What Irle & Heuel Gmbh does

Irle & Heuel GmbH is a privately held German technical trading company (GmbH, founded circa 1970) headquartered in Siegen, Germany, operating the iHH Onlineshop — a B2B and B2C e-commerce platform serving industrial buyers with occupational safety equipment, C-parts and general industrial supplies. The platform offers 50,000+ products across twelve core categories (occupational safety, drive technology, chemical-technical products, sealing technology, hose technology, valves & couplings, fastening systems, operating supplies, tools, rubber, plastics and bearing technology), with 24-hour shipping from a 2,000+ sqm stocked warehouse and an in-house bench of 30+ specialist consultants. The company monetises via transactional product sales (transaction-fee model, free shipping above €150 order value, pay-as-you-go billing) and an adjacent professional services stream covering training, coaching and maintenance for gas measurement and respiratory protection equipment. The technology backbone is a B2B-oriented e-commerce stack that includes a dedicated customer dashboard with personalised pricing, individual quote workflows, and a free OCI (Open Catalog Interface) plug-in enabling direct catalog data transfer into customer ERP systems without IT overhead. Go-to-market is sales-led with a distinct Geschäftskunden (business customer) track and is supported by SEO, email marketing under the iHH-Insider brand, and a wide authorised distribution network of 22+ premium manufacturers including Dräger Safety, Henkel (Platinum Partner), Bosch, Makita, Moldex, ContiTech, Ansell, NTN and KLINGER.

Name

Irle & Heuel Gmbh

Legal name

Irle und Heuel GmbH

Website

https://ihh.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Irle & Heuel GmbH (iHH) is a German technical trader and B2B e-commerce platform, founded circa 1970 in Siegen, selling 50,000+ occupational safety and industrial supply SKUs with OCI ERP integration to business customers across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Supplies Distribution

NAICS

Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance (811210)

SIC

Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Wholesale-Hardware & Plumbing & Heating Equipment & Supplies (5070), Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825)

akta.pro primary industry

B2B/EDI & Supply Chain Process Automation Platforms (HDAEAHAK)

Keywords

• Industrial supplies
• Occupational safety equipment
• Personal protective equipment
• MRO products
• Technical trading

Headquarters

HQ city

Siegen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. E-commerce Product Sales: Direct online sales of industrial supplies and safety equipment with transaction-based pricing, free shipping threshold at €150 order value, and 24-hour shipping capability
2. Professional Services (Schulungen, Wartungen): Training, coaching, and maintenance services for gas measurement and respiratory protection equipment

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Irle & Heuel GmbH operates the iHH Onlineshop, a German technical trading platform selling industrial supplies, C-parts, and occupational safety equipment to business and private customers. The offering spans 50,000+ SKUs across categories such as respiratory protection, drive technology, sealing technology, tools, and chemical-technical products, supplemented by professional services for gas measurement and respiratory protection including training, maintenance, and rental. A free OCI interface enables direct ERP integration for B2B procurement workflows.

