About Woelm

For more than a century, Woelm GmbH has stood for tradition, innovation and quality, setting standards in the fields of architectural hardware, sanitary equipment, and conveyor technology. Evolved from the two companies HELM and KWS, the medium-sized family-owned business based in Heiligenhaus, North Rhine-Westphalia, today employs around 265 people under the leadership of Managing Director Karl Kristian Woelm.

Our brands

Under the brands HELM Sliding hardware, KWS Architectural hardware, KWS Sanitary, and HELM Conveyor technology, we develop and manufacture innovative products and product systems:

With the brand, HELM Sliding hardware, we offer well thought out solutions for modern residential and public buildings. These include sliding systems for doors made of timber and glass, heavy sliding gates, sliding shutters, cantilever gates, curtain tracks for industrial use, cinemas or theatres, furniture doors and special applications such as harness tracks for fall protection.

The brand, KWS Architectural hardware, stands for intelligent, functionally high-quality applications for all aspects of doors. The broad range of hardware extends from door handles and flush handles to door holders and door buffers to handrails and systems for partition walls and coat racks.

KWS Sanitary stands out with flexible and ergonomically designed solutions for barrier-free and multi-generational living. The KWS ErgoSystem^® includes high-quality drop-down support handles, seating solutions, shower rails, and other bathroom accessories that seamlessly blend into a wide range of architectural settings – from private homes and hotels to hospitals.

As a conveyor specialist, we offer a diverse product portfolio with HELM Conveyor technology and, as a full-service provider, supply everything from a single source – from planning to steel construction, automation to assembly and commissioning. We even provide the maintenance service for the conveyor system. All systems designed by us are individually tailored solutions for specific application.

1925

year of establishment

22.000

production area (in m²)

15.000

product variations

265

employees

Our story

Our history begins on the 1st of April 1925 with the ground-breaking ceremony and the establishment of the company Karl Woelm + Sohn KWS Baubeschläge by Karl Woelm Sr. and his son Karl Jr. at the Hasselbeck site in Heiligenhaus. Seven years later, in 1932, the company Hespe und Woelm, HELM for short, was founded by Wilhelm Hespe and Ernst Woelm.

While KWS has made its mark in the field of architectural hardware with door handles and door holders, HELM became renowned as a pioneer in the field of sliding technology. The companies are not only connected by their shared location in Heiligenhaus but also by family ties: Ernst Woelm is the brother of Karl Woelm Jr. With time, the both of the companies prosper, the manufacturing plants expanded, more and more employees are recruited and loyal clientele are formed.

In 2005 the companies KWS and HELM merged to become Woelm GmbH. With this, two companies which had long been close to each other merge. The two established brands are preserved under the umbrella of Woelm GmbH.

Our philosophy

To offer high-quality and innovative system solutions today and in the future, we continuously expand and optimise our product range. As a family-owned company, our goal is o be a reliable and sustainable business partner. The satisfaction of our customers and partners is always our top priority, ensured through outstanding quality, continuous improvement, and excellent service..

We know – whether architectural hardware or conveyor technology: every building project is unique. That is why, in addition to tried-and-tested applications and expert advice, we also provide individually customised solutions, designed and produced in close collaboration with our customers. In the process, our customers benefit from our extensive experience and the know-how gained from numerous national and international projects throughout consultation, planning, and implementation.

At our headquarters in Heiligenhaus, we bring together all production steps: from pressing, casting, machining, and welding all the way to surface technology, final assembly, and logistics, hence, taking control of every aspect of the processes. This is how our products earn the "Made in Germany" seal of quality. To maintain our high quality standards, we work with reliable, long-standing partners throughout our entire supply chain, many of whom are part of our regional network known as the Schlüsselregion (Key Region).

Our products meet the highest standards: We test them regularly in our own laboratories and also at reputable institutes such as ift Rosenheim, TÜV, and DEKRA.

Since 1996, Woelm GmbH has been certified according to the international standard DIN EN ISO 9001 (quality management), and since 2015 according to DIN EN 1090 (execution of steel structures). In 2026, we also obtained certifications for DIN EN ISO 14001 (environmental management) and DIN EN ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety management), highlighting our commitment to environmental responsibility, safety, and employee health.

Our sustainability

Sustainability is an integral part of our corporate strategy. The treatment of wastewater and exhaust air, the responsible and efficient use of resources, and the construction of durable, high-quality products have always been central to our approach. We are committed to environmentally friendly production across our entire supply chain and remain mindful of our ecological, economic, and social responsibilities toward future generations.

Since 2016, our energy management system has been certified according to DIN EN ISO 50001. In the same year, we participated in the consulting and qualification program, ÖKOPROFIT, which guides companies toward a practical and highly efficient environmental management system. In 2017, we were awarded the title ÖKOPROFIT company in the district of Mettmann.