What Hengst does

Hengst SE (DBA: Hengst Filtration) is a privately held German filtration specialist founded in 1958 and headquartered in Münster, operating as a Societas Europaea. The company develops and manufactures filtration and fluid management solutions for air, oil, fuel, hydraulic fluids, water, and specialized industrial processes. Its product portfolio is organized around nine customer verticals — automotive and off-highway, automotive aftermarket, building services engineering, industrial applications, healthcare, life science, new mobility (EV/fuel cells), food & beverage, and private households — and is delivered under a proprietary Blue technology sub-brand family (Blue.ion, Blue.care+, Blue.netic, Blue.iox, Blue.on HD, Blue.balance, Blue.tron, Blue.net) plus industrial equipment lines (MultiJet/EuroJet dust collectors, MultiSafe BIBO systems, electrostatic/mechanical oil mist separators) and the STEALTH respiratory mask range.

The business model is B2B hardware sales across two principal channels: Original Equipment (OE) direct sales to automotive OEMs, industrial equipment manufacturers, healthcare and building services companies; and Independent Aftermarket (IAM) sales through a global dealer network, regional distributors, and digital platforms including Hengst.Connect and MyAirfiltration.com. Manufacturing spans five continents (Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Australia) with 1,001-5,000 employees. In March 2026 Hengst acquired Germany's B&S Filtration Group (B&S Filtration GmbH, Bestair GmbH, FTS GmbH & Co KG; ~150 employees; Weinheim) adding particulate, gas, and combined filtration capabilities. Pricing is quote-based for B2B and OEM contracts; aftermarket pricing is delivered via catalog through dealers. Hengst won the 2026 Münsterland Marketing Award for Successful Business Transformation.

Go-to-market combines account-based OEM sales, multi-tier dealer distribution, digital self-service portals, and active participation in major industry trade shows (FILTECH, Automechanika, EIMA, Braubeviale). R&D focus areas include electrified and fuel cell mobility (cabin air, cathode air, ion exchange), sustainable filtration (Blue.on HD, Blue.balance reusable/recyclable concepts), industrial dust extraction and oil mist separation, and emerging Direct Air Capture filtration. The customer base is intentionally diversified across named verticals with no publicly identified anchor customer logos.

Name

Hengst

Legal name

Hengst SE

Website

https://www.hengst.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Hengst Filtration is a privately held German manufacturer founded in 1958 that designs and produces air, oil, fuel, hydraulic, and specialty filtration solutions for automotive, industrial, healthcare, building services, food and beverage, and new-mobility customers across five continents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Filtration

NAICS

Industrial and Commercial Fan and Blower and Air Purification Equipment Manufacturing (333413), Ventilation, Heating, Air-Conditioning, and Commercial Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturing (3334)

SIC

Industrial & Commercial Fans & Blowers & Air Purifing Equip (3564), Air-Cond & Warm Air Heatg Equip & Comm & Indl Refrig Equip (3585)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Quality & Filtration Equipment (IAQ) (IMAHAKAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Dust Collection & Air Filtration Equipment (Industrial) (IMAHALAF), Separation & Filtration Equipment (Filters, Centrifuges, Membranes) (IMAHAEAB)

Keywords

• Filtration solutions
• Fluid management systems
• Automotive filtration products
• Industrial air filtration
• Cabin air filters

Headquarters

HQ city

Münster

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Original Equipment (OE) Filtration Products: Hengst supplies filtration solutions to automotive OEMs, commercial vehicle manufacturers, agricultural machinery makers, and industrial equipment manufacturers as original equipment components.
2. Independent Aftermarket (IAM) Parts: Aftermarket filtration products sold through dealer networks, regional distributors, and online catalogs for replacement and service purposes across automotive, commercial vehicles, and industrial applications.
3. Industrial Filtration Systems: Specialized filtration solutions for industrial applications including dust extraction, oil mist separation, compressed air treatment, process and sterile filtration, and cleanroom applications sold to manufacturing and industrial clients.
4. Healthcare and Life Science Filtration: Medical-grade filtration products including near-patient filtration (ventilation filters, spirometry filters, CPAP filters), respiratory masks (FFP2/FFP3), and filtration for pharmaceutical and laboratory applications.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Hengst develops and manufactures filtration and fluid management solutions spanning automotive cabin air, oil, fuel, hydraulic, and crankcase ventilation filters, industrial dust extraction and oil mist separation systems, healthcare near-patient filtration and respiratory masks (FFP2/FFP3), building HVAC filters, and emerging fuel cell filtration products. The portfolio is sold both as original equipment components to OEMs and as aftermarket replacement parts through dealer networks and online catalogs.

