robert burkle

What robert burkle does

Robert Bürkle GmbH is a privately held German industrial machinery and plant manufacturer founded in 1920 and headquartered in Freudenstadt, with wholly-owned subsidiaries in North America (Greensboro, NC), China (Hong Kong, Taicang, Shenzhen), and Hungary (Debrecen), plus a branch office in Rietberg-Mastholte, Germany. The company designs and builds bespoke production systems for surface treatment, lamination, pressing, and coating across ten industry verticals including furniture, doors, flooring, wood-based panels, printed circuit boards (PCB), photovoltaics, plastic cards, insulation boards, glass, and crafts/joiners. Notable proprietary technologies include the IFL (Inline Flat Lamination) autoclave-free glass laminator (10-20 minute cycles versus multi-hour autoclave batches, ~50% energy savings, DIN EN 14449 certified), multi-level PV module laminators with court-confirmed patent protection, multilayer PCB presses spanning 400 kN to 20,000 kN, and the ROBUSeco/ROBUSpro spray coating lines.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of complex custom-configured capital equipment priced by quote, complemented by a continuous after-sales services stream covering spare parts, roller repair, retrofits, preventive maintenance, digital services, and remote maintenance across the installed base in 35+ countries. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise field sales from headquarters, wholly-owned regional subsidiaries, and an expanding network of independent sales partners (e.g., HOMAG Danmark A/S, Eigenmann AG). In August 2023 the company restructured into four independent divisions (PCB; PV/Glass/Plastic Cards; Surface/Woodworking; Automation/Insulation/Doors/Parquet) to sharpen customer focus, and is currently executing a single-digit million euro headquarters modernization project in Freudenstadt targeting completion by end of 2027. The company is privately held, with revenue figures not publicly disclosed.

Name

robert burkle

Legal name

Robert Bürkle GmbH

Website

https://burkle.tech

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Robert Bürkle GmbH is a privately held German industrial machinery manufacturer (founded 1920, headquartered in Freudenstadt) that designs and builds bespoke presses, coating systems, laminators, and production lines for surface treatment across furniture, doors, PCB, photovoltaics, glass, and plastic card industries globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Freudenstadt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Machinery and Plant Sales: One-time sales of complex industrial machinery and production lines for surface treatment, lamination, and pressing. Major product categories include spray coating lines, roller coating lines, PUR hotmelt laminating lines, PCB laminating and pressing lines, PV module laminators, plastic card lamination lines, glass laminators (IFL), press lines (short cycle, through-feed, CLT, door production, parquet, lightweight panels), and insulation/foam downstream lines. Custom-configured systems sold to industrial customers globally.
2. After-Sales Services: Spare parts, roller repair, preventive maintenance, retrofits, digital services and remote maintenance, line installation and commissioning. Continuous revenue stream from installed machine base.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Robert Bürkle GmbH manufactures and sells custom-configured industrial machinery and production lines for surface treatment, lamination, and pressing across ten industry verticals including furniture, doors, flooring, wood-based panels, printed circuit boards (PCB), photovoltaics, plastic cards, insulation boards, and flat glass. The company also provides after-sales services such as spare parts, retrofits, preventive maintenance, digital services and remote maintenance, roller repair, and line installation/commissioning for its installed machinery base worldwide.

Product overview

Robert Bürkle GmbH is a German industrial machinery manufacturer specializing in surface treatment and lamination technologies. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of production systems across multiple industries including furniture, doors, flooring, wood panels, printed circuit boards (PCBs), photovoltaics, plastic cards, insulation boards, and glass. Key product lines include ROBUSeco and ROBUSpro spray coating systems, roller coating lines, PUR hotmelt laminating equipment, the innovative easy-LAM IFL glass laminator (offering autoclave-free lamination), PCB laminating presses, plastic card production systems, PV module laminators, CLT and through-feed press lines, Thermobonding downstream lines, and automation/robotics solutions. The company operates from headquarters in Freudenstadt, Germany with subsidiaries in North America, Hong Kong, China, and Hungary.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ROBUSeco: Spray coating machine series for entry-level segment with handling system for semi-automatic loading and unloading
• ROBUSpro
• easy-LAM IFL
• SMARTLAM CHK
• KA UV
• easy-Cure UV+
• LAMV

Products and services

• ROBUSeco
• ROBUSpro
• KA UV
• easy-LAM IFL
• easy-LAM IFL 2650
• PUR hotmelt laminating lines
• Laminating and pressing lines for PCBs
• Laminating and pressing lines for plastic cards
• PV module laminators
• CLT press lines
• Through-feed press lines
• Press lines for doors
• Press lines for lightweight boards
• Press lines for parquet
• Thermobonding and downstream lines
• Automation and handling systems
• Universal process cell
• easy-Cure UV+

