17 March 2026 – steute Technologies, a portfolio company of global investment firm Battery Ventures, today announced the acquisition of KIEPE Industry, a German specialist in industrial switching, from the Kiepe Electric GmbH. The transaction expands steute’s capabilities in the demanding industrial switching sector and further strengthens its global position as a provider of critical safety solutions through its Controltec division.
Since the late 1960s, KIEPE has been a respected name in designing and manufacturing electromechanical and electronic devices for the bulk handling sector, serving industries from mining to agriculture. The Düsseldorf-based company is dedicated to creating durable, low-maintenance, and highly reliable safety and monitoring solutions, delivered through a wide network of trusted distribution partners.
KIEPE Industry brings decades of product design experience and deep application knowledge, significantly strengthening steute’s product lineup. Together, the companies can now offer customers and partners a broader range of products built for harsh and extremely demanding environments, including explosion-proof devices.
Martin Kunz, CEO of steute Technologies, commented, “steute has been supplying products for conveyor and bulk handling applications around the world for years, but with KIEPE Industry joining the family, we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth in this challenging market.” He added, “KIEPE Industry brings an outstanding portfolio of high-performance monitoring and emergency pull-wire solutions, a large installed customer base, and a strong reputation for customer service. Our combined offering significantly strengthens our ability to serve the needs of conveyor markets worldwide.”
“We’re known all over the world for products that perform in the most demanding environments, and we’ve built that reputation over many years by focusing on exactly what our customers need,” said Birgit Sacha, Head of KIEPE Industry. “Joining forces with steute is a natural fit. With their complementary product portfolio and strong innovation capabilities, we are well positioned to deliver even greater value and service to our customers for many years to come.”
“Combining the strengths of steute Technologies and KIEPE Industry is an excellent step in creating a global leader for industrial switching solutions in demanding applications around the world,” said Jesse Feldman, a Battery Ventures general partner and steute board member. “We are very excited by the potential of this enhanced group to deliver safety solutions to customers.”
About steute
steute Technologies is a German-based international technology company, owned by Battery Ventures, that specializes in the development and manufacture of high-quality switching devices, sensors, and wireless networks for complex medical and industrial applications. Founded in 1961, the company is headquartered in Löhne, Germany, employing approximately 540 people, and is represented in over 40 countries through dedicated facilities, sales subsidiaries and partners.
About Battery Ventures
Battery partners with exceptional founders and management teams developing category-defining businesses in markets including software and services, enterprise infrastructure/AI, and industrial technology and life-science tools. Founded in 1983, the firm backs companies at all stages, ranging from seed and early to growth and buyout, and invests globally from offices in Boston, San Francisco, Menlo Park, New York, London and Tel Aviv. Follow the firm on X @BatteryVentures, visit our website at www.battery.com and find a full list of Battery's portfolio companies here.
Contact: For any further information, please contact René Scherer (Marketing Director) at steute (r.scherer@steute.com).