Product overview

Hengst is a comprehensive filtration solutions provider offering an extensive portfolio organized across multiple product categories. The product range spans air filtration (automotive cabin, building HVAC, industrial, electronic devices), oil filtration (automotive, hydraulic, transmission, electric axle), fuel cell filtration, respiratory protection (FFP masks, half masks, PAPR), industrial dust extraction and mist collection systems, medical/healthcare filtration (near-patient, ventilation, spirometry), process and sterile filtration, and water treatment. The portfolio includes branded sub-product lines: Blue.ion (electrified cabin filters), Blue.care+ (cabin air filters and purifiers), Blue.on/Blue.balance (sustainable oil and hydraulic filters), Blue.netic/Blue.iox (fuel cell filters), Blue.tron/Blue.net (crankcase ventilation), and STEALTH (respiratory masks). Industrial equipment includes MultiJet/EuroJet dust collectors, BIBO/MultiSafe containment systems, and electrostatic/mechanical oil mist separators. The company also offers digital platforms including Hengst.Connect and MyAirfiltration.com. Recent 2026 acquisition of B&S Filtration Group adds particulate filters, gas filtration, and combined filtration capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Blue.ion: Electrified cabin air filter with HEPA performance
• Blue.care+
• Blue.netic
• Blue.iox
• Blue.balance
• Blue.on HD
• Blue.tron
• Blue.net
• Blue.on Hydraulic
• Hengst.Connect
• MyAirfiltration.com
• MultiSafe
• STEALTH
• Pure.line

Products and services

• Blue.ion Electrified Cabin Air Filter HEPA-performance electrified cabin air filter for electric and hybrid vehicles, providing enhanced particulate and microbial filtration for clean interior air quality. Targeted at automotive OEMs producing electrified vehicles.
• Blue.care+ Cabin Air Filter Premium cabin air filter with enhanced air purification that protects against allergens, bacteria, and fine particulate matter. Targeted at automotive OEMs and the aftermarket.
• Blue.on HD Sustainable Filtration Concept Sustainable heavy-duty filtration concept with reusable and recyclable filter components designed to reduce environmental impact. Targeted at OEMs and industrial operators seeking longer service life.
• Blue.balance Sustainable Oil Filter Sustainable oil filter with extended service life and eco-friendly materials to reduce environmental impact. Targeted at automotive OEMs and aftermarket buyers.
• Blue.netic Cathode Air Filter (Fuel Cells) Specialized cathode air filter for hydrogen fuel cell applications, ensuring clean air supply and protecting fuel cell stacks from contaminants. Targeted at fuel cell system manufacturers and new mobility OEMs.
• Blue.iox Ion Exchanger (Fuel Cells) Ion exchange filter system for fuel cell applications that removes ionic contaminants from air and fluid streams to maintain optimal water quality. Targeted at fuel cell system manufacturers.
• Blue.tron Active Oil Mist Separator Active oil mist separator for crankcase ventilation systems using electrostatic separation technology to efficiently remove oil aerosols. Targeted at automotive OEMs and engine manufacturers.
• Blue.net Passive Oil Mist Separator Passive oil mist separator using coalescing technology for crankcase ventilation that operates without external power requirements. Targeted at automotive OEMs and engine manufacturers.
• Blue.on Hydraulic Filtration Sustainable hydraulic filtration product line with extended filter life and reduced environmental footprint. Targeted at hydraulic system manufacturers and mobile machinery operators.
• STEALTH FFP2 NR Respirator Mask Disposable FFP2 NR respirator mask providing occupational respiratory protection against particulate matter. Targeted at healthcare, industrial, and occupational safety buyers.
• STEALTH FFP3 R D PRO Respirator Mask Premium reusable FFP3 R D respirator mask with replaceable filter offering highest particulate protection for professional use. Targeted at healthcare, pharmaceutical, and hazardous environment operators.
• STEALTH Half Masks (A1P3, A2P3, ABEK1P3) Reusable half mask respirators with replaceable filters rated for organic vapors, inorganic vapors, acidic gases, and combined particulate protection (P3). Targeted at industrial, painting, and chemical handling operators.
• MultiJet Industrial Dust Collector High-performance dust collector system for industrial dust extraction with multi-stage filtration technology. Targeted at industrial manufacturers in cement, metalworking, mining, and processing sectors.
• EuroJet Industrial Dust Collector Industrial dust collector designed for European market specifications with optimized filtration efficiency across various dust types. Targeted at European industrial manufacturers.
• MultiSafe BIBO Filter System Bag-In Bag-Out (BIBO) filter housing for safe containment filter changes in HEPA and hazardous material applications, preventing contaminant release during maintenance. Targeted at pharmaceutical, laboratory, semiconductor, and hazardous process operators.
• Electrostatic Oil Mist Separators Electrostatic oil mist separators that use electrical charge to separate oil aerosols from air streams in industrial manufacturing processes. Targeted at metalworking and machining operators.
• Mechanical Oil Mist Separators Mechanical oil mist separators using centrifugal force and coalescing elements to remove oil aerosols without electrical power. Targeted at metalworking and machining operators.
• Blue.care+ Air Purifier Standalone air purifier featuring Blue.care+ filtration technology for residential and commercial indoor air quality improvement, including COVID protection claims. Targeted at building operators, schools, offices, and households.