Quantifiable outcome

• ~50% energy savings with easy-LAM IFL vs. traditional pre-lamination and autoclave process
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature11 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• EFI (Electronics For Imaging)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership announced May 2019 to market EFI Cubik inkjet decoration solutions for woodworking decoration. BÜRKLE presents EFI ecosystem including Single-Pass EFI Cubik S1800 UV-LED and S700 mineral inkjet printers, genuine EFI inks, and EFI Fiery design and color management systems. Joint development of product roadmaps for digitalization in wood and building material industries. Premiere at LIGNA 2019, hall 17 booth F19.
• PGT InnovationscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership signed December 2019. PGT Innovations (Venice, Florida) integrates BÜRKLE IFL Glass Lamination System into production in 2020. BÜRKLE provides inline flat press laminating system with effective area of 2.6m x 5.0m for laminated glass, safety glass (LSG), smart glass, decorative glass, and solar modules. Enables faster throughput and reduced energy costs.
• Eigenmann AGregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic partnership effective 2025. Eigenmann AG from Dietfurt, Switzerland takes over sales and service for the Bürkle product portfolio in the field of woodworking for craftsmen and medium-sized companies. Strengthens market presence in Switzerland.
• HOMAG Danmark A/SregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic change of sales partner in Denmark effective 2024. HOMAG Danmark A/S has extensive market knowledge and strong sales network for woodworking machines. Expected to contribute to increased market presence and sustainable growth in Denmark.
• Wolfgang Bott GmbH & Co. KGcoreTechnology or IntegrationSecond Source Strategy partnership. Wolfgang Bott developed micro 2-way flow control valve for Bürkle PCB presses (dimensions 50mm x 55.5mm x 90mm), regulating droplet-level oil flow (0-5 l/min) to maintain constant volume flow regardless of pressure (100-300 bar). Fulfils function of three conventional valves. Installed since early 2017. Company is Mössingen-based hydraulic specialist.
• Siemens AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network with Siemens AG and Campus Schwarzwald (centre for research and technology transfer). Joint development of digital twin technology enabling virtual commissioning and real-time plant simulation. Part of Mechatronics 2022 project for interdisciplinary engineering. Reduces commissioning time and project lead times.
• Campus SchwarzwaldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network with Siemens AG and Campus Schwarzwald (centre for research and technology transfer). Joint development of digital twin technology enabling virtual commissioning and real-time plant simulation. Part of Mechatronics 2022 project for interdisciplinary engineering.
• YaskawacoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for robot programming using SRCI interface. BÜRKLE programs Yaskawa robots directly in PLC, enabling automation without in-depth programming knowledge. Close cooperation with digital twin integration. Enables SME customers to integrate robots with ease, speeding up commissioning and compensating for skilled worker shortages.
• SMB-DAVID finishing lines GmbH (Asset Acquisition)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsset deal acquisition in October 2020. Robert Bürkle GmbH acquired technical and sales-oriented expertise, market and service capacities from insolvent SMB-DAVID finishing lines GmbH, Geretsried. Extended process chain toward full-range supplier (Vollsortimenters) in insulation board industry. Covers XPS and EPS, polyurethane, polyethylene and PET foams, glass and stone wool, and sandwich panels. Also secured SMB-David service competencies including technical service, spare parts supply, and maintenance for installed SMB machines.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Siempelkamp: German manufacturer of press systems and complete production lines for the wood-based panel industry, rubber mats, and composites. Closest competitor to BÜRKLE in continuous press lines for wood-based panels and a key peer in heavy industrial pressing.
• Dieffenbacher: German press and complete plant manufacturer serving wood-based panels, automotive, and recycling industries. Directly competes with BÜRKLE in through-feed press lines, lightweight board presses, and industrial pressing systems.
• HOMAG Group (Dürr AG): World-leading supplier of machines and systems for the woodworking industry and crafts. Direct peer in furniture, door and flooring production equipment, and as a HOMAG Danmark distribution partner of BÜRKLE in Denmark, also a channel partner.
• Wemhöner Surface Technologies: German press manufacturer specializing in surface finishing technologies for the wood-based panels, laminate flooring, and door industries. Direct competitor to BÜRKLE's through-feed presses and surface treatment lines.
• Cefla Finishing: Italian-headquartered global supplier of finishing, coating, and digital printing lines for wood, glass, plastics and metal. Direct competitor to BÜRKLE in spray coating and roller coating for furniture and surface finishing.
• Barberán: Spanish manufacturer of surface finishing machinery including roller coaters, spray machines, and laminating lines for wood-based panels and furniture. Direct peer to BÜRKLE's KA UV roller coating and spray coating systems.
• Langzauner: Austrian manufacturer of hydraulic presses and laminating systems for wood, plastics, composites, and PCB. Direct competitor to BÜRKLE's PCB multilayer press systems and cross-laminated timber (CLT) press lines.
• Hymmen GmbH: German manufacturer of industrial laminating lines and double-belt presses for wood-based panels, flooring, and digital printing applications. Direct peer in continuous laminating and pressing technology.
• Lauffer GmbH & Co. KG: German press manufacturer for multilayer PCBs, lead frames, and rubber/silicone vulcanization. Direct competitor to BÜRKLE's PCB division with comparable multilayer lamination press technology.
• Michael Weinig (Homag Group): German specialist in solid wood processing machinery and now part of the HOMAG Group. Direct peer to BÜRKLE in press lines for parquet, doors, and woodworking applications, particularly the craftspeople segment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLWp5447l1zLwekCU_IhPmSdrJebcYaHsV

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries7 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 robert burkle