hepu

What hepu does

HEPU Autoteile GmbH is a privately held, family-owned German manufacturer of automotive engine cooling and timing components, headquartered in Kalletal-Hohenhausen, Germany. Founded in 1958, the company produces OE-quality water pumps as its core product, supplemented by complete water pump kits that bundle pumps with matching timing belts, tensioners, idler pulleys, and mounting accessories sourced from leading OE suppliers. The portfolio also extends to timing belt kits, timing chain kits, and coolant additives, with the IPD sub-brand covering wheel bearings, CV joints, drive shafts, and steering boots under the same German quality standards. Manufacturing is conducted at a 10,000 m² facility with TÜV / DIN EN ISO 9001:2015 certified quality controls, and the company holds approximately 400,000 units in stock across more than 1,400 vehicle-application models targeting European, Asian, and American vehicles.

The underlying technology centers on mechanical seal and bearing engineering — carbon-ceramic and SIC sealing technology, hardened case-hardened shafts, precision-machined aluminum alloy housings, flow-optimized corrosion-resistant impellers, and sintered-metal pulleys — all validated through pressure and leak testing. Products are positioned as OE-equivalent replacement parts for the independent automotive aftermarket (IAM), competing on durability, fit accuracy, and total-cost-of-repair rather than on cutting-edge materials science.

HEPU's business model is a conventional B2B parts distribution operation. Revenue is generated through one-time sales of pumps and kits to automotive wholesalers, workshop chains, and trading partners across more than 25 countries, primarily in EMEA with additional reach into the USA, China, Japan, and Korea. Go-to-market combines DACH-focused field sales via Area Sales Managers, channel-partner distribution internationally, a 25-language corporate website with an online parts catalog, and TecCom B2B platform integration for automated ordering. Pricing is not publicly disclosed but is structured around attractive partner margins in B2B transactions. The company employs over 120 qualified staff and is led by Managing Director Siegfried Grimm, with no external investment, parent company, or public listing indicated in the available data.

Name

hepu

Legal name

HEPU Autoteile GmbH

Website

https://hepu.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Short description

HEPU Autoteile GmbH is a German, family-owned manufacturer founded in 1958 that produces OE-quality automotive water pumps, water pump kits, timing belt kits, and coolant additives for the independent automotive aftermarket, distributed through wholesalers, workshop chains, and trading partners across 25+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Automotive Engine Cooling Components

NAICS

Pump and Compressor Manufacturing (33391), Measuring, Dispensing, and Other Pumping Equipment Manufacturing (333914)

SIC

Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Automotive Coolant & Refrigerant Circuit Components (Pumps/Valves/Reservoirs/Expansion Devices) (IMACALAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aftermarket Parts, Service & Remanufacturing (Pumps/Compressors) (IMAHANAJ), Industrial MRO Supplies for Vehicle/Equipment Workshops (Bearings, Hydraulics, Pneumatics, Fasteners) (TLAKAOAK), Lubricants, Fluids & Chemical Products Distribution (Oils, Coolants, AdBlue/DEF, Cleaners) (TLAKAOAL)

Keywords

• Automotive water pumps
• Engine cooling components
• Timing belt kits
• Automotive aftermarket parts
• Coolant additives

Headquarters

HQ city

Kalletal-Hohenhausen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

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. Water Pumps and Complete Kits Sales: HEPU generates revenue through the sale of water pumps and complete kits to the independent automotive aftermarket. Products include water pumps, water pump kits, timing belt kits, timing chain kits, and coolant additives. Products are sold through distribution partners, wholesalers, workshop chains, and directly to workshops.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

HEPU manufactures and supplies OE-quality automotive water pumps as its primary product, complemented by water pump kits, timing chain kits, and timing belt kits that bundle pumps with matching tensioners, idler rollers, and belts from leading OE component suppliers. The portfolio also includes coolant additives and concentrates, and is backed by an online parts catalog covering 1,400+ European, Asian, and American vehicle models with 400,000 units stocked.

