Stripping machines occupy a critical position within wire and cable processing industries. These machines perform insulation removal from electrical conductors or cables preparing components for further operations such as crimping, soldering, or recycling. Technological advances in stripping machines aim to enhance precision, throughput, safety, and adaptability to varying wire types and diameters.
In 2025, the stripping machine market is led by key players such as Komax, Schleuniger, Metzner, Junquan, and Wanrooe, who are driving innovation in automation, precision, and recycling to meet evolving industry demands. According to Kings Research, the global stripping machine market is projected to reach USD 631.4 million by 2030, expanding at a CAGR of 5.01% between 2023 and 2030.
This article examines the recent configuration of leading players in the stripping machine market, their product innovations, corporate structural changes, and comparative positioning using only verified and recent data from official sources.
What Are Stripping Machines and How Do They Work?
Stripping machines fall into categories including semi-automatic and fully automatic models. Key performance metrics include maximum cable diameter processed, stripping precision (especially multi-step stripping of insulation layers), software integration, safety features, modular design, and speed or throughput.
Machines tailored for recycling must include features for full-sheath stripping, insulation/conductor separation, and often multiple stages of cut, slit, or strip operations. Regulatory and industry safety requirements increasingly demand features such as error-proof setup, real-time monitoring, and minimized risk of operator injury.
Leading Players and Recent Developments
Recent corporate reporting indicates structural consolidations among leading companies and strategic alignment to improve efficiency. Financial performance for these companies has responded to macroeconomic pressures, geopolitics, and changing investment behaviour among downstream automotive and industrial customers.
Product innovation continues to concentrate on enhancing user-friendliness, precision, flexibility, and integration with digital systems (MES, software libraries, etc.). Sustainability, particularly for recycling and effective use of metals, features in product design and market demand.
1. Komax Holding AG
Komax Holding AG operates in wire processing, including stripping, cut & strip, and related automation. Komax reported a decline of 22.1% in order intake to CHF 269.5 million in the first half of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. Revenues also declined by 17.9% in the same interval. The company cited excess capacity in the automotive industry and global uncertainties impacting investment behaviour. Komax is undertaking structural optimizations and cost reductions to preserve profitability.
Komax acquired a majority stake (56 percent) in Hosver, a Chinese manufacturer specializing in high-voltage cable processing machines, effective July 2024. This acquisition aligns Komax’s expansion strategy in Asia for advanced stripping and cut & strip machines.
Integration of Schleuniger into Komax has led to streamlining of product lines. Komax has discontinued its own “Mira” and “Kappa” series of wire stripper and cut & strip products in favour of equivalent Schleuniger models. This decision reflects consolidation of brands and product rationalisation for cost and complexity reduction.
2. Schleuniger
Schleuniger is a specialist provider of wire processing and testing solutions. Prior to its combination with Komax, Schleuniger held strong reputation for precision in cutting and stripping machinery, including for micro-coaxial and coaxial cables. (source: komaxgroup.com)
Recent Schleuniger product launches include the “Cut & Strip Family E300” and “E400” models. These newer models offer improved process safety, modern software, and reduced operator error through features such as Poka-Yoke principles.
Schleuniger’s “Strip Series” includes B-series machines (e.g. B340 and B540) introduced recently. These machines deliver reliable stripping performance for conventional wires and coaxial cables. Features include flexibility, high precision, process control, and user-friendly functions.
Schleuniger also enhanced two popular cut & strip machines, PowerStrip 9580 and MegaStrip 9680, increasing precision, modularity, and safety. Retrofits and modular designs permitted adaptation for varied production requirements.
3. Metzner Maschinenbau GmbH
Metzner Maschinenbau offers a wide range of cut & strip machines. Their product line includes compact machines such as the AM 1000 for cables of cross-sectional sizes (down to 0.14 mm²), and machines in the AM 3000 and AM 5000 series capable of processing larger cross-sections up to 185 mm² (≈ 350 MCM) and outer diameters up to 35 mm. Features include multi-step stripping, full pull-off or partial pull-off modes, compatibility with cable feeders, remote maintenance, and software integration.
