Develops and manufactures since 1969 sensors, measurement and control technology, and straightening machines for web processes such as textiles, paper, nonwovens and films.
PLEVA GmbH
Empfingen · Niederdorf / Chemnitz · USA (PLEVA USA)New on Amplifa
About PLEVA
PLEVA GmbH develops and produces sensors, measurement and control technology, and process visualization systems for continuous web processes. The product range includes straightening machines (StraightLiner), structure detectors, smart cameras, microwave-based application and residual moisture meters, material temperature sensors, exhaust air humidity sensors and oxygen meters, as well as the PLEVATEC control platform with modules such as SizeControl, PadderControl and HeatControl. The systems are used for online process monitoring of dyeing plants, sizing machines, carpet and coating plants, drying and sanforizing processes, and contribute to resource and energy savings. Industries covered include, among others, textiles, carpet, nonwovens, paper/cardboard, films, coating technology, wood, building materials, automotive, chemicals, leather, food, abrasives, steel production and drying technology. According to the company, all products are Made in Germany and are supported by service centers worldwide. The third-generation family business has its headquarters with administration and manufacturing in Empfingen, a branch in Niederdorf near Chemnitz, and the subsidiary PLEVA USA.
- Site
- Empfingen
- Processes
- Manufacture of sensors, measurement and control technology, Process monitoring of dyeing plants (inlet moisture, dye liquor application, intermediate moisture,, Process monitoring of KKV dyeing plants (dye liquor application, PadderControl process control), Measurement of application moisture and coating application on carpet lines (edge/center/edge),, Sizing application measurement and residual moisture measurement on sizing machines with process, Straightening of woven and knitted goods (weft straightener, web distortion, thread density, Process monitoring of denim sanforizing (preskewing, residual moisture, skewing, web width, thread, Process monitoring of textile coating (water-based): straightening, coating application measurement,
- Materials
- Textiles (woven and knitted goods), Technical textiles, woven fabrics, Denim, Carpet, Nonwovens, Films, Paper/Cardboard, Wood / Wood-based materials
- Founded
- 1969
- Industries
- Textiles, Carpet, Nonwovens, Paper/Cardboard, Films, Coating technology
- 01
Engineering and development in Empfingen
- 02
Manufacturing and assembly of sensors, measurement and control technology
- 03
Process visualization and control (PLEVATEC)
- 04
Worldwide service and support
Measured Materials and Web Goods
Textiles (woven and knitted goods)
Main application for straightening machines, moisture and temperature sensors, and process control systems.
Technical textiles, woven fabrics, glass fabric
Straightening of technical fabrics with web widths up to 5400 mm.
Denim
Process monitoring during sanforizing (preskewing, residual moisture, skewing, thread density).
Carpet
Measurement of application moisture, coating application and material temperature on carpet lines.
Nonwovens
Moisture and temperature measurement for drying optimization.
Films
Field of application of the moisture and temperature sensor technology.
Paper/Cardboard
Application moisture measurement and drying monitoring on paper webs.
Wood / Wood-based materials
Microwave application moisture measurement in veneer, chipboard and laminate processes.
Building materials (e.g. gypsum boards, sandwich boards)
Non-contact measurement of the application of water-based substances.
Leather
Industry application of sensor technology for moisture and temperature measurement.