Product overview

HEPU is a German manufacturer of automotive cooling and engine timing components for the independent aftermarket. The core product portfolio consists of water pumps (Wasserpumpen) as the primary offering, supplemented by water pump kits (Wasserpumpen-Kits) that bundle water pumps with timing belt components, timing chain kits (Steuerkettensätze), and timing belt kits (Zahnriemensätze). Coolant additives (Kühlmittelzusätze) extend the product range. All products carry OE (original equipment) quality and are supported by an online catalog. HEPU's sister brand IPD offers wheel bearings, CV joints, and steering components. The company states approximately 400,000 water pumps and kits in stock covering over 1,400 European and Asian vehicle models.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IPD: Sister company offering wheel bearing kits, tensioners and rollers, timing belt kits, V-ribbed belt kits, CV joints, drive shaft kits, and steering boot kits.
• MAXXUS®

Products and services

• Wasserpumpen (Water Pumps) OE-quality automotive water pumps for engine cooling, featuring high-quality bearings, hardened shafts, carbon-ceramic or SIC sealing technology, precision-machined aluminum alloy housings, and corrosion-resistant flow-optimized impellers. Every unit undergoes pressure and leak testing. Covering European, Asian, and American vehicles.
• Wasserpumpen-Kits (Water Pump Kits) Complete kits combining HEPU water pumps with tensioners, idler rollers, timing belts, and mounting accessories sourced from leading OE manufacturers, providing a complete solution for belt-driven cooling system repairs and reducing risk of failure, damage, and warranty claims.
• Steuerkettensätze (Timing Chain Kits) Complete timing chain kits containing chain sprockets, guide rails, roller chains, and mounting accessories, all precisely matched and subject to strict quality control for engine timing applications.
• Zahnriemensätze (Timing Belt Kits) Timing belt repair kits containing all tensioners, idler rollers, matching belts, and necessary mounting parts from leading OE manufacturers, ensuring precise and reliable belt drive system operation.
• Kühlmittelzusätze (Coolant Additives) HEPU coolant additives and concentrates providing corrosion protection, overheating prevention, and scale inhibition for modern liquid-cooled engines. Product line includes ready-mix coolants and screen wash.

Quantifiable outcome

• Near 100% product availability and delivery readiness
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IPDcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIPD is HEPU's sister company providing a complementary range of automotive parts including wheel bearing kits, tensioners, idler pulleys, timing belt kits, pulleys, flexible disc couplings, universal joints, drive shaft kits, and steering gear boots. Both companies share the same German quality standards and OE-level competencies.
• OE Component SupplierscoreOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerHEPU sources timing belts, tensioners, idler pulleys, and mounting accessories from leading original equipment manufacturers for inclusion in their complete kits. All components meet OE requirements and are perfectly matched to each other.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Bosch Automotive Aftermarket: Global automotive parts giant offering a comprehensive IAM portfolio that includes water pumps alongside thousands of other parts. Broad incumbent competitor with much larger scale and brand reach than HEPU across the same independent aftermarket channels.
• MAHLE: Global automotive parts manufacturer with significant IAM presence in water pumps, thermostats, and engine components. Competes with HEPU in cooling-system parts but operates at a much larger scale with broader OEM and IAM coverage.
• Aisin: Japanese automotive component manufacturer and major OEM supplier of water pumps, with aftermarket distribution in Europe and Asia. Comparable product line to HEPU but as part of a vastly larger powertrain and chassis component portfolio.
• Continental (ContiTech): Large-tier automotive OEM and IAM supplier with strong water pump and timing belt product lines. Competes with HEPU in water pumps/timing kits but as part of a much broader automotive product portfolio across multiple categories.
• Valeo: Global automotive supplier with significant thermal management product line including water pumps and engine cooling modules. Overlaps with HEPU in water pumps but operates as a broad thermal-management specialist across OEM and IAM channels.

Direct peers

• Dolz: Spanish manufacturer specializing in water pumps and cooling-system components for the independent automotive aftermarket across European and global markets. Closest direct competitor to HEPU in product category, customer base (IAM wholesalers and workshops), and OE-quality aftermarket positioning.
• KWP (Kit Water Pump): Italian IAM water pump specialist with European vehicle coverage and similar OE-quality aftermarket positioning. Directly comparable product portfolio (water pumps and kits) and customer base (wholesalers, workshops) to HEPU.
• Airtex Products: US-based IAM water pump and engine management component manufacturer with broad North American vehicle coverage. Directly comparable to HEPU as a specialist water pump supplier to the independent aftermarket, with similar OE-quality positioning.
• Ferdinand Bilstein (febi): German IAM parts brand offering water pumps, timing kits, and a broad range of replacement parts through European wholesalers and workshops. Comparable German engineering heritage, IAM go-to-market motion, and broad European vehicle coverage make it a close peer.
• GMB Corporation: Japanese manufacturer of automotive water pumps, gaskets, and engine components with strong global IAM presence. Direct competitor to HEPU in water pumps and timing components, serving the same independent aftermarket channels with similar OE-quality positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hepu-autoteile-gmbh

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 hepu