FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge
Corporate brand
UnclaimedFLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge is a German power-tool manufacturer known for angle grinders, surface-finishing equipment, renovation tools, and professional cordless systems.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH is a German manufacturer of professional power tools headquartered in Steinheim an der Murr. The company traces its origins to 1922, when Hermann Ackermann and Hermann Schmitt founded Ackermann & Schmitt in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. Its first serial product was the MS6 hand grinder, a machine that used an electric motor connected to a flexible shaft. The flexible-shaft concept later gave way to an angular gearbox, helping establish the product architecture associated with modern angle grinders. The company became an important early developer of angle-grinding equipment. It introduced a low-speed angle grinder in 1935 and a high-speed model in 1954. The latter, known as the DL 9, followed the company's development of flexible-shaft grinding equipment and helped reinforce its reputation in professional metalworking. Over time, the FLEX name became closely associated with angle grinders in German-speaking usage; the verb "flexen" is colloquially used to describe cutting or grinding with such a tool. The Second World War interrupted the company's normal commercial development. Its manufacturing activities were redirected toward aircraft production, and co-founder Hermann Schmitt was killed in action in 1941. After the war, the factory was affected by dismantling carried out by French authorities. Hermann Ackermann rebuilt the business, initially resuming production with scissors, hand grinders, and a joint-arm grinder before returning to electrically powered professional equipment. The business operated for most of its early history under the Ackermann & Schmitt name. In 1996 it was renamed Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH, reflecting the growing importance of the FLEX brand. The company subsequently passed through several ownership phases. It collaborated with Porter-Cable until 2004, when Pentair sold the business to Stanley Black & Decker. Between 2005 and 2013, the company was held by various financial investors. Chervon Holdings Ltd. acquired all shares in 2013, making FLEX part of the Chinese-owned Chervon group. FLEX's portfolio covers professional applications including restoration and renovation, metalworking, automotive paint preparation, natural-stone processing, and, particularly in Europe, woodworking. Its products include angle grinders, polishers, sanders, wall slitters, long-neck sanders, dust-extraction equipment, and battery-powered tools. The company has increasingly emphasized cordless platforms, including 10.8-volt, 18-volt, 20-volt, and 24-volt systems, as well as brushless-motor technology. North American sales have focused especially on metalworking, masonry, and related professional applications, while the European range has included a broader selection of woodworking and renovation products. Notable product developments include the first satin-finishing machine in 1989, the Giraffe GE 5 R long-neck sander in 1997, the FLEX wall slitter in 2007, the 24V cordless range in 2021, and the Giraffe-Mobile GM 270 in 2023. The Giraffe line is designed for efficient processing of walls and ceilings and has become one of the brand's best-known professional product families. The company reported approximately 250 employees and sales of EUR 81.59 million in 2019, with exports representing 63.3% of sales. The same approximate employee count was reported in 2020. FLEX operates through a European network that has included subsidiaries or affiliated companies in Belgium, the Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, and France. In 2021, it introduced a revised visual identity and the slogan "this is proformance," a word combining professional orientation with performance. FLEX also became the shirt sponsor of Los Angeles FC in 2021. As of May 2024, the company appeared in a German world-market-leader ranking at position 1,039.
