List of the 50 largest tool manufacturers Germany [2024 Update]

List of the 5 largest tool manufacturers in Germany

The German tool industry is an industry with several hundred companies. In addition to many small companies, there are also some large ones. Here is our list of the 5 largest German tool manufacturers:

1. Kennametal Deutschland GmbH, Rosbach v.d. Höhe

Kennametal is a U.S. tool manufacturer headquartered in Pittsburgh. There are various subsidiaries in Germany. Important locations are Fürth, Schongau and Rosbach v.d. Höhe. The company specializes in metalworking tools. The tools are used, among other things, in machine tool manufacturing.

Update 2024: Encouraging prospects at the Ebermannstadt site: Around 400 employees currently work for Kennametal here. Special tools for mechanical engineering in particular are produced at this plant. The site can also deliver positive figures when it comes to the shortage of skilled workers – nine out of ten apprenticeship places for the starting training year have been filled.

2. Hilti Deutschland AG, Kaufering/Schaan

Hilti drilling machines are a household name. The specialist for fastening technology from Liechtenstein has existed since 1941 and also has a German subsidiary, Hilti Deutschland AG. Electropneumatic hammer drills have been the core business for decades. Hilti Deutschland employs around 2,700 people.

Update 2023: With the new, Group-wide strategy “Lead 2030”, the tool manufacturer wants to accelerate the transformation in the construction industry. To this end, it is working on various product innovations and spending a lot of money, most recently in the area of a new battery platform.

3. TTS Tooltechnic Systems Holding AG, Wendlingen am Neckar

TTS Tooltechnik Systems emerged from the Festo Group in 2000. It forms the holding umbrella for three tool manufacturers and other subsidiaries with a combined workforce of about 2750. Important companies: Festool (power and pneumatic tools), Tanos (transport and classification systems), Narex (power tools).

4. EMAG GmbH & Co. KG, Salach

EMAG started in 1867 as a machine factory in Bautzen. Today, the EMAG Group is a major manufacturer of machine tools and supplier to various industries. In vertical lathes, EMAG is one of the world’s leading companies. Other products: Grinding machines, gear cutting machines, machining centers. EMAG has over 3,000 employees.

5. MAPAL Dr. Kress KG, Aalen

MAPAL Dr. Kress is an economic miracle foundation and today a leading international manufacturer of precision tools for metalworking. MAPAL Dr. Kress is regarded as the world leader in metal-cutting tools for precision machining. The family-owned company employs over 5,000 people, around 1,800 of whom work at the company headquarters in Aalen.

The Toolmaker industry

We present the largest tool manufacturers in Germany in our unique list. The tool manufacturer field of activity is an essential industry for Germany. The industry includes all manufacturers of hand tools, power tools, metal tools, etc. The largest company is Kennametal Deutschland GmbH from Hesse, Germany, with a turnover of about 731 million euros in 2019. Kennametal manufactures a wide range of different tools. This list does not include manufacturers of machine tools (especially CNC machines). These can be found in the list of the largest mechanical engineering manufacturers in Germany.

This information will be included in the list

• Company name
• General contact data (address, e-mail address, telephone number, URL)
• Name of the management
• Serial letter suitable for addressing the management (e.g. “Dear Dr. Müller”)
• Sales figures for the years 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements)
• Employee figures for the years 2021, 2020, 2019 and 2018 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements)
• Sector classification & Field of activity

Note: If the sales and employee figures are not included in a company’s own financial statements but in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the data from the respective consolidated financial statements are provided.

Picture source:  James Kovin, Barn Images via Unsplash