries: U.S. manufacturer of vertical lift systems and custom-engineered material handling lifts. Comparable to LAWECO's system lift platforms and special-construction lifts for plant integration and heavy-load applications.
• Autoquip: U.S. manufacturer of scissor lift tables, hydraulic lifts, and custom material handling solutions. Closely comparable to LAWECO's industrial lift table business across standard and custom configurations.
• TLD Group (ALVEST): Global GSE manufacturer (taxi bots, loaders, transporters, belt loaders) serving commercial and military airports. A direct competitor to CARGO MASTER in container/pallet loaders and transporters, with comparable electric-drive programs.
• JBT AeroTech: U.S.-based major airport ground support equipment manufacturer offering container/pallet loaders, transporters, and deicers. Directly comparable to LAWECO's CARGO MASTER line on product type, customer base (airports and ground handlers), and electrification roadmap.
• Southworth Products: U.S. manufacturer of industrial lift tables, tilters, and material handling equipment. Directly comparable to LAWECO's scissor lift table and loading lift platform product lines for industrial and intralogistics customers.
• Bishamon: Manufacturer of ergonomic scissor lift tables, positioners, and material handling equipment. Directly comparable to LAWECO's standard and flat-form lift table lines for industrial and warehouse customers.

Broad incumbents

• Stahl CraneSystems: German manufacturer of industrial cranes, hoists, and explosion-proof lifting equipment. Adjacent incumbent whose overhead crane and hoist portfolio competes for the same industrial customer's lifting budget as LAWECO's system lift platforms, though in a different product category.
• Konecranes: Global leader in industrial cranes, hoists, and lifting solutions serving manufacturing, ports, and heavy industry. A broader incumbent whose lifting equipment portfolio overlaps with — but is not specialized to — LAWECO's scissor lift table and custom lift system niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/Laweco.Espelkamp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laweco-maschinen-und-apparatebau-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/laweco.espelkamp

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 Laweco Maschinen- Und Apparatebau Gmbh