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Afag Automation vs Zimmer Group
Afag Automation and Zimmer Group are both end effectors & dexterous hands companies. Their verified profiles differ on headquarters, country, industry focus, founding year, company size and markets served. The table below sets out only those rows; everything else is on each company's own profile. Facts verified 6 November 2026.
Where they differ
| Company | Afag Automation | Zimmer Group |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Zell, Switzerland | Rheinau |
| Country | Switzerland | Germany |
| Industry | Components — End Effectors & Dexterous Hands | Components — handling technology, grippers & end-of-arm tooling, damping & linear technology |
| Founded | 1956 | 1980 |
| Company size | More than 300 employees in Switzerland, Germany, China and the US (company-stated at its 2023 acquisition) | Approx. 1,400 employees (company anniversary coverage, 2025; earlier company materials stated around 1,200 in 2020 and about 1,300 more recently) |
| Markets served | Global; battery manufacturing, automotive, packaging, medical, life sciences, electronics and watchmaking | Global — headquarters and three production sites in Baden-Württemberg, around 20 own branches, and a sales network the official locations page describes as 125 sales branches and dealers worldwide |
How Afag Automation and Zimmer Group differ
Afag Automation and Zimmer Group overlap in handling and assembly automation, but differ in age, scale, product centre and sales footprint. Afag, headquartered in Zell, Switzerland, was founded in 1956 and specialises in electric linear motion, feeding and handling automation for assembly applications. Its size is recorded as more than 300 employees across Switzerland, Germany, China and the United States (company-stated at its 2023 acquisition), and it was acquired by Emerson in 2023. Its markets are global, including battery manufacturing, automotive, packaging, medical, life sciences, electronics and watchmaking. Zimmer Group is headquartered in Rheinau, Germany, and was founded in 1980 as Zimmer Technische Werkstätten. It remains an owner-managed family company and is recorded at approximately 1,400 employees in 2025. Its range covers handling technology, grippers and end-of-arm tooling, damping and linear technology. Zimmer’s footprint is anchored by headquarters and three production sites in Baden-Württemberg, around 20 own branches and a sales network described as 125 sales branches and dealers worldwide. For buyers, Afag brings the longer history and a feeding, handling and linear-motion focus inside Emerson, while Zimmer brings the larger recorded headcount and a gripper and tooling range backed by a wider named branch network.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Afag Automation and Zimmer Group?
Afag Automation is based in Zell, Switzerland and Zimmer Group in Rheinau; they also differ on country, industry focus, founding year, company size, markets served. The table above sets out both companies' entries row by row.
Are Afag Automation and Zimmer Group in the same country?
No. Afag Automation is based in Zell, Switzerland and Zimmer Group in Rheinau.
Can one sourcing request reach both Afag Automation and Zimmer Group?
Yes. Afag Automation can be reached through afag.com and Zimmer Group through zimmer-group.com, or post one sourcing request and let both answer if they fit.
Does GlobleMatch rank Afag Automation above Zimmer Group, or Zimmer Group above Afag Automation?
Neither. There is no pay-to-rank and no paid placement in comparisons; order and content come from verified profile facts only.
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Full profiles, with every fact and its source: Afag Automation and Zimmer Group. Profile facts last verified: Afag Automation on 9 November 2026, Zimmer Group on 6 November 2026.