Kapp Niles
Kapp Niles is a German industrial group supplying machines, tools, metrology systems, and services for finishing gears and profiles.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
Kapp Niles is a Germany-based industrial machinery group focused on the finishing, inspection, and production support of gears and profiles. Headquartered in Coburg, Upper Franconia, the group serves manufacturers whose components require highly precise grinding, machining, measurement, and quality-control processes. Its customers and application areas include automotive and transmission manufacturing, aerospace, compressor technology, industrial drive systems, energy and wind power, railway technology, shipbuilding, and raw-material extraction. The business began in 1953 when Bernhard Kapp established KAPP & Co. after acquiring the assets of Coburger Maschinenbau GmbH, known as COMAG. The new company initially continued COMAG's woodworking-machine production, but progressively moved into specialized machine tools. In 1958 it started building tool-grinding machines and expanded into surface grinding, profile grinding, and milling equipment. The company later developed a significant position in gear and profile finishing, with its machines being used in demanding industrial sectors. A major technological milestone came in 1981, when Kapp developed what the company describes as the world's first non-dressable profile-grinding wheel using cubic boron nitride, or CBN, technology. During the 1980s, Kapp also established subsidiaries and international operating structures in the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Japan. Its profile-grinding systems increasingly addressed the requirements of aerospace, automotive, and transmission manufacturers. The company states that it produced the world's largest hob-grinding machine in 1975, reflecting its effort to compete in large-scale and technically demanding applications. The group's modern identity was shaped by its 1997 acquisition of Niles Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH. Niles traced its industrial heritage to Deutsche NILES Werke AG, founded in 1898 as a licensee of the American Niles Tool Works Company. Niles brought established expertise in grinding machines for large gears, complementing Kapp's machine-building and grinding capabilities. The combined business subsequently operated under the Kapp Niles name and broadened its product and service offering. Kapp Niles expanded its geographic and technical platform during the 2000s and 2010s. KAPP ASIA TECHNOLOGIES was established in Jiashan, China, in 2006. In 2017, sales and service activities for Russia and neighboring markets were consolidated in a Moscow-based company, while KAPP NILES Metrology GmbH joined the group in April of the same year. The metrology division added measuring machines, measuring devices, and related services for gear and profile quality control, extending the group further along the industrial value chain. Branches in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, and Bangalore, India, opened in 2020. The company remains family-associated in its management history. Martin Kapp joined in 1983 and later shared management responsibilities with Bernhard Kapp and Roman Luft. Martin Kapp retired from operational management in July 2021 and moved to the advisory board as its chair. His sons Michael and Matthias Kapp continued the family role, with Michael Bär strengthening the management team. Helmut Nüssle, who had been part of management since 2004, retired at the end of January 2024. By 2025, Kapp Niles described itself as a globally operating group with approximately 1,000 employees, 12 locations, and nine production sites. Its portfolio covers generating and profile grinding machines, dressing and grinding tools, measuring equipment, metrology, service, and digitalization. The group positions itself as a specialist partner for precision gear and profile production rather than as a general-purpose machine-tool supplier.
History
Kapp Niles originated in Coburg in 1953, when Bernhard Kapp founded KAPP & Co. following the purchase of assets from Coburger Maschinenbau GmbH, or COMAG. The company's initial business continued COMAG's woodworking-machine range. From 1958 onward, however, Kapp developed tool-grinding machines and added surface grinding, profile grinding, and milling equipment. Its later specialization in gear and profile finishing made it a supplier to technically demanding industries. The company reports that it built the world's largest hob-grinding machine in 1975. In 1977, Bernhard Kapp left Waldrich Coburg and devoted his professional activity fully to his own company. During the 1980s, Kapp expanded into profile-grinding equipment for aerospace, automotive, and transmission applications. In 1981 it developed a non-dressable CBN profile-grinding wheel, a notable advance in grinding technology. International subsidiaries and operating companies were established in the United States, Germany, Brazil, and Japan during that decade. Martin Kapp joined the company in 1983 and shared management with Bernhard Kapp and Roman Luft. A decisive expansion occurred in 1997, when the Kapp Group acquired Niles Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH, a business with roots reaching back to Deutsche NILES Werke AG, founded in 1898. Niles had historical experience with grinding machines for large gears, strengthening Kapp's capabilities in gear-finishing machinery. The group continued internationalization with the creation of KAPP ASIA TECHNOLOGIES in Jiashan, China, in 2006. In March 2017, Kapp Niles Russia consolidated sales and service for Russia and nearby countries. On 1 April 2017, KAPP NILES Metrology GmbH joined the group, adding measurement machines, measuring devices, and quality-control services for gears and profiles. This broadened Kapp Niles from machine production into a more complete production and inspection ecosystem. In 2020, the group opened branches in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, and Bangalore, India. Martin Kapp retired from operational management on 1 July 2021 and became chair of the advisory board. His sons Michael and Matthias Kapp continued in management alongside Michael Bär. Helmut Nüssle, who had been part of management since 2004, retired on 31 January 2024. By 2025, Kapp Niles reported a global organization of about 1,000 employees, 12 locations, and nine production sites. Its offering included generating and profile grinding machines, dressing and grinding tools, metrology equipment, services, and digitalization. The group served applications involving internal and external gears and profiles across mobility, automation, energy, aerospace, rail, shipbuilding, compressors, and other industrial sectors.