Product overview

Irle & Heuel GmbH operates the iHH Onlineshop, a B2B e-commerce platform for industrial supplies and occupational safety. The product portfolio spans 12 core categories: occupational safety (Arbeitsschutz), drive technology, chemical-technical products, sealing technology, hose technology, valves & couplings, fastening systems, operating supplies & equipment, tools, rubber, plastics, and bearing/storage technology. The platform positions itself as a specialist in occupational safety with over 50 years of experience, offering more than 50,000 products from stock with 24-hour shipping. Key sub-categories include specialized respiratory protection workshop components (drying cabinets, washing systems) and training systems (fog machines, exercise equipment) primarily sourced from Dräger. The offering includes services such as training, maintenance, and rental, with an OCI interface for ERP integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Occupational Safety Equipment (Arbeitsschutz) Comprehensive occupational safety product range covering respiratory protection, eye protection, safety shoes, hearing protection, gloves, skin protection, work clothing, head protection, first aid, and fall protection systems for industrial and trade customers.
• Drive Technology (Antriebstechnik) Mechanical power transmission components including V-belts, toothed belts, round belts, poly-V belts, roller chains, chain locks, and sprockets for industrial machinery applications.
• Chemical-Technical Products Industrial adhesives (anaerobic, 2-component, elastic), coating materials, lubricants, and maintenance and cleaning products for industrial applications.
• Sealing Technology (Dichtungstechnik) Sealing solutions including sealing plates, sealing bands, metal sealing rings, O-rings, X-rings, hydraulic seals, shaft seals, pump seals, flat gaskets, and technical textiles.
• Hose Technology (Schlauchtechnik) Hose systems for industrial applications including pressure hoses, suction/spiral hoses, metal hoses, and plastic hoses (PA, PE, PTFE, PU, PVC), plus clamps and protective hoses.
• Valves & Couplings (Armaturen & Kupplungen) Fluid system components including pneumatic valves, water valves, fire department couplings, universal couplings, ball valves, flanges, and hose trolleys.
• Tools (Werkzeuge) Hand tools, power tools (corded and cordless), pneumatic tools, measuring and testing instruments, tool accessories, screws/nails, tool sets, storage solutions, and specialized tools.
• Bearing/Storage Technology (Lagertechnik) Bearings and linear technology including ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings, linear guides, housings, and bearing maintenance tools.
• Gas Detection Technology (Gasmesstechnik) Gas measurement technology including single-gas detectors, multi-gas detectors, test stations, calibration gases, tubes/MicroTubes, and alcohol/drug testing equipment.
• Professional Services for Gas Measurement & Respiratory Protection Training, coaching, and maintenance services for gas measurement and respiratory protection equipment, including drying/washing systems support, for industrial safety professionals.
• iHH Onlineshop B2B Dashboard & OCI Interface E-commerce platform with B2B-specific features including personalized pricing dashboard, account management, and free OCI (Open Catalog Interface) integration for ERP systems, setup in 2-4 hours without IT skills.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ products available in stock
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Dräger SafetycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor brand partnership with Dräger Safety for respiratory protection, gas measurement technology, and safety equipment. iHH sells Dräger products including breathing apparatus, training systems, workshop equipment, and accessories.
• HenkelcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPlatinum Partner status with Henkel for industrial adhesives and sealants (e.g., Loctite, Bonderite brands)
• ContiTechcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for hose technology and conveyor belt solutions from ContiTech
• AnsellcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for protective gloves and occupational safety products from Ansell
• NTNcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for bearing technology and linear technology products from NTN
• Hase Safety GlovesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for safety gloves
• KLINGERcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for sealing technology products from KLINGER
• JSP SafetyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for respiratory protection and head protection equipment from JSP Safety
• ABUSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for security products and safety equipment from ABUS
• OKSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for lubricants and maintenance products from OKS
• Sundström Safety ABminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for respiratory protection products from Sundström Safety AB
• BoschcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for power tools and professional tools from Bosch
• BAAKminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for safety shoes and occupational footwear from BAAK
• HakrominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for workwear and occupational clothing from Hakro
• MoldexcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for respiratory protection and hearing protection from Moldex
• FORMATminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for measuring tools and testing equipment from FORMAT
• FortisminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for hand tools from Fortis
• MakitacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for power tools from Makita
• Steitz SecuraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for safety shoes and occupational footwear from Steitz Secura
• MartorminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for safety knives and cutting tools from Martor
• PUMAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for safety shoes (PUMA Safety brand) from PUMA
• WEICONminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner for industrial adhesives, sealants, and technical sprays from WEICON

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Contorion (by Hoffmann Group): Contorion is the digital-native B2B shop spun out of Hoffmann Group, focused on industrial supplies and tools for SMEs; it overlaps directly with iHH's online-only, mid-market positioning and ERP-procurement angle, but with narrower specialist safety depth.
• Mercateo (Unite): Mercateo/Unite is a Europe-wide B2B procurement platform aggregating industrial and office supplies from multiple wholesalers into a single OCI/EDI-ready catalog for buyers; it competes with iHH on procurement integration and assortment breadth rather than category depth, and pressures incumbent distributors' digital economics.

Broad incumbents

• Grainger: Grainger is a US-headquartered broad-line MRO distributor serving industrial customers globally with a deep catalog and online platform; it is a broad-incumbent peer to iHH in industrial C-parts and safety distribution, though operating primarily outside Germany and at vastly greater scale.
• RS Components: RS Components is a global broad-line distributor of electronic, mechanical, and industrial components with deep B2B ecommerce; it serves similar design and maintenance buyers as iHH with comparable ERP-friendly procurement, though its catalogue skews more electronic/electromechanical.
• MSC Industrial: MSC Industrial is a US MRO distributor of metalworking and maintenance products with a strong e-commerce procurement platform; it competes with iHH in tools, fasteners, and safety categories via its catalog-based B2B model but is geographically separated and broader in scope.

Direct peers

• Reisser Schraubentechnik: Reisser is a German specialist wholesaler of screws, fastening systems and tools serving industrial and trade buyers; it overlaps directly with iHH's Befestigungssysteme and Werkzeuge categories and competes for the same Mittelstand procurement budgets.
• Würth: Würth is the dominant German B2B distributor of fasteners, tools, occupational safety and C-parts with an industry-leading direct-sales force and online shop; it is the closest comparable to iHH in assortment, customer base (industrial Mittelstand), and catalog-driven GTM, only at much greater scale.
• Hoffmann Group: Hoffmann Group is a leading German B2B distributor of quality tools, precision instruments and occupational safety products serving industrial customers; its Contorion digital channel and ERP procurement integration make it a direct functional peer to iHH's online + consulting model.
• HELU Kabel / HELUKABEL: HELUKABEL is a German technical distributor of cables, cable accessories and related industrial supplies with direct B2B ecommerce; its assortment and target customer (industrial buyers needing technical components) closely mirrors iHH's drive, hose, and electrical-adjacent categories.

Regional players

• Conrad Electronic: Conrad is a German-rooted broad-line distributor of electronic components, tools, and industrial supplies with a strong B2B e-commerce platform; it overlaps with iHH's tools, measuring instruments, and fastening categories for technical buyers, though its center of gravity is electronics rather than occupational safety.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Irle & Heuel Gmbh