HerkulesGroup
HerkulesGroup is a German family-owned manufacturer of large machine tools — roll grinders, vertical turning lathes, portal milling machines, boring mills, and custom industrial gearboxes — serving global steel, aluminum, paper, and battery foil producers with manufacturing, modernization, and after-sales services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1911
- HeadquartersSiegen, Germany
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What HerkulesGroup does
HerkulesGroup is a privately held, family-owned German manufacturer of heavy-duty large machine tools, headquartered in Siegen and led since December 2020 by Maximilian Thoma, the 4th-generation family CEO. Founded in 1911, the group employs over 1,350 people worldwide and operates through five core subsidiaries — Maschinenfabrik Herkules (roll grinding and turning), WaldrichSiegen (heavy-duty milling, turning, grinding, boring, texturing), RSGetriebe (customized gearboxes and drive solutions), SBA mechatronics (modernization, based in Austria), and Herkules USA — with service branches in India and China and a production footprint across Siegen, Meuselwitz, Sonthofen, Ford City (USA), and Weikersdorf (Austria).
The group's product portfolio centers on the ProfiGrind roll grinder family (ProfiGrind 2000, 2500, 5500, 7500) featuring B-axis technology that achieves infeed increments down to 0.0001 mm, the ProfiMill portal milling series (including the ProfiMill evo launched in 2025), the ProfiTurn V vertical turning lathe, and NNF notch milling machines produced at Meuselwitz. Supporting measurement and control systems include the KP 10 machine control with user-friendly touch panel operation, the Modular Roll Shop Management System (MRS) for automated roll shop coordination, the Roll Surface Inspection System (RSIS) and Roughness Scattered Light Detection System (RSLD), CP measuring devices for roll geometry, and integrated Eddy Current and Ultrasonic crack detection systems. A defining feature is high vertical integration: all key components are manufactured in-house, which supports quality control, delivery reliability, and the ability to maintain equipment performance across 40+ year lifecycles.
HerkulesGroup generates revenue primarily through custom-quoted capital equipment sales to large industrial enterprises in steel, aluminum, stainless steel, paper, and battery foil production — including named customers JSW Steel, Jindal Steel, Nucor Steel, SSAB, Hindalco, China Steel, Aperam, Ezz Steel, and Suez Steel — via an enterprise field sales model supplemented by regional agents (K.O. Rydqvist AB in Sweden, Primetals in Japan, local agents in Italy). Sales cycles are long-term and project-based, with multi-year contracts and multi-million-Euro machine pricing that is not publicly disclosed. Recurring after-sales service, spare parts, and modernization/retrofitting of both Herkules-built and competitor machines (delivered through SBA mechatronics) provide an annuity revenue layer atop the lumpy equipment orders, reinforcing customer relationships across decades-long equipment lifecycles.
HerkulesGroup firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- HerkulesGroup
- Legal name
- HerkulesGroup Services GmbH
- Website
- https://herkulesgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1911
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- HerkulesGroup is a German family-owned manufacturer of large machine tools — roll grinders, vertical turning lathes, portal milling machines, boring mills, and custom industrial gearboxes — serving global steel, aluminum, paper, and battery foil producers with manufacturing, modernization, and after-sales services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
HerkulesGroup industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Machine Tools
- NAICS
- Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517), Metalworking Machinery Manufacturing (33351), Speed Changer, Industrial High-Speed Drive, and Gear Manufacturing (333612)
- SIC
- Machine Tools, Metal Cutting Types (3541), Metalworkg Machinery & Equipment (3540)
- akta.pro primary industry
- CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers) (IMAHADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping) (IMAHADAC)
Keywords
Where HerkulesGroup is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Siegen
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
HerkulesGroup business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Large Machine Tool Sales: Manufacturing and sale of heavy-duty large machine tools including roll grinding machines, vertical turning machines, portal milling machines, boring mills, and custom machinery. Capital equipment sales with long project cycles.
- Custom Gearbox and Drive Solutions: RSGetriebe develops and produces customized drive systems for machine tools, chemical industry, extrusion, and complex test bench systems.
- Machine Modernization and Retrofitting: Complete electrical and mechanical overhauls of own and third-party machines, modernization upgrades, and technology updates to bring aging equipment to current standards.