- 2024
Helmut Nüssle retires
[1]Helmut Nüssle retires from the management team after serving in management since 2004.
- 2021
Change in family management
[1]Martin Kapp retires from operational management and becomes advisory-board chair; Michael and Matthias Kapp continue in management with Michael Bär.
- 2020
Branches open in Mexico and India
[1]New branches are opened in Ramos Arizpe and Bangalore.
- 2017
Russian sales and service activities are consolidated
[1]Kapp Niles Russia is established in Moscow for Russia and neighboring markets.
- 2017
Metrology becomes a group division
[1]KAPP NILES Metrology GmbH joins the group, expanding its offer into gear and profile measurement and quality control.
- 2006
KAPP ASIA TECHNOLOGIES is established
[1]The group establishes an Asian technology company in Jiashan, China.
- 1997
Acquisition of Niles Werkzeugmaschinen
[1]The Kapp Group acquires Niles Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH, bringing together Kapp's operations with Niles' gear-grinding heritage.
- 1983
Martin Kapp joins the company
[1]Martin Kapp joins the family business and shares management responsibilities with Bernhard Kapp and Roman Luft.
- 1981
CBN profile-grinding wheel development
[1]The company develops a non-dressable profile-grinding wheel using CBN technology.
- 1975
Large hob-grinding machine milestone
[1]Kapp states that it produced the world's largest hob-grinding machine.
Products and positioning
A specialist industrial technology group for precision finishing and measurement of gears and profiles, combining machine tools, tooling, metrology, services, and digital solutions for demanding mobility, automation, and energy applications.
Machine tools
Generating grinding machines
Machines for generating grinding and related gear-finishing processes. They are intended for precision production of gears used in sectors such as automotive, transmission manufacturing, industrial drives, energy, and other applications requiring controlled tooth geometry and surface quality.
Machine tools
Profile grinding machines
Profile-grinding systems for finishing gear teeth and other internal or external profiles. Kapp Niles developed this area for demanding applications including aerospace, automotive, compressors, rail, wind power, and industrial drive technology.
Industrial tooling
Dressing and grinding tools
Tooling used in gear and profile-finishing operations, including dressing tools and grinding tools. These products support the performance and maintenance of the group's grinding processes and form part of its broader production-technology offering.
Metrology · 2017
KAPP NILES Metrology
Measuring machines, measuring devices, and related services for checking gears and profiles. The division enables customers to connect machining and finishing operations with dimensional inspection and quality control.
Industrial services
Services and digitalization
Service and digitalization offerings supporting the use of Kapp Niles machinery and production systems. The published product range identifies these capabilities as complementary elements of the group's machine, tooling, and metrology portfolio.
Brand decisions
2021
Transition to the next management generationOtherBackground
Martin Kapp ended his period of operational leadership after contributing to the family business since joining in 1983.
Action taken
He moved to the advisory board as chair, while Michael and Matthias Kapp continued in management with Michael Bär.
Aftermath
The transition preserved family participation in the leadership structure while adding management continuity through the existing team.
2020
Expand local access in Mexico and IndiaStrategyBackground
Kapp Niles identified Mexico and India as markets where additional local presence could improve accessibility and support growth.
Action taken
The group opened branches in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico, and Bangalore, India.
Aftermath
The new branches were intended to strengthen the group's market position and customer access in both regions.
2017
Add metrology to the group portfolioStrategyBackground
The group aimed to extend its offering beyond machine tools into quality control and the measurement of gears and profiles.
Action taken
KAPP NILES Metrology GmbH became part of the group on 1 April 2017.
Aftermath
Kapp Niles expanded along the production value chain with measuring machines, devices, and associated services.
1997
Acquire Niles WerkzeugmaschinenM&ABackground
Kapp sought to broaden its gear-machining capabilities by combining its business with Niles Werkzeugmaschinen, whose heritage included large-gear grinding equipment.
Action taken
The Kapp Group acquired Niles Werkzeugmaschinen GmbH, an 80-employee company at the time.
Aftermath
The transaction became the foundation for the combined Kapp Niles identity and strengthened its position in gear-finishing machinery.
Recent events
- 2024
Helmut Nüssle retires from Kapp Niles management[1]
Leadership change
After many years as a managing director and management-team member, Helmut Nüssle retired on 31 January 2024.
- 2021
Martin Kapp leaves operational management[1]
Leadership change
Martin Kapp retired from company management on 1 July and became chair of the advisory board, while Michael and Matthias Kapp continued the family management tradition with Michael Bär.
- 2020
Kapp Niles establishes new market branches in Mexico and India[1]
Other
New branches opened in Ramos Arizpe and Bangalore to improve customer access and reinforce the group's positions in the two markets.
- 2017
Kapp Niles expands its portfolio with a metrology division[1]
M&A
KAPP NILES Metrology GmbH became part of the group, adding measuring machines, measurement devices, and gear and profile quality-control services.
Sources1 sources
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