Manz
Manz is a German engineering company supplying automation, production equipment and integrated manufacturing systems for batteries, electronics, displays and related industrial technologies.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Manz is a German industrial engineering company headquartered in Reutlingen, Baden-Württemberg. Founded in 1987 by Dieter Manz as Manz Automatisierungstechnik GmbH, the business began with industrial automation and robotics before developing into a supplier of specialized machinery, process technology and integrated production lines. Its equipment is used by manufacturers in battery technology, electronics, display production, printed circuit boards, power electronics and components for electric mobility. The company’s development has been shaped by a gradual expansion from automation into several complementary production technologies. These include automated assembly, laser processing, metrology, wet-chemical processes, vacuum coating and roll-to-roll processing. Manz also designs and supplies production systems for lithium-ion batteries, including equipment intended for industrial-scale battery-cell manufacturing. The company’s battery capabilities are relevant to electric mobility and other applications requiring rechargeable energy-storage systems. Manz reports its activities in two broad segments: Mobility & Battery Solutions and Industry Solutions. Mobility & Battery Solutions focuses principally on equipment and production systems for lithium-ion batteries and components associated with electric powertrains. Industry Solutions covers machinery and systems for electronics manufacturing, including the production and assembly of electronic components and devices, power electronics, consumer electronics, flat-panel displays, touch panels and printed circuit boards. The company entered the flat-panel-display and touch-panel market in 1994 and later expanded its international presence through acquisitions, new subsidiaries and manufacturing locations. Its production network has included facilities in Germany, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, China and Taiwan, while sales and service operations have been established in the United States, South Korea and India. This international structure allows Manz to combine engineering and process development with regional production, installation and service capabilities. Manz also became an important participant in the solar photovoltaic equipment sector, particularly through technology for copper indium gallium selenide, or CIGS, thin-film solar modules. In 2010 it entered an exclusive licensing partnership with Würth Solar for CIGS solar-cell production technology. Following the acquisition of Würth Solar’s CIGS module innovation line in 2012, Manz obtained broader technology rights and continued developing production solutions for this type of thin-film module. The company reported increasingly high CIGS module-efficiency results from mass-production lines in 2012 and 2015. Corporate development included the 2001 merger of Manz Automatisierungstechnik with another Dieter Manz-founded company, ACS GmbH, creating Manz Automation AG. The company went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2006 and entered the exchange’s Prime Standard segment in 2008. It changed its name to Manz AG in 2011 to reflect its broader business scope. Strategic and technology-related transactions subsequently strengthened its battery, wet-chemical, coating and laser-processing capabilities. Shanghai Electric acquired a minority stake in 2016, and Daimler Truck AG acquired a stake in 2022 as part of a strategic partnership. Manz’s positioning is that of a technology-oriented systems supplier rather than a consumer-facing product brand: its customers buy production capacity, process know-how, automation and manufacturing integration.