Quantifiable outcome

• HEPA-level filtration performance for electrified vehicle cabin air (Blue.ion)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• B&S Filtration Group (B&S Filtration GmbH, Bestair GmbH, FTS GmbH & Co KG)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2026Hengst acquired Germany's B&S Filtration Group in March 2026. B&S comprises three companies: B&S Filtration GmbH, Bestair GmbH, and FTS GmbH & Co KG, all based in Weinheim, Baden-Württemberg. Founded in 1992, B&S employs approximately 150 people and brings expertise in particulate filters, gas filtration, and combined filtration systems. The acquisition expands Hengst's portfolio and adds filter media manufacturing expertise. B&S serves sectors including automotive, industrial manufacturing, and cleanroom technology.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Mann+Hummel: Mann+Hummel is a German family-owned filtration specialist headquartered in Ludwigsburg, directly comparable to Hengst in automotive OE and aftermarket filtration, industrial filtration, and HVAC air filtration. It is the closest pure-play filtration peer with similar German Mittelstand heritage and multi-vertical product portfolio.
• Donaldson Company: Donaldson is a US-listed global filtration leader covering industrial filtration (dust collection, compressed air, gas turbine) and engine/liquid filtration, directly overlapping Hengst's industrial and automotive segments. Comparable in global manufacturing footprint and B2B sales motion.
• Mahle: Mahle is a German automotive supplier with a significant engine and industrial filtration portfolio serving OEMs and the aftermarket, directly comparable to Hengst's automotive filtration segment. Both share German engineering heritage and serve passenger car, commercial vehicle, and off-highway OEMs.
• Freudenberg Filtration Technologies: Freudenberg Filtration is a division of Freudenberg Group offering industrial, automotive, and HVAC filtration solutions, comparable to Hengst's multi-vertical portfolio. Both companies serve industrial air filtration, automotive cabin filters, and cleanroom applications.
• Camfil: Camfil is a Swedish-based global leader in air filtration for HVAC, cleanroom, and industrial process applications, directly comparable to Hengst's building services engineering and industrial air filtration segments. Both serve HEPA/ULPA, molecular, and activated carbon filtration markets.
• Filtration Group: Filtration Group is a US-based global filtration company serving industrial, life science, and process filtration markets, comparable to Hengst's industrial and healthcare/life science segments. Both offer specialty filtration including cleanroom, gas, and process filtration solutions.
• AAF Flanders: AAF Flanders (American Air Filter) is a global manufacturer of air filtration solutions for commercial, industrial, and cleanroom applications, directly comparable to Hengst's building services engineering and industrial air filtration product lines.
• Sogefi: Sogefi is an Italian automotive components supplier specializing in filtration (oil, air, fuel, cabin) and fluid management, directly comparable to Hengst's automotive OE and aftermarket filtration segment. Both serve European OEMs with a focus on ICE and increasingly electrified powertrain filtration.

Broad incumbents

• Parker Hannifin: Parker Hannifin is a large US-listed diversified motion and control technologies company with a significant filtration division covering hydraulic, industrial, and aerospace filtration. Comparable to Hengst in hydraulic and industrial filtration but as part of a much broader industrial portfolio.

Emerging players

• W. L. Gore & Associates: Gore is a privately held US materials science company with significant filtration membrane technology (PTFE-based) used in industrial, life science, and emissions applications. Comparable to Hengst's advanced filtration capabilities in healthcare, life science, and emerging applications like direct air capture.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hengstfiltration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 Hengst