Sheet metal solutions for the construction equipment industry
Graepel is an established partner for construction equipment manufacturers and develops custom solutions made from perforated sheet metal. Working closely with international clients, the company creates components that combine stability, functionality, and design. Whether access ladders, platforms, ventilation and radiator grilles, hoods, doors, or body panels—every product meets high standards for safety and cost-effectiveness.
Even during the development phase, Graepel brings its manufacturing expertise and know-how from numerous completed projects to the table to optimize weight, ease of assembly, and service life. State-of-the-art sheet metal processing methods produce precise components that withstand harsh, continuous use and contribute to the safe and efficient operation of the machines.
What makes Graepel a sought-after partner in the agricultural machinery industry
Graepel products guarantee safety, efficiency, and durability—regardless of the drive type. Non-slip steps, ladders, and platforms provide safe access to all areas of the machine. Ventilation and radiator grilles made of perforated sheet metal allow up to 80% airflow while protecting against dirt and foreign objects. Precision-manufactured body panels and covers ensure stability and high-quality surfaces. Assemblies combine lightweight construction with robustness, reducing installation effort and weight.
Thanks to innovative 3D shaping, surface finishing, and—upon request—custom color schemes, Graepel components add both functional and aesthetic value. They extend the service life of machinery, enhance energy efficiency, and contribute to sustainability. Graepel stands for German engineering, precision, and cost-effectiveness—and offers metal solutions that ensure safety and productivity on the construction site.
“Complex challenges are part of everyday life in the construction machinery sector—and that, to me, is precisely where Graepel’s particular strength lies. I am passionate about working with our customers to develop functional and cost-effective solutions for demanding applications. I find it particularly valuable to be involved in projects at an early stage.
This allows us to take a holistic view of design, manufacturing, and costs from the very beginning and select the optimal manufacturing process for each application. The result is robust, cost-effective components that stand the test of time even under the toughest conditions.”
Jan Fehlinger
Head of Sales, Graepel
FAQ
As a specialist manufacturer of sheet metal components, ventilation grilles, steps, handrails and gratings for the construction machinery industry, we produce components for excavators, wheel loaders, telescopic handlers and specialised machinery – ranging from bespoke items and small batches to high-volume production. Our services include punching, laser cutting, bending, welding, pressing, deep drawing and surface treatment, as well as assembly, all from a single source. All parts are manufactured following joint development in accordance with customer requirements and can be delivered fully assembled on request.
We support our customers right from the early concept and design stages in the development of sheet metal components for the construction machinery industry. Our engineering team provides assistance with material selection, feasibility analysis, prototyping and design optimisation – directly from CAD through to the production part. This reduces development cycles and ensures manufacturability right from the start.
We manufacture perforated sheets and perforated metal grilles as prototypes and samples specifically for projects in the construction machinery industry. Our manufacturing processes (punching, laser cutting, etc.) enable us to produce custom perforation patterns and geometries for radiator grilles, ventilation grilles and covers. Materials: steel, stainless steel, aluminium; available as raw blanks or with surface treatment.
We develop and manufacture radiator grilles, ventilation grilles and sheet metal components for use in construction machinery under extreme operating conditions. Our solutions address the key stress scenarios:
stone chip protection through hardened steels or reinforced grille geometries, as well as corrosion protection through cathodic dip (KTL) and powder coating (depending on the application) or approved coating systems. Material and test certificates are available on request.
We supply construction machinery and vehicle manufacturers worldwide with sheet metal components, ventilation grilles, steps and add-on parts – either directly from our factory or via established logistics partners. On request, production parts can be integrated into just-in-time (JIT) delivery schemes. We have extensive experience in exporting worldwide. On request, we can draw up delivery and customs clearance plans for your project.
We actively support development and service teams for construction machinery in optimising cooling air intake through bespoke ventilation grilles and radiator grille geometries. By adjusting hole diameter and pitch, hole pattern, cross-sectional area and flow geometry, air flow can be demonstrably increased – without any modification to the cooling unit itself. On request, we can calculate the free cross-sectional area of various grille variants and produce samples for direct installation testing. Free cross-sectional areas of up to 84% are possible.
We specialise in the small-, medium- and large-scale production of sheet metal parts, ventilation grilles, steps and attachments for construction machinery – from batch sizes of 1 up to several hundred units per order. Our flexible manufacturing processes (laser cutting, punching, bending, welding) enable quick changeovers and short lead times.
We manufacture access ladders, steps, handrails, and platforms for construction machinery made of steel, stainless steel, and aluminum—both as standard solutions and as custom-made products tailored to the machine’s geometry and customer requirements. The legal basis for access ladders on construction machinery is provided by EN ISO 2867 (Access to Construction Machinery), DIN EN 13586 (Access to Cranes), and the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC. These standards specify, among other things, minimum tread widths, handrail heights, slip resistance (up to R13 according to DIN EN 16165), and maximum step spacing. Our components are manufactured in accordance with these standards and can be supplied with test certificates.