History
Manz was founded in 1987 by Dieter Manz under the name Manz Automatisierungstechnik GmbH. Its original business was industrial automation and robotics, establishing the technical foundation for the company’s later work in automated manufacturing systems. Rather than remaining focused on a single machine category, Manz progressively combined automation with process technologies used in high-precision industrial production. In October 2001, Manz Automatisierungstechnik merged with ACS GmbH, another company founded by Dieter Manz. The combined business became Manz Automation AG. The merger consolidated the company’s engineering activities and supported its expansion into equipment for electronics and other advanced manufacturing sectors. Manz entered the flat-panel-display and touch-panel market in 1994. Over time, this business expanded to include production systems for displays, touch panels, printed circuit boards and electronic devices such as smartphones, tablet computers and laptops. The company developed capabilities in wet chemistry, laser processing, metrology and automated assembly, allowing it to supply more complete manufacturing solutions rather than isolated automation components. The company’s international expansion included the creation of Manz Slovakia in 2008 and the absorption of Intech Machines in Taiwan, described as a leading Taiwanese supplier of wet-chemical processes for display manufacturing. Also in 2008, Manz acquired Christian Majer in Tübingen. That company’s expertise in machinery for packaging and film processing helped provide a technical basis for Manz’s entry into the lithium-ion battery market in 2009. Manz broadened its battery and coating capabilities during the following years. In 2010 it established Manz Coating GmbH in Karlstein, Germany, as a development centre for vacuum-coating technology. The same year, it formed a partnership with Würth Solar involving exclusive licensing of CIGS thin-film solar-cell production technology. In January 2012, Manz acquired Würth Solar’s CIGS module innovation line. The transaction also resulted in broader technology licensing rights. Manz established Manz CIGS Technology GmbH in Schwäbisch Hall in 2012 and opened a new manufacturing facility in Suzhou, China. Manz public-market development took place alongside this technological expansion. The company listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in 2006 and moved to the Prime Standard segment in 2008. It was included in the TecDAX during several periods between 2008 and 2011 and returned to the index in March 2014. In June 2011, the company changed its name from Manz Automation AG to Manz AG, reflecting its evolution from an automation specialist into a broader production-systems provider. The battery division was strengthened in 2014 through the acquisition of the mechanical-engineering division of Kemet Electronics Italy, formerly known as Arcotronics. The transaction expanded Manz’s technology portfolio and led to the establishment of Manz Italy. In 2015, Manz acquired KLEO, a specialist in laser direct imaging, from the ZEISS Group. This added further laser-processing expertise relevant to printed-circuit-board manufacturing. Manz’s photovoltaic work produced high-profile CIGS module results. In September 2012, the company presented a CIGS module manufactured on a mass-production line with reported efficiency of 14.6 percent over the total module area and 15.9 percent over the aperture area. In April 2015, Manz reported a further mass-production-line efficiency result of 16 percent. These developments illustrated the company’s attempt to combine manufacturing equipment engineering with process-development leadership. The company’s ownership structure later included strategic industrial investors. In May 2016, Shanghai Electric acquired 19.67 percent of Manz’s shares. In May 2022, Daimler Truck AG acquired a stake in Manz as part of a strategic partnership. Manz’s principal activities are organized around Mobility & Battery Solutions and Industry Solutions, covering battery production, electric-powertrain components, electronics, displays, power electronics and related industrial manufacturing. Its operating footprint has included production centres in Reutlingen and Tübingen, international manufacturing sites in Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, China and Taiwan, and sales or service branches in the United States, South Korea and India.
- 2022
Daimler Truck strategic partnership
[1]Daimler Truck AG acquired a stake in Manz as part of a strategic partnership.
- 2016
Shanghai Electric becomes a major shareholder
[1]Shanghai Electric acquired 19.67 percent of Manz shares.
- 2015
KLEO acquisition and CIGS efficiency result
[1]Manz acquired laser-direct-imaging specialist KLEO from the ZEISS Group and reported a 16 percent CIGS thin-film module efficiency result from a mass-production line.
- 2014
Expansion of battery technology portfolio
[1]Manz acquired the mechanical-engineering division of Kemet Electronics Italy, formerly Arcotronics, and founded Manz Italy.
- 2012
CIGS innovation acquisition and China facility
[1]Manz acquired Würth Solar’s CIGS module innovation line, established Manz CIGS Technology GmbH and opened a manufacturing facility in Suzhou.
- 2011
Name changed to Manz AG
[1]The company changed its name from Manz Automation AG to Manz AG as its business broadened beyond automation.
- 2010
CIGS partnership and coating development centre
[1]Manz established a partnership with Würth Solar for CIGS technology licensing and founded a vacuum-coating technology development centre through Manz Coating GmbH.
- 2009
Expansion into lithium-ion battery equipment
[1]Manz entered the lithium-ion battery market, building on capabilities obtained through its packaging and film-processing activities.
- 2008
Prime Standard admission and international expansion
[1]Manz moved to the Frankfurt Stock Exchange’s Prime Standard segment, founded Manz Slovakia and absorbed Taiwan-based Intech Machines. It also acquired Christian Majer in Tübingen.