Locations
Empfingen
DEHeadquarters, administration and manufacturing
- Part weight / size
- Components for web processes with web widths up to 5400 mm
- Materials
- Sensors, measurement and control technology, straightening machines
- Straightening machine SL smart
- Straightening machine SL 1 / SL 2
- Precision straightening machine SL 1 P / SL 2 P
- Structure detector SD 1 / SD 2
- Smart Camera CAM
- Application moisture meter AF 310
- Material temperature sensor TDS
- PLEVATEC control systems
Niederdorf / Chemnitz
DEBranch
USA (PLEVA USA)
USSubsidiary
Products and Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacture of sensors, measurement and control technologyEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Process monitoring of dyeing plants (inlet moisture, dye liquor application, intermediate moisture,Testing | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Process monitoring of KKV dyeing plants (dye liquor application, PadderControl process control)Testing | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Measurement of application moisture and coating application on carpet lines (edge/center/edge),Testing | – | – | – | – | Carpet, Textiles |
| Sizing application measurement and residual moisture measurement on sizing machines with processTesting | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Straightening of woven and knitted goods (weft straightener, web distortion, thread densityTesting | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Process monitoring of denim sanforizing (preskewing, residual moisture, skewing, web width, threadTesting | – | – | – | – | Denim, Textiles |
| Process monitoring of textile coating (water-based): straightening, coating application measurement,Testing | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Process monitoring of minimum application (residual moisture measurement, application measurement,Testing | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
| Non-contact microwave application moisture measurement (dye liquor application, water-basedTesting | – | – | – | – | Textiles, Nonwovens, Paper/Cardboard, Wood-based materials, Building materials |
| Non-contact material temperature measurement in hot environments (drying, fixation, condensation,Testing | better than +/- 1 % | – | – | – | Textiles, Carpet, Paper, Film, Nonwovens |
| Process visualization and control of sizing machines (PLEVATEC pro SizeControl) for 1 or 2Testing | – | – | – | – | Textiles |
17 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Straightening machine | PLEVA SL smart | – | Web widths up to max. 3 m; distortion detection smart camera up to 70 threads/cm | – | Empfingen |
| Straightening machine | PLEVA SL 1 | – | max. web width 2800 mm | – | Empfingen |
| Straightening machine, super-reinforced | PLEVA SL 2 | – | max. web width 5400 mm | – | Empfingen |
| Straightening machine with double straightening module | PLEVA SL 2 X | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Precision straightening machine | PLEVA SL 1 P / SL 2 P | – | short web content for small, fast, precise distortion corrections | – | Empfingen |
| Structure detector | PLEVA SD 1 and SD 2 | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Smart Camera | PLEVA CAM | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Application moisture meter (microwave, 3 measuring head pairs edge/center/edge) | PLEVA AF 310 | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Application/residual moisture meter | PLEVA AF 120 / RF 120 / MP 120 | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Sizing application meter (microwave) | PLEVA AS 120 | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Residual moisture meter | PLEVA RR / RR Wide | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Material temperature sensor | PLEVA TDS ST (up to 250 °C) / TDS HT (up to 400 °C) | – | non-contact measurement up to 400 °C environment | – | Empfingen |
| Exhaust air humidity sensor | PLEVA FS X | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Oxygen meter | PLEVA OS | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Process visualization/control system | PLEVA PLEVATEC smart / PLEVATEC pro (incl. SizeControl, PadderControl) | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| Foulard process control | PLEVA PadderControl (CIMATIC) | – | – | – | Empfingen |
| PLEVA Process Box | PLEVA PPB | – | up to 8 TDS sensors can be connected | – | Empfingen |
Additional services
Reference customers
History
- 1969
Foundation of the company g.pleva in Rutesheim by Harry and Gudrun Pleva
- 1974
Relocation to Horb-Bildechingen
- 1975
Inauguration of the assembly hall Robert-Bosch-Str. 29
- 1980
Conversion into PLEVA GmbH with Managing Director Harry Pleva
- 1985
Inauguration of the administration building Robert-Bosch-Str. 31; Walter-Reiners sponsorship award (3rd prize) to Ralf Pleva
- 1990
Relocation to Empfingen, inauguration of the administration and production building
- 1992
Opening of the branch in Niederdorf near Chemnitz
- 1993
Change of management from Harry Pleva to his son Dr. Ralf Pleva
- 1998
Foundation of PLEVA USA
- 2000
Construction and inauguration of the development and administration building
- 2002
Construction and inauguration of the assembly hall
- 2003
Award of the Egon-Elöd Prize to Dr. Ralf Pleva (VDTF)
- 2006
Cooperation agreement with CINTEX AG for Asia
- 2008
Start of collaboration with Philipp-Matthäus-Hahn-Schule Balingen and Gottlieb-Daimler-Schule
- 2011
Partnership with the Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University Horb
- 2019
Takeover of the CIMATIC products from CINTEX AG; 50th anniversary
- 2025
Kathrin and Stephan Pleva join the management as the third generation