Graepel (graepel-na.com), a leading manufacturer of sheet metal products headquartered in Löningen, Germany, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in Nebraska. Founded in Omaha in 2006, Graepel North America Inc. has grown from a one-person sales office to a full-scale production facility with 65 employees and 85,000 square feet of production space. Customers in the agricultural machinery, construction machinery and commercial vehicles sectors rely on Graepel as a local supplier that combines German engineering with short lead times and on-site production.
The growth story unfolded in four stages. Starting with a rented office and warehouse space in 2006, the company moved into its first production facility in 2010, importing its initial hydraulic presses from Germany. In 2014, Graepel North America built its own plant in south-west Omaha and doubled its footprint once more in 2022. The installation of a high-speed press in 2026 signaled the continuation of a journey, with all products now being manufactured in Omaha.
The North American subsidiary has become a central pillar of the Graepel Group’s international manufacturing strategy. With six locations across Germany, Hungary, India and the United States, Graepel now serves customers in over 30 countries.
Graepel North America was the first company in the Omaha area to introduce the German-style dual apprenticeship model through the ICATT program run by the German-American Chamber of Commerce. Today, more than 4,000 people in Nebraska are enrolled in similar training programs, reflecting the wider impact of the German-American business relationship in the region. More information available at graepel-na.com.