Manufacturer of fans, EC motors, elevator drives and control technology for ventilation and air-conditioning systems.
ZIEHL-ABEGG SE
Künzelsau (main plant) · Künzelsau (branch plant) · Schöntal-Bieringen · Kupferzell · Villieu (FR) · Marcali (HU) · Winston-Salem (US)New on Amplifa
Company
ZIEHL-ABEGG is a German manufacturer of axial and radial fans (diameters 190 to 1400 mm), electric motors, elevator drives and matching control technology, headquartered in Künzelsau in the Hohenlohe district. In the late 1980s the company was the first in the world to introduce EC motors into ventilation technology; in 2013 it developed the first fan made of bio-polymer based on castor oil. Manufacturing features a high degree of vertical integration, including sheet metal working, plastic injection moulding and aluminium casting. Fields of application include ventilation and air conditioning, refrigeration and heating technology, cleanroom technology, elevator technology, agriculture, medical technology and data centres. In addition to its German sites in Künzelsau, Schöntal-Bieringen and Kupferzell, the group produces in Villieu (France), Marcali (Hungary) and, since 2024, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (USA). In 1897 Emil Ziehl developed the first external rotor motor; the company was founded in 1910 and continues today as a family-owned SE.
- Site
- Künzelsau
- Processes
- Fan manufacturing (axial and radial fans), Manufacture of electric motors (EC motors, external rotor motors, elevator drives), Sheet metal working, Plastic injection moulding, Aluminium casting, Control technology, Retrofit/modernisation (Retrofitblue), Digital cloud platform (ZAbluegalaxy)
- Materials
- Bio-polymer (castor oil), Aluminium, Steel, Plastic, Copper
- Certificates
- DIN EN ISO 50001, DIN EN ISO 14001, AEO-F (Authorized Economic Operator), AEO-F
- Founded
- 1910
- Industries
- Ventilation and air conditioning/HVAC, Refrigeration and heating technology, Cleanroom technology, Elevator technology, Agriculture, Medical technology
- 01
Sheet metal working
- 02
Aluminium casting
- 03
Plastic injection moulding
- 04
Motor/fan manufacturing
- 05
Assembly
- 06
Control technology & software
- 07
Testing (measuring and test rig)
Materials & Processes
Aluminium
Material for motor and fan components, processed among other things in aluminium casting.
Steel
Used in sheet metal working and fan construction.
Bio-polymer (castor oil)
Polymer based on renewable raw materials, used since 2013 in the world's first bio fan.
Plastic
Processed in plastic injection moulding for fan and housing components.
Copper
Material for motor windings in external rotor and EC motors.
Sites
Künzelsau (Heinz-Ziehl-Straße)
DEMain plant/Headquarters
- Combined measuring and test rig for fans (since 2008)
Künzelsau (Würzburger Straße)
DEBranch plant
Schöntal-Bieringen
DEProduction
Kupferzell
DEProduction (Hohenlohe industrial park)
Villieu (near Lyon)
FRProduction motors/fan systems
Marcali
HUProduction ventilation technology/electric motors
Winston-Salem, NC
USProduction (since 2024)
- Plastic injection moulding systems
- Sheet metal working systems
- Aluminium casting systems
Products & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fan manufacturing (axial and radial fans)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Steel, Plastic (bio-polymer from castor oil), Aluminium |
| Manufacture of electric motors (EC motors, external rotor motors, elevator drives)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Aluminium, Copper, Steel |
| Sheet metal workingMachining | – | – | – | – | Steel, Aluminium, Stainless steel |
| Plastic injection mouldingPlastics | – | – | – | – | Bio-polymer (castor oil), Plastics |
| Aluminium castingCasting | – | – | – | – | Aluminium |
| Control technologyEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
4 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined measuring and test rig for fans | ZIEHL-ABEGG | 1 | – | 2008 | Künzelsau (Würzburger Straße) |
| Plastic injection moulding systems | – | – | – | – | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA |
| Sheet metal working systems | – | – | – | – | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA |
| Aluminium casting systems | – | – | – | – | Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA |
Additional services
Quality & Certificates
At the main plant in Künzelsau, the company has operated the world's largest combined measuring and test rig for fans (airflow and sound measurement) since 2008. Several group companies have certified energy and environmental management systems in accordance with DIN EN ISO 50001 or DIN EN ISO 14001, as well as AEO-F customs status.
| Evidence | Künzelsau |
|---|---|
| DIN EN ISO 50001 | |
| DIN EN ISO 14001 | |
| AEO-F |
History
- 1897
Emil Ziehl develops and builds the first external rotor motor.
- 1910
Foundation of Ziehl-Abegg Elektrizitäts-Gesellschaft m.b.H. in Berlin-Weißensee with Eduard Abegg; Abegg leaves the company the same year.
- 1939
Death of Emil Ziehl; his sons take over the factory.
- 1945
Dismantling of the Berlin plant facilities by the SMAD.
- 1947/1949
Rebuilding by Günther and Heinz Ziehl at the Schlossmühle in Künzelsau.
- 1960
Start of production of the external rotor motor as a fan drive in Künzelsau.
- 1973
Start of internationalisation.
- Ende 1980er
First company in the world to use EC motors in ventilation technology.
- 1994
Founding of Ziehl-Abegg Kft in Marcali, Hungary.
- 2001
Conversion into a family-owned stock corporation.
- 2006
Bionic profile of the rotor blades for noise reduction.
- 2008
Commissioning of the world's largest combined measuring and test rig for fans in Künzelsau.
- 2013
World's first bio fan made of bio-polymer (castor oil); conversion from AG to SE.
- 2024
Opening of the Winston-Salem, USA production plant (investment of USD 100 million).