- After-Sales Services: Spare parts supply, technical support, field service, and process optimization services for existing machine installations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Capital Equipment - Custom Quoted |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
HerkulesGroup product offering
Product offeringCore offering
HerkulesGroup designs, manufactures, and services heavy-duty large machine tools including roll grinding machines, vertical turning machines, portal milling machines, boring mills, and texturing machines for industrial customers. The group also produces customized industrial gearboxes and drive solutions through its RSGetriebe subsidiary, and provides machine modernization and retrofitting services through SBA mechatronics. Primary end markets are steel mills, aluminum producers, stainless steel manufacturers, paper producers, and battery foil manufacturers requiring precision machining of rolls and heavy workpieces.
Product overview
The HerkulesGroup is a family-owned group of companies operating as innovation leaders in large machine tools, with over 1,350 employees worldwide. The Group comprises four main companies: Maschinenfabrik Herkules specializing in roll grinding and turning machines, WaldrichSiegen offering heavy-duty machine tools for milling, turning, grinding, texturing, and boring, RSGetriebe providing customized drive solutions and gearboxes, and SBA (sba mechatronics) delivering modernization services for roll grinding machines. The product portfolio includes the ProfiGrind roll grinder series, ProfiMill portal milling machines, ProfiTurn V vertical turning machines, and NNF notch milling machines. Key technology offerings encompass KP 10 machine control systems, Roll Surface Inspection Systems (RSIS), Roughness Scattered Light Detection (RSLD), Modular Roll Shop Management System (MRS), and Eddy Current/Ultrasonic inspection systems. The high level of vertical integration means all core components are manufactured within the Group, supported by a global sales and service network with own branches in main markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- ProfiGrind Roll Grinders Roll grinding machines for precision machining of work rolls and back-up rolls with µm-range precision, B-axis integrated grinding saddle, and infeed increments of 0.0001 mm. Available in multiple models (ProfiGrind 7500, 5500, 2500, 2000) for steel mills, aluminum producers, and stainless steel manufacturers.
- ProfiMill Portal Milling Machines Heavy-duty portal milling machines for large workpiece machining, including the ProfiMill evo variant launched in 2025. Designed for flexible and productive large-scale milling operations.
- ProfiTurn V Vertical Turning Machine Vertical turning lathe designed for heavy-duty turning operations, presented as part of WaldrichSiegen's product portfolio for heavy-duty machining applications.
- NNF Notch Milling Machines Milling machines featuring excellent damping properties and high rigidity for vibration-free machining of workpieces, particularly used for high-strength steel production. Manufactured at the Meuselwitz production site.
- WS 600 CNC Monolith Combination Machine Advanced CNC combination machine with monolithic design and C-frame measuring device with sideshift, enabling versatile roll machining operations including grinding. Used by steel and aluminum producers such as Aperam and Hindalco.
- Customized Gearboxes and Drive Solutions (RSGetriebe) Customized industrial gearboxes and drive solutions developed and produced by RSGetriebe in Sonthofen, Germany. Includes design department for individual gearbox solutions serving machine tools, chemical industry, extrusion, and complex test bench systems.
- Machine Modernization and Retrofitting Services (SBA) Machine modernization services including complete electrical and mechanical overhauls, retrofitting, modernization upgrades, and technology updates for both Herkules machines and third-party equipment. Delivered by SBA mechatronics GmbH based in Weikersdorf, Austria, including leading supplier of new roll grinding machines for the paper industry.
Quantifiable outcome
- Grinding wheel pressure maintained within ±0.3% tolerance for homogenous surfaces
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use HerkulesGroup
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
HerkulesGroup technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature12 records
HerkulesGroup partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, strategic and core.
- Lebenshilfe Dillenburg e.V. (Haiger Rehabilitation Workshop)minorRehabilitation workshop producing 50 nesting boxes for Haiger Bird and Nature Conservation Association as part of HerkulesGroup Heart Project environmental initiative.
- Gontermann-PeipersstrategicLong-term partnership with roll foundry. Gontermann-Peipers received world's largest roll turning machine (HDK 1500) in 1975 and has been customer for decades. Both companies jointly supported Kinderinsel charity project.
- IRLE ROLLSstrategicIRLE ROLLS is a manufacturer of highly sophisticated engineered cast products with 330 years of experience. They are a key supplier of rolls, pistons, and wear-resistant cast products. HerkulesGroup machines are integral to IRLE ROLLS' production facilities, and both companies cooperate on customer projects such as the Nucor Steel West Virginia roll shop design.
- K.O. Rydqvist ABcoreSwedish sales agent representing HerkulesGroup companies (SBA and Maschinenfabrik Herkules) for the SSAB modernization project in Sweden. Successfully won contract against original machine manufacturer.
