SANHA Kaimer
German family-owned manufacturer of piping systems and fittings for building services and industry.
Last updated September 27, 2026
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Overview
SANHA Kaimer (now operating as Sanha GmbH & Co. KG, stylised SANHA) is a German family-owned manufacturer of piping systems and fittings headquartered in Essen. Founded in 1964 by Marianne and Friedhelm Kaimer as a trading company for heating and sanitary technology, the business began producing fittings in 1968 and expanded its distribution network for copper and copper-alloy fittings across Germany from 1970. Today it describes itself as one of the world's leading European manufacturers of piping systems for building services and industry, with a portfolio of around 14,000 products. The product range centres on press, threaded, soldered, plug-in and transition fittings made from copper and copper alloys (silicon bronze, brass), stainless steel, carbon steel and plastic, together with matching pipes, energy-efficient wall-heating modules and time-saving installation boxes. SANHA offers nearly all dimensions from 6 to 168 mm and all common bends, tees, screw connections, wall plates and valve extensions. For industrial customers it also manufactures OEM and special parts on request. Services include construction-site delivery, BIM Revit product data and EPDs based on current standards, and the company reports almost 250 international product certificates. SANHA is 100 percent owned by the Kaimer family and acts as the leading holding company of the Sanha Group, which includes production, sales and logistics companies across Europe. Consolidated subsidiaries include Kaimer Europa GmbH, Kaimer Industrie GmbH, Nirosan Edelstahlrohr GmbH, KIS Installation und Montage GmbH, Sanha Informationstechnologie GmbH, OOO Sanha Rus (Moscow), Sanha Fittings BV (Ternat, Belgium), Sanha Italia S.r.l. (Milan), Sanha Polska Sp. z o.o. (Legnica, Poland) and Sanha UK Ltd. (Buckinghamshire, UK). The group operates four production sites: a copper fitting plant in Ternat, Belgium; a stainless steel fitting plant in Schmiedefeld near Dresden; a stainless steel pipe plant in Berlin; and a production and logistics centre in Legnica, Poland, plus BTE BiegeTechnik-Engineering GmbH in Ilshofen. In the 2021 financial year SANHA generated revenue of EUR 120.4 million, split across Germany (EUR 26.1 million), Europe (EUR 86.9 million) and other countries outside Europe (EUR 7.5 million). Managing directors are Bernd Kaimer and Frank Schrick, and the company employed 678 people as of 31 December 2021. SANHA's products are used in building services (drinking water, heating and gas installation) as well as sprinkler, cooling, refrigeration and solar thermal systems. The company has invested heavily in digitalisation of planning and construction processes, offering BIM Revit data, VDI 3805 data, CAD and STEP files, tender texts and GAEB data. Its corporate identity, formulated in December 1989, remains unchanged and is described as part of the company's DNA.
History
Sanha GmbH & Co. KG (formerly Sanha Kaimer GmbH & Co. KG; stylised SANHA) is a family business in heating, sanitary, refrigeration, cooling and connection technology headquartered in Essen, Germany. It is the leading holding company of the Sanha Group, which manufactures and distributes piping systems and fittings. The company was founded in 1964 by Marianne and Friedhelm Kaimer in Essen-Kettwig as a trading company for the import and export of heating and sanitary technology. In 1968 Sanha started fitting production and from 1970 expanded its distribution network for fittings made of copper and copper alloys in Germany. From 1990 the company expanded its business activities in Europe and added fittings made from other metallic materials to its production. In 1997 Sanha-Press made of copper and red brass was introduced. The following year the company founded another production plant in Legnica, Poland. Between 1996 and 2001 Sanha was involved in an illegal economic cartel, for which the European Court of Justice imposed a fine of EUR 7.15 million in 2011. In 2000 Sanha took over a stainless steel fitting plant in Schmiedefeld near Dresden. In this context, Nirosan Multi Fit GmbH, Schmiedefeld, was integrated into the group as a subsidiary of Sanha Kaimer. Nirosan had already begun manufacturing stainless steel fittings for drinking water pipe construction in 1999. With the takeover, Nirosan press fittings were subsequently distributed by Sanha. In 2003 the company took over the stainless steel pipe production of Sosta Edelstahlrohrwerk GmbH & Co. KG in Berlin. A year later Sanha commissioned another production hall, enabling the manufacture of larger fittings with a diameter of up to 108 mm (previously 54 mm). Today stainless steel fittings and pipes are offered in dimensions up to 168 mm. According to the company, as part of a