Metzner has also developed custom solutions for MI (metal-insulated) cable processing. These machines combine rotary cutting heads, precise clamping, rotation, and multiple operations (slitting, sawing, and brushing). These models maintain positional accuracy within 0.2 mm and are capable of handling cable wire diameters up to 28 mm.
4. Jiaxing Junquan Automation Equipment Co., Ltd.
Junquan Automation manufactures wire processing automation equipment, including computer wire stripping machines. Their product ZDBX-40 is a fully automatic cable cutting and stripping machine. It handles single-core wires, multi-core cables, and shielded cables up to 40 mm outer diameter. It supports a maximum cross-section of ≤ 120 mm². It includes quick-change blade cartridges, a high-precision rotary cutting device with center positioning, options for automated guide locking, and transport speeds up to 3 m/s.
5. Wanrooe Machinery Co., Ltd.
Wanrooe offers machines primarily aimed at recycling and industrial wire stripping/cutting and cable recycling. Their industrial automatic cable wire stripping machines process types such as single-core, multicore, aluminium, and copper wires. Machines support dual-mode operation (full stripping and half stripping). Outer diameters in some models go up to 100 mm. Operational features include intelligent control, diameter detection, and adjustable blade settings.
How Do Leading Stripping Machines Compare?
Product Capabilities:
Junquan’s ZDBX-40 model compares favorably on diameter capability (up to 40 mm) and cross-sectional range (≤ 120 mm²) for fully automatic processing. Metzner’s upper range AM 5000 offers stripping up to 185 mm² and a diameter of 35 mm, which exceeds certain Junquan models on cross-section but slightly less on diameter in this example. Schleuniger’s series provides high precision and flexibility, especially for coaxial and micro wire applications, a domain where cutting-edge control and error-proofing matter more than maximum diameter alone.
Wanrooe focuses on recycling needs, including larger diameter and multiple wire types. Product features such as automatic identification of wire diameter and insulation thickness, dual stripping modes, and modular designs are typical across advanced machines from Metzner, Schleuniger, Junquan, and Komax/Schleuniger combinations.
Corporate Strategy and Market Position:
Komax, after integrating Schleuniger, has pursued product rationalization, discontinuing some internal lines in favor of Schleuniger equivalents. That indicates concentration of research & development and manufacturing to reduce overlap. Komax is expanding via acquisitions (Hosver) to strengthen its presence in China. Cost reductions and structural optimization in Europe and Switzerland reveal a focus on profitability amid weakening order intake. Schleuniger, under the Komax umbrella, continues to release machines with improved software, safety features, and user experience.
Metzner appears to invest in innovation for industrial-scale applications (large cross-sections, complex cable types, customized MI cable processing). Junquan emphasizes modularity, speed, and broad wire type coverage. Wanrooe aligns toward industrial and recycling applications, including capacity, robustness, and varying wire materials.
Challenges and Opportunities for Market Players
Demand fluctuations in the automotive, infrastructure, and consumer electronics industries influence investment in stripping equipment. GM-level supply chain issues, trade policies and tariffs, raw material availability, and cost of components all affect capital expenditure. Companies such as Komax have reported declines in order intake and revenues due to these factors. Stricter safety and quality regulations raise costs for compliance. Maintaining flexibility for varied wire types while ensuring precision adds engineering complexity.
Recycling represents a major growth area. Stripping machines that can handle insulation materials, recover metals, and integrate downstream processes (crushing, granulating) will gain demand. Enhanced software, real-time monitoring, and user interface improvements reduce operator error and training time.
Digitalization and integration with MES and factory automation systems create value. Companies that leverage data (traceability, quality metrics) gain a competitive edge.
Expansion in regions where wiring harnesses, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles increase demand for precision wire processing will benefit producers. Acquisitions and partnerships (Komax-Hosver) suggest that footprint expansion, particularly in Asia, remains a priority.
Conclusion
Stripping machines represent critical infrastructure in wire processing, recycling, and manufacturing. Leading players demonstrate distinct positioning: high cross-section capacity, high precision, process safety, modular design, or recycling-oriented robustness.
Corporate restructuring, product rationalization, and innovation in software and safety features mark recent developments among these firms. Future growth depends on balancing flexibility with precision, responding to regulatory and environmental demands, and aligning production capacity with market demand cycles.