- PrimetalscoreLong-standing cooperation with Primetals for Japanese steel market. Primetals purchased six ProfiGrind roll grinders for Japanese customer steel mill expansion - one of the largest projects in Japan in recent years.
- SDFS Smarte Demonstrationsfabrik SiegenstrategicHerkulesGroup is Connect-member and founding member of InnovationCircle digital business models working group. Partnership involves regular workshops on sustainable digital business models with regional industry partners at Buschhütten campus.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
HerkulesGroup competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Ingersoll Machine Tools: US-based builder of large, heavy-duty machine tools (milling, turning, additive-metal systems). Operates in the same heavy-machine-tool niche as WaldrichSiegen for aerospace, energy, and industrial customers.
- EMAG: German machine tool manufacturer focused on turning and grinding solutions for industrial components. Adjacent overlap with Herkules' precision grinding technology and KP 10 control platform.
- Nicolás Correa: Spanish specialist in large-bed milling and boring machines serving industrial customers in energy, aerospace, and heavy machinery—directly comparable product category to WaldrichSiegen's heavy-duty mills.
- TOS Varnsdorf: Czech Republic-based manufacturer of heavy-duty horizontal boring mills and large machine tools—directly comparable to WaldrichSiegen's heavy machine tool portfolio serving industrial manufacturers globally.
- FPT Industries: Italian manufacturer of large horizontal boring and milling machines. Closely comparable on product category, serving similar heavy-industrial end-markets as WaldrichSiegen.
- Soraluce (Danobat Group): Spanish manufacturer of large milling, turning, and boring machines—including heavy-duty portal mills and vertical turning lathes directly comparable to ProfiMill and ProfiTurn V product lines.
Broad incumbents
- ANDRITZ Group: Austria-headquartered industrial group with overlapping exposure in metals processing and (via its pulp & paper division) roll-grinding-modernization business comparable to SBA's paper-industry roll shop work.
- SMS group: German-based global plant builder for the metals industry. Operates as a much broader incumbent across steel-making and processing equipment, overlapping with Herkules in roll-shop and rolling-mill supply.
- Danieli: Italy-based global supplier of plant and machinery for steelmaking and non-ferrous metals. Larger portfolio than HerkulesGroup but competes for the same rolling-mill capex projects with end customers like Jindal, JSW, and Primetals.
Regional players
- EMUC (formerly Yamashita Engineering / Toshiba Machine): Japanese heavy machine tool makers (e.g., Toshiba Machine/Shibaura) compete with WaldrichSiegen in the same prime-quality end of the Asia-Pacific rolling mill market targeted by the recent 6-machine Primetals order.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
HerkulesGroup social profiles
Digital presenceHerkulesGroup financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
HerkulesGroup leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
HerkulesGroup subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
HerkulesGroup funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
HerkulesGroup M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about HerkulesGroup
What does HerkulesGroup do?
HerkulesGroup designs, manufactures, and services heavy-duty large machine tools including roll grinding machines, vertical turning machines, portal milling machines, boring mills, and texturing machines for industrial customers. The group also produces customized industrial gearboxes and drive solutions through its RSGetriebe subsidiary, and provides machine modernization and retrofitting services through SBA mechatronics. Primary end markets are steel mills, aluminum producers, stainless steel manufacturers, paper producers, and battery foil manufacturers requiring precision machining of rolls and heavy workpieces.
Is HerkulesGroup a public or private company?
HerkulesGroup is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was HerkulesGroup founded?
HerkulesGroup was founded in 1911. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is HerkulesGroup based?
HerkulesGroup is headquartered in Siegen, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does HerkulesGroup make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Large Machine Tool Sales are the primary driver. The others are custom Gearbox and Drive Solutions, machine Modernization and Retrofitting and after-Sales Services.
Who are HerkulesGroup's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Ingersoll Machine Tools, EMAG, Nicolás Correa, TOS Varnsdorf, FPT Industries and Soraluce (Danobat Group). Broad incumbents are ANDRITZ Group, SMS group and Danieli. EMUC (formerly Yamashita Engineering / Toshiba Machine) is listed as a regional player.
Does HerkulesGroup have an API?
No public API is recorded for HerkulesGroup.
What industry is HerkulesGroup in?
HerkulesGroup's product category is Industrial Machine Tools. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHADAA, CNC Machine Tools (Turning, Milling, Machining Centers), with a secondary code of IMAHADAC, Metal Forming & Fabrication Machines (Presses, Bending, Shearing, Stamping). Its NAICS code is 333517 and its SIC code is 3541.