realignment from 2008 it began converting its products from low-lead red brass to a lead-free material with silicon in the alloy. These measures were completed in 2013. With effect from 31 December 2011, Sanha Kaimer GmbH & Co. Holding KG was merged into Sanha GmbH & Co. KG. In 2015 the company launched the Sanha-Box, an installation box that can be used, for example, for installing sanitary objects or heating via prefabricated connections. Sanha is 100 percent owned by the Kaimer family. As a production, sales and logistics company, it leads the international business activities of the group. Consolidated subsidiaries include Kaimer Europa GmbH (50%), Kaimer Industrie GmbH (100%), Nirosan Edelstahlrohr GmbH (100%), KIS Installation und Montage GmbH (100%), Sanha Informationstechnologie GmbH (100%), OOO Sanha Rus in Moscow (100%), Sanha Fittings BV in Ternat, Belgium (100%), Sanha Italia S.r.l. in Milan (100%), Sanha Polska Sp. z o.o. in Legnica, Poland (100%) and Sanha UK Ltd. in Buckinghamshire, UK (100%). In the 2021 financial year Sanha generated revenue of EUR 120.4 million, with sales distributed across Germany (EUR 26.1 million), Europe (EUR 86.9 million) and other countries outside Europe (EUR 7.5 million). The managing directors are Bernd Kaimer and Frank Schrick. As of 31 December 2021, 678 employees worked for the company. In addition to 6 branches, Sanha operates four production sites: a copper fitting plant in Ternat, Belgium; a stainless steel fitting plant in Schmiedefeld near Dresden; a stainless steel pipe plant in Berlin; and a production and logistics centre in Legnica, Poland, plus BTE BiegeTechnik-Engineering GmbH (pipe processing and finishing) in Ilshofen. The products manufactured by Sanha are used in building services (e.g. for drinking water, heating and gas installation) as well as in sprinkler, cooling, refrigeration and solar thermal systems. The company's services also include a planning service. For the production of fittings, the company uses copper and copper alloys, carbon steel, stainless steel, lead-free silicon bronze and plastic. According to its own information, the in-house production rate for around 10,000 standard articles is about 70 percent. Sanha produces both lead-free systems (such as Nirosan, Nirotherm, Purapress and Sanha-Press) and products with reduced lead content (e.g. threaded fittings made of brass, Sanha-Press Gas as well as Sanha-Heat red brass components and brass ball valves). The products comply with the requirements of the European chemicals regulation REACH. In September 2006 the EU Commission imposed fines on 30 copper-processing companies in the copper fittings product area for illegal price fixing. The Commission found that Sanha Kaimer, with its subsidiaries Kaimer GmbH & Co. Holdings KG and Sanha Italia, participated in an illegal economic cartel regarding price fixing, discount agreements and setting price floors from 30 July 1996 until at least 22 March 2001. The fine imposed on Sanha Kaimer was EUR 7.97 million. After legal action – including by Sanha Kaimer – against the EU Commission on 14 December 2006, the European Court of Justice dismissed the action on the merits by judgment of 24 March 2011 and set the fine at EUR 7.15 million.
- 2015
Launched the Sanha-Box installation box.
- 2013
Completed conversion to lead-free material.
- 2011
European Court of Justice upheld fine of EUR 7.15 million for cartel participation; Sanha Kaimer GmbH & Co. Holding KG merged into Sanha GmbH & Co. KG effective 31 December.
- 2008
Began conversion from low-lead red brass to lead-free silicon alloy material.
- 2004
Commissioned another production hall, enabling larger fittings up to 108 mm diameter.
- 2003
Took over stainless steel pipe production of Sosta Edelstahlrohrwerk GmbH & Co. KG in Berlin.
- 2000
Took over a stainless steel fitting plant in Schmiedefeld near Dresden; Nirosan Multi Fit GmbH integrated as subsidiary.
- 1998
Founded another production plant in Legnica, Poland.
- 1997
Introduced Sanha-Press made of copper and red brass.
- 1990
Began expanding business activities in Europe and added fittings from other metallic materials.
Products and positioning
Leading European manufacturer of piping systems for building services and industry, offering a broad range of fittings and pipes with a focus on quality, innovation and digital planning services.
SANHA-Press
Press fittings made of copper and red brass, introduced in 1997.
NiroSan
Stainless steel piping system for drinking water installations.
NiroTherm
Stainless steel piping system for heating and cooling.
PURAPRESS
Press fitting system.
PURAFIT
Fitting system.
combipress
Convenience solution for processors.
Streamline ACR Copper Press
Copper press system for refrigeration and cooling up to 48 bar.
SANHA-Box
Installation box for sanitary objects or heating, launched in 2015.
Sources6 sources
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