Groz-Beckert

Groz-Beckert KG
Company typeLimited partnership
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1852 (1852)
Headquarters
Albstadt, Baden-Wuerttemberg
,
Germany
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Eric Schöller (CEO), Markus Settegast, Kathrin Pross and Jan Jetter [1]
ProductsIndustrial needles, precision components and fine tools
Revenue839 mil. EUR (Group)[2] (2024)
Number of employees
  • Headquarters: 2,194
  • Group: 9,419
[2] (2024)
Websitewww.groz-beckert.com

Groz-Beckert headquartered in Albstadt-Ebingen in Baden-Württemberg, Germany, is a global market leader in the development, manufacture and sale of process-critical textile precision tools and industrial cutting solutions, as well as a solution provider for textile construction and solution provider of textile reinforcements for the construction industry and of composites.

Founded in 1852, the company is still family-owned. In 2024, Groz-Beckert generated turnover of 839 million euros with around 9,400 employees worldwide. The company is active in more than 150 countries with agencies, production and sales subsidiaries. Groz-Beckert is the largest employer of the Zollernalbkreis.

History

In 1852 Theodor Groz opened a store for toys and fashion accessories with an attached needle workshop in Ebingen, today part of Albstadt. In the same year he produced needles for warp knitting and hosiery production for the first time. In 1871 Ernst Beckert founded the identically named company "Ernst Beckert" in Eibenberg, near Chemnitz, for the production of needles.

In 1884 Ernst Beckert relocated his needle factory to Chemnitz. Already by 1888 Theodor Groz & Söhne had founded their own health insurance fund for their employees – the precursor of today's BKK Groz-Beckert.

In 1937 the two companies merged, laying the foundation of the present group of companies. At that time, Walther Groz was the Head of the executive board of the company. Today, besides the headquarters there are further production sites all over the world (Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, Portugal, India, China, Vietnam, USA). Also sales affiliates can be found around the globe (Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, France, Spain, Great Britain, Turkey, Mexico, USA, India, China, Vietnam, South Korea, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore).[3]

From 1996 to 2018 the company was chaired by Dr. Thomas Lindner (* 1951), a descendant of one of the founders.[4] Since 2019 he has been Chairman of the Groz-Beckert Supervisory Board.[1] Lindner was also President of the VDMA from 2010 to 2013. Today, the Groz-Beckert Executive Board consists of four members: Eric Schöller (CEO), Markus Settegast, Kathrin Pross, and Jan Jetter.[5]

Products

Groz-Beckert is producer of industrial needles and system parts for the knitting, apparel, shoe, nonwovens, and carpet industry (gauge parts tufting) and the spinning industry. In addition to that, the range of products includes weaving accessories like healds, heald frames, warp stop motions, and drop wires. In the beginning, these products were sold under the name "Grob by Groz-Beckert", now they go by "Groz-Beckert", and also machines for weaving preparation are part of the range. With its product group Customized Precision Components (CPC), formerly Ceramic Punching Components, Groz-Beckert went into a new field of application of precision tools. The products are carbide tools, punches, and dies for special machines as well as precision micro-components.

Under the name of "SMG", another line of business produces and sells plastic ball bearings and components as well as first class plastic technology products. Also the brands "Eisbär by Groz-Beckert", Schmeing", "Knotex", and "Grob by Groz-Beckert" belong to the group. Today the following products are sold under the name of "Groz-Beckert":

  • Knitting machine parts (knitting needles, system parts, cylinders, dials)
  • Weaving machine parts (healds, heald frames, warp stop motions, drop wires, machines for weaving preparation)
  • Parts for nonwoven production (products for the nonwovens-industry, felting and structuring needles, jet strips for hydroentanglement)
  • Gauge parts tufting (tufting needles, loopers and tufting knives, reed finger modules)
  • Products for carding process (card wires and clothings for the short staple and long staple spinning industry and for the nonwovens industry, mounting service, roller repair, commissioning service)
  • Sewing machine parts (sewing machine needles, shoe machine needles, needles for domestic sewing machines, INH Quality Management)
  • Further products (customized precision components (CPC), plastic products (SMG))

At the same time, the Groz-Beckert Group is tapping into the growth area of developing and manufacturing non-metallic reinforcement solutions and reinforcement systems for new construction and renovation with solidian. Reinforcement solutions made from high-performance technical fibers for composite materials are also offered under the Kelteks brand.[6]

The industrial knife specialist TKM complements the group's product portfolio with industrial cutting solutions that are used in a variety of industries. The broad product range serves the paper, wood, metal, plastics, rubber, and recycling industries, as well as machine building.[7]

Research and development

In 2010 the company inaugurated its Technology and Development Center (TEZ) at its headquarters in Albstadt. Laboratories, a training center, development offices and seminar rooms as well as machinery for all important textile production processes are placed on an area of around 25,000 square meters.

Social commitment

In September 2013 Groz-Beckert inaugurated its Health and Education Center (GEBIZ) at its headquarters in Albstadt. Besides "Kita und Grundschule Malesfelsen" - a day care center and a private elementary school, the GEBIZ also includes the "Vitalzentrum Malesfelsen", a health center for its employees and the BKK insurance fund members. It provides a prevention and training area with an attached wellness and relaxation room. In addition to that, the vital center includes a public physiotherapeutic office.

In total, Groz-Beckert invested around 17.5 mil. Euro into this project.

Groz-Beckert in Albstadt-Ebingen, view from Schlossfelsen
The Groz-Beckert premises in Ebingen, view from Riedhalde, the slope of Malesfelsen

References

  1. ^ a b "Executive Board and Supervisory Board". Groz-Beckert-Webseite. 2026-02-03. Retrieved 2026-02-03.
  2. ^ a b "Facts and Figures" (Website). Groz-Beckert KG. Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Locations". Groz-Beckert-Webseite. Retrieved 2014-12-08.
  4. ^ Karsten Langer (2004-08-05). "Familie Lindner: Die Nadel-Pioniere". Manager Magazin. Retrieved 2014-01-08.
  5. ^ https://www.groz-beckert-group.com/en/group/executive-and-supervisory-board/
  6. ^ https://www.groz-beckert-group.com/en/
  7. ^ https://www.groz-beckert-group.com/en/
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