History
FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge originated in 1922 as Ackermann & Schmitt, founded by Hermann Ackermann and Hermann Schmitt in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt. The company's first serial product was the MS6 hand grinder. It used an electric motor and flexible shaft, a configuration that provided flexibility in grinding work. By the end of the 1920s, the company had replaced the flexible shaft with an angular gearbox, moving toward the form of machine that would become characteristic of angle grinding. Ackermann & Schmitt introduced a low-speed angle grinder in 1935. In 1954 it followed with the DL 9, described in the reference material as the first high-speed angle grinder. This development was significant for the company's identity and market position. The FLEX name eventually became independent from the original company name and became strongly associated with angle grinders in German-speaking markets. The colloquial verb "flexen" developed from that association and refers to cutting or grinding with an angle grinder. The Second World War disrupted the company's commercial and manufacturing trajectory. Production was redirected to aircraft-related work, and Hermann Schmitt died in action in Russia in 1941. After the war, the surviving business had to reconstruct its manufacturing base. Although the factory itself remained substantially intact, French dismantling teams removed much of the machinery. Hermann Ackermann rebuilt operations, initially making scissors, hand grinders, and a joint-arm grinder before re-establishing the company's position as a producer of powered professional tools. The business continued under the Ackermann & Schmitt name for decades. Its product history broadened beyond conventional grinding. A satin-finishing machine was introduced in 1989, and the company developed the Giraffe GE 5 R long-neck sander in 1997 for wall and ceiling processing. In 2007 it introduced a wall slitter designed to support both pushing and pulling cuts according to the direction of the wall groove. These products helped extend the brand into renovation, finishing, and construction applications. In 1996, Ackermann & Schmitt adopted the corporate name Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH. The business then experienced several ownership changes. It collaborated with Porter-Cable until 2004, when Pentair sold it to Stanley Black & Decker. The company was subsequently held by different financial investors between 2005 and 2013. In 2013, Chervon Holdings Ltd. acquired all shares in Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH. Under Chervon ownership, FLEX has continued to develop professional tools for metalworking, masonry, renovation, natural-stone processing, automotive paint preparation, and woodworking. Its regional assortment differs: North America has emphasized metalworking and masonry tools, while European markets have carried a broader woodworking and renovation range. Since the 2010s, cordless products have become a central development priority. FLEX has offered multiple battery voltages, including 10.8V, 18V, 20V, and 24V systems, frequently paired with brushless motors. The 2020s brought further brand and product development. The administration building in Steinheim was renovated in 2020. In 2021, FLEX launched its 24V power-tool range and introduced a refreshed brand design with the slogan "this is proformance." The same year, the company entered a sports sponsorship agreement with Los Angeles FC. The Giraffe-Mobile GM 270 followed in 2023. FLEX has also received product and design recognition, including Red Dot awards for the Giraffe GE 5 and selected cordless polishers, a PLUS X Award for the Giraffe GE 5, and an Industry Award recognition for TRINOXFLEX. The company remains active as a Chervon-owned professional power-tool brand headquartered in Germany.
- 2023
Giraffe-Mobile GM 270 introduced
[1]FLEX expands its wall and ceiling processing portfolio with the Giraffe-Mobile GM 270.
- 2021
24V cordless range launched
[1]FLEX adds a 24V battery platform to its cordless product family.
- 2013
Chervon becomes owner
[1]Chervon Holdings Ltd. acquires all shares in FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH.
- 2007
FLEX wall slitter introduced
[1]The company launches a wall-slitting tool designed for directional cutting in renovation work.
- 2004
Business sold to Stanley Black & Decker
[1]After cooperation with Porter-Cable, Pentair sells the business to Stanley Black & Decker.
- 1997
Giraffe GE 5 R launched
[1]FLEX introduces the Giraffe long-neck sander for wall and ceiling processing.
- 1996
Company renamed Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH
[1]Ackermann & Schmitt adopts the FLEX-oriented corporate name.
- 1989
Satin-finishing machine launched
[1]FLEX expands its finishing portfolio with a satin-finishing machine.
- 1954
DL 9 high-speed angle grinder introduced
[1]The company introduces the DL 9, described as the first high-speed angle grinder.
- 1941
Co-founder Hermann Schmitt dies in wartime service
[1]Hermann Schmitt is killed in action in Russia during the Second World War.
Products and positioning
A professional, application-focused power-tool brand built around German engineering heritage, surface-finishing expertise, renovation equipment, and increasingly integrated cordless systems.
