Karl Koerschulte Gmbh

Name

Karl Koerschulte Gmbh

Legal name

Karl Koerschulte GmbH

Website

https://koerschulte.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1920

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Karl Koerschulte GmbH is a fourth-generation, family-owned German industrial distributor in South Westphalia providing C-parts management, tools, safety equipment, and innovative services including drone logistics and industrial 3D printing to over 3,000 manufacturing and metalworking customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Supply Distribution

NAICS

Industrial Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers (42383), Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (4234)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Wholesale-Professional & Commercial Equipment & Supplies (5040)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive, Tools & Industrial Supplies (B2B) (CRAEAEAH)

Keywords

• Industrial supply distribution
• C-parts management
• Tools and safety equipment
• Drone logistics services
• B2B procurement solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Lüdenscheid

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tool & Industrial Supply Wholesale: Core revenue from wholesale distribution of tools, fastening technology, DIN standard parts, welding technology, personal protective equipment (PSA), operating equipment, machining tools, and consumables. Over 1 million article range available. Sold via field sales, inside sales, and B2B e-commerce platform (klshop.eu). Minimum order value of €30 per AGB.
2. C-Teile-Management Services: Consulting and implementation services for MRO procurement, process optimization, digital transformation, and supply chain management for industrial customers. Includes process analysis, system integration (e-procurement, RFID, Kanban), and reorganization of material management.
3. Drone-as-a-Service: Proprietary drone logistics service for delivering C-parts and small goods by air. Koerschulte operates as drone airline/operator, planning routes and managing flight operations for customers. Up to 10 kg payload capacity. First PVH drone airline in the world. Planned expansion to 20 drones medium-term.
4. Additive Manufacturing / 3D Printing: Industrial 3D printing service with over 30 materials including metals and super alloys. Sells printed parts and offers customer workshops for additive manufacturing technology. Rapid3D platform for ordering.
5. Workshop & Maintenance Services: In-house workshop team specializing in repairs, maintenance, and inspections. Own gas warehouse with propane, mixed gas, oxygen and other welding gases. Tausch (exchange) and purchase cylinder options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Karl Koerschulte GmbH is a B2B industrial supply distributor that sells tools, fastening technology, DIN standard parts, welding technology, personal protective equipment (PSA), operating equipment, and machining tools through a catalogue of more than 1 million articles. The company additionally provides C-parts management consulting, e-procurement integration, industrial 3D printing services (Rapid3D), and a proprietary drone logistics service (Drone4Parcel5G) for rapid delivery of urgent C-parts to industrial customers across South Westphalia.

Product overview

Karl Koerschulte GmbH (KL-GROUP) operates as a B2B industrial supply and C-parts management company offering a unified platform combining e-commerce (KL-Shop with over 200,000 articles), innovative drone logistics delivery service, industrial 3D printing (Rapid3D), e-procurement solutions, and comprehensive consulting services. The portfolio includes core product categories (work safety, fastening technology, facility equipment, power tools, quality tools, welding technology) supported by add-on services such as the Future Campus innovation hub, catalog portal, training programs, and workshop/gas storage services. The company positions itself as a digital transformation partner for the industrial C-parts sector.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Rapid3D: Industrial 3D printing / additive manufacturing service and platform operated by Koerschulte
• Drone4Parcel5G
• Future Campus
• Koersche Katalogportal

