Special-purpose machinery and assembly lines for the aviation industry, including AFP systems for composites
Broetje-Automation GmbH
Rastede (Lower Saxony) · Gimont (France)New on Amplifa
About Broetje-Automation
Broetje-Automation GmbH is a special-purpose machinery manufacturer for the aerospace industry headquartered in Rastede (Loy district), Lower Saxony. The company develops and manufactures automatic machines and systems for the assembly of aircraft and their individual components, including automated riveting and joining systems as well as final assembly lines. As an integrator, Broetje-Automation plans and implements complete assembly lines from conception through to commissioning. Another focus is automated composites manufacturing with Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) of the STAXX family. Founded in 1979, the company employs around 700 people worldwide and is represented at 23 locations, including Germany, the USA, France, the UK, China, Russia and Japan. Since 2016 it has belonged to the Chinese Shanghai Electric Group.
- Site
- Rastede
- Processes
- Automated Fiber Placement (AFP), Automated composites manufacturing, Automated riveting (aircraft components), Joining stations, Assembly of aircraft and individual components (automatic machines and systems), Final assembly lines, Manufacturing of composites components (production facilities), Machining center for composites (series production of fiber placement technology)
- Materials
- Composites (fiber-reinforced plastics)
- Certificates
- Bombardier Diamond Award 2025
- Founded
- 1979
- Industries
- Aerospace, Composites, Special-Purpose Machinery Manufacturing
- 01
Engineering and Design
- 02
Special-Purpose Machinery Manufacturing
- 03
Assembly Line Integration
- 04
AFP Systems (STAXX)
- 05
Commissioning and Service
Materials and Processes
Composites (fiber-reinforced plastics)
Fiber-reinforced plastics are processed automatically using Automated Fiber Placement (STAXX family).
Locations
Rastede
DEHeadquarters (Loy district)
Gimont
FRBA France – Automation and Machining
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated Fiber Placement (AFP)Additive | – | – | – | – | Fiber-reinforced plastics (composites) |
| Automated composites manufacturingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Composites |
| Automated riveting (aircraft components)Joining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Joining stationsJoining | – | – | – | – | – |
| Assembly of aircraft and individual components (automatic machines and systems)Assembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Final assembly linesAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacturing of composites components (production facilities)Plastics | – | – | – | – | Composites |
| Machining center for composites (series production of fiber placement technology)Machining | – | – | – | – | Composites |
3 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Automated Fiber Placement (AFP) systems - STAXX Family (incl. STAXX ONE Portable) | Broetje-Automation STAXX ONE Portable | – | – | – | – |
| Machining center for composites with Y-Z-axis portal (Indunorm) | Broetje-Automation | – | – | 2016 | Grenzach-Wyhlen |
| Riveting machines (automated) | Broetje-Automation | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
In 2025 the company received the Bombardier Diamond Award in the supplier program in the Indirect Goods and Services category, among other things for quality standards and continuous improvement.
| Evidence | Rastede |
|---|---|
| Bombardier Diamond Award 2025 |
History
- 1919
Founding of the original company August Brötje for mechanical engineering and heating technology
- 1979
Renaming of the subsidiary Brötje-Sümak-Automation to Brötje-Automation GmbH
- 1980–2000
Establishment in the aviation industry with machines for automated riveting; expansion into the USA, Europe and Asia
- 2003
Acquisition by the Claas Group; expansion to include joining stations and final assembly lines
- 2006
Foundation of Broetje Automation-USA, Inc.
- 2012
Management buy-out from CLAAS with Deutsche Beteiligung AG; renaming to Broetje-Automation
- 2013
Foundation of BA Services GmbH and BA UK Ltd.; acquisition of the Aircraft and Technology Systems division of the Dürr Group
- 2014
Foundation of BA Assembly & Turnkey Systems GmbH, BA Composites GmbH and Compose2Compete GmbH; acquisition of the composites division of MAG IAS
- 2015
Consolidation of the Wiefelstede and Jaderberg sites into Rastede; foundation of BA Japan K.K.
- 2016
Acquisition by the Shanghai Electric Group (SEG)
- 2021
Merger of BA Composites GmbH into Broetje-Automation GmbH
- 2025
Bombardier Diamond Award in the Supplier Recognition Program 2025
- 2026
New brand identity; presentation of the STAXX AFP systems at CAMX 2026 in Atlanta; hosting of the CU Innovation Days at the Technology Center Varel