- 2006
Frankfurt Stock Exchange listing
[1]Manz became a publicly listed company on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Products and positioning
A German industrial technology and engineering partner providing automation, process equipment and integrated production lines for battery, electronics, display, photovoltaic and electric-powertrain manufacturing.
Battery manufacturing equipment · 2009
Lithium-ion battery production systems
Manz supplies automated machinery and integrated production systems for industrial lithium-ion battery manufacturing. The technology is associated with battery-cell production and applications in electric mobility and energy storage. Its capabilities draw on automation, film processing, coating, laser processing, inspection and other precision-production disciplines.
Solar manufacturing equipment · 2010
CIGS thin-film photovoltaic production systems
Manz developed production technology and integrated systems for copper indium gallium selenide thin-film solar modules. The business was supported by licensing and technology cooperation with Würth Solar, followed by acquisition of Würth Solar’s CIGS module innovation line. Manz also reported efficiency results from CIGS modules produced on mass-production lines.
Electronics manufacturing equipment · 1994
Display and touch-panel production systems
These systems support the production of flat-panel displays and touch panels. Manz combines automated handling and assembly with wet-chemical, inspection and process technologies used in display manufacturing. The company entered this field in 1994 and later established production and service capabilities in several international markets.
Printed-circuit-board equipment · 2015
Laser direct imaging systems
Laser direct imaging equipment is used in printed-circuit-board manufacturing to expose circuit patterns with precision. Manz strengthened this capability through its 2015 acquisition of KLEO, a laser direct imaging specialist formerly associated with the ZEISS Group.
Industrial automation · 1987
Automation and assembly systems
Automation and assembly systems represent Manz’s original and continuing technical foundation. The company designs automated equipment for industrial production, including handling, assembly, inspection and integrated line operations for electronics, batteries, power components and other manufactured products.
Brand decisions
2022
Form a strategic partnership with Daimler TruckStrategyBackground
Manz’s battery and mobility manufacturing capabilities aligned with the growing industrial demand for electric-powertrain and battery technologies.
Action taken
Daimler Truck AG acquired a stake in Manz as part of a strategic partnership.
Aftermath
The transaction added a major commercial-vehicle manufacturer as a strategic shareholder and partner.
2015
Acquire KLEOM&ABackground
Manz sought to strengthen its laser-processing and printed-circuit-board technology portfolio.
Action taken
Manz acquired KLEO, a laser direct imaging specialist, from the ZEISS Group.
Aftermath
The acquisition added laser direct imaging expertise to Manz’s electronics and printed-circuit-board manufacturing activities.
2014
Acquire Kemet Electronics Italy’s mechanical-engineering divisionM&ABackground
Manz wanted to expand the technology portfolio supporting its battery activities.
Action taken
The company acquired the mechanical-engineering division of Kemet Electronics Italy, formerly Arcotronics, and established Manz Italy.
Aftermath
The transaction enlarged Manz’s battery-related engineering capabilities and international operating base.
2012
Acquire Würth Solar’s CIGS innovation lineM&ABackground
Manz aimed to deepen its position in CIGS thin-film photovoltaic production technology after beginning its cooperation with Würth Solar.
Action taken
Manz acquired Würth Solar’s CIGS modules innovation line and received broader technology-license rights.
Aftermath
Manz established a dedicated CIGS technology company and continued presenting increasingly efficient modules produced on mass-production lines.
2011
Rename the company as Manz AGStrategyBackground
The company had developed from an automation specialist into a broader supplier of production equipment and integrated manufacturing lines.
Action taken
Manz Automation AG changed its corporate name to Manz AG.
Aftermath
The new name represented the company’s wider technology and market scope.
2010
Enter a CIGS photovoltaic technology partnershipStrategyBackground
Manz sought to expand beyond automation and electronics equipment into thin-film photovoltaic manufacturing technology.
Action taken
The company established a partnership with Würth Solar and obtained an exclusive license for CIGS solar-cell production technology.
Aftermath
The partnership was followed by Manz’s acquisition of Würth Solar’s CIGS module innovation line in 2012 and further development of CIGS production systems.
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