Products and services

• Industrial Supply Distribution (Tools, Fastening, Safety, Welding, Operating Equipment)
• Drone Logistics Service (Drone4Parcel5G)
• Industrial 3D Printing / Additive Manufacturing (Rapid3D)
• C-Teile-Management (C-Parts Management)
• E-Business / E-Procurement Solutions
• B2B Online Shop (KL-Shop)
• Workshop and Gas Storage Services
• Training Programs (Schulungsangebote)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3,000 customers supplied in Sauerland, Siegerland, and Westphalia
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Fachhochschule Südwestfalen (University of Applied Sciences South Westphalia)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Collaboration on research projects in additive manufacturing and drone technology. Koerschulte is in discussion to integrate drone logistics topics into university studies. Also partnered with Kunststoffinstitut Lüdenscheid for 3D printing research.
• PVH Future Lab GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Co-founded by Norman Koerschulte in November 2018 with multiple partner companies. A startup focused on digital future topics in the PVH (production connection trade) sector including additive manufacturing platforms, AI in procurement, and drone logistics. Koerschulte actively develops and tests innovations through this platform.
• E/D/E (Einkaufskontor des Werkzeug- und Befestigungsfachhandels GmbH)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2017KL-Group is a long-standing E/D/E member (since 1988) and participates in the UNION group and E/D/E specialist circles for fastening and welding technology. E/D/E is Europe's largest purchasing association for tools and fastening technology, providing Koerschulte with global purchasing power and access to 13 regional networks.
• Gründernetzwerk Südwestfalen (Startup Network South Westphalia)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKoerschulte is a supporter of Gründernetzwerk Südwestfalen to learn, build networks, and collaborate with startups and founders. Through this network they made contact with drone startups that led to the drone logistics service concept.
• Kunststoffinstitut LüdenscheidminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in additive manufacturing together with FH Südwestfalen. Collaborates on ZIM research projects for new measurement methods in 3D printing and drone nest technology.
• Aerospace Netzwerk NRW / BDLIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKoerschulte is a member of the Aerospace NRW network and Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie (BDLI). Participated in the 15. Tag der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrt-regionen in Aachen (2021) alongside companies like Airbus.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Berner SE: European B2B industrial supply company serving professional tradespeople and industrial customers across multiple channels. Direct peer with similar multi-channel distribution (field sales, e-commerce, on-site solutions) and MRO focus.
• Stahlgruber GmbH: German automotive parts and workshop supplies wholesaler (part of LKQ Europe). Adjacent peer serving workshop customers with overlapping categories in tools, equipment, and consumables, though with a stronger automotive aftermarket tilt.
• Hoffmann Group: German family-owned premium tool and industrial supplies specialist. Direct peer serving manufacturing customers with overlapping product portfolio in quality tools, fastening, and PPE, plus digital procurement integration.
• Bott GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer and supplier of workshop equipment, vehicle interiors, and industrial storage solutions. Adjacent peer in the industrial MRO equipment market serving the same craft and manufacturing customer base.
• Würth Industrie: German family-owned industrial supplier specializing in C-parts management for industrial manufacturers. Closest direct peer with comparable e-procurement, on-site vending, and product breadth serving similar metal-processing customers.

Broad incumbents

• Fastenal: US-based industrial and construction supplies distributor with innovative on-site vending and FAST Solutions automation. Broader incumbent demonstrating how technology-enabled C-parts and MRO distribution can scale globally.
• Adolf Würth GmbH & Co. KG: Global leader in C-parts distribution with €14B+ revenue and presence in 80+ countries. Broader incumbent demonstrating the scale model in the same product categories and customer segments, with significantly greater resources.
• Grainger: US-based broad-line industrial distribution giant with extensive catalog, digital channels, and on-site vending solutions. Established incumbent showcasing the technology-enabled MRO distribution model at a scale relevant for European peers.

Emerging players

• Contorion: Digital-first B2B tool and industrial supplies retailer (part of Würth Group). Emerging digital competitor targeting the same SME manufacturing and trades customer base with an online-only model that pressures traditional distributors.
• Tool24: Online tool and industrial supplies retailer serving German-speaking markets. Emerging digital competitor offering a curated catalog of professional tools and equipment with an e-commerce-first go-to-market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC0hPXN9dJWVvHMEUDqGHcCw
• Facebookfacebook.com/Koerschulte
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/karl-koerschulte-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/koerschultegroup

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Karl Koerschulte Gmbh