Hand grinder · 1922
MS6
The MS6 was the first machine produced in series by the company's predecessor, Ackermann & Schmitt. Its electric motor drove a flexible shaft, allowing the grinding head to be positioned with greater freedom than a conventional directly driven tool. The machine established the company's early expertise in electrically powered grinding equipment.
High-speed angle grinder · 1954
DL 9
Introduced in 1954, the DL 9 represented the company's move into high-speed angle grinding. It followed the earlier low-speed angle-grinder development and became an important milestone in the evolution of the FLEX product family and the wider professional grinding-tool category.
Long-neck wall and ceiling sander · 1997
Giraffe GE 5 R
The Giraffe GE 5 R is a long-neck sander designed for processing walls and ceilings. Its extended configuration helps professionals work on large vertical and overhead surfaces while reducing the need for ladders or repeated repositioning. The Giraffe line became one of FLEX's most recognizable renovation offerings.
Satin-finishing and surface-processing system
TRINOXFLEX
TRINOXFLEX is a FLEX surface-finishing system associated with stainless-steel and other metalworking applications. It illustrates the brand's emphasis on professional finishing rather than only material removal. The product received recognition in the Industry Award 2016 BEST OF category.
Cordless power tools · 2021
FLEX 24V power-tool platform
Launched in 2021, the 24V platform forms part of FLEX's broader shift toward cordless professional equipment. The platform is intended to support portable work across renovation, construction, and related applications, complementing the company's other battery-voltage offerings and brushless-motor tools.
Cordless polisher
PE 150 18.0-EC
The PE 150 18.0-EC is a cordless polisher intended for professional surface treatment. Its battery-powered design supports mobile polishing work without a direct mains connection. The model received a Red Dot Design Award in 2018.
Cordless eccentric polisher
XFE 15 150 18.0-EC
The XFE 15 150 18.0-EC is a cordless eccentric polisher for professional surface-finishing work, including automotive paint processing and related applications. It was among the FLEX products recognized with a Red Dot Design Award in 2018.
Mobile wall and ceiling processing equipment · 2023
Giraffe-Mobile GM 270
The Giraffe-Mobile GM 270, introduced in 2023, extends the Giraffe concept with a mobile configuration for wall and ceiling work. It is positioned within FLEX's renovation and surface-preparation range and reflects the company's effort to develop more integrated professional job-site solutions.
Marketing campaigns
- 2021Los Angeles FC shirt sponsorship
United States · International
FLEX became the shirt sponsor of Los Angeles FC, using a prominent sports partnership to raise brand visibility in North America and internationally.
Outcome. The sponsorship established a documented association between FLEX and Los Angeles FC; further performance details are not specified in the reference material.
- 2021“this is proformance” brand refresh
Europe · North America · International
FLEX introduced a revised visual identity and the slogan "this is proformance," replacing "The original." The new wording combines professional positioning with performance-oriented messaging.
Outcome. The refresh provided the brand with a new stated platform for communicating professional performance; broader campaign results are not specified.
Brand decisions
2021
Expand into a 24V cordless systemProduct launchBackground
FLEX had been placing increasing emphasis on cordless tools and multiple battery platforms.
Action taken
The company launched FLEX 24V power tools.
Aftermath
The launch broadened the brand's battery-powered professional-tool portfolio.
2013
Join the Chervon groupM&ABackground
After ownership by Stanley Black & Decker and subsequent financial investors, FLEX changed ownership again.
Action taken
Chervon Holdings Ltd. acquired all shares in Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH.
Aftermath
FLEX continued as a German-headquartered power-tool brand within the Chervon group.
1996
Adopt the FLEX-oriented corporate nameStrategyBackground
The business had operated historically as Ackermann & Schmitt while the FLEX name became increasingly associated with its power tools.
Action taken
The company changed its name to Flex-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH.
Aftermath
The corporate name aligned the legal company more closely with the established FLEX product brand.
Sources1 sources
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