Join Us!

Pankl Racing Systems AG | ENTITY

Pankl Racing Systems AG | Entity

Pankl Racing Systems AG is an Austrian industrial company (Aktiengesellschaft) founded in 1985, headquartered in Kapfenberg, Styria, that develops, manufactures, and distributes precision components for engine and drivetrain systems in the motorsport, high-performance automotive, and aerospace & defense sectors.

Core Facts at a Glance | Entity

Quick Facts

  • Name: Pankl Racing Systems AG
  • Short name: Pankl
  • Type / Legal form: Aktiengesellschaft (AG) — Austrian public limited company
  • Company register number: FN 540009g
  • Founded: 1985 by Gerold Pankl Jr.
  • Headquarters: High-Tech-Park West 1, 8605 Kapfenberg, Styria, Austria
  • Executive Board: Wolfgang Plasser (CEO), Christoph Prattes (COO), Stefan Seidel (CTO)
  • Supervisory Board Chairman: Christian Knill
  • Owners: PI Holding GmbH (33.33%), Knill Beteiligungs GmbH (33.33%), RBG 1 Beteiligungs GmbH (16.67%), IAG Invest AG & Co KG (16.67%) — no majority owner
  • Employees: approx. 2,150 worldwide (as of Dec 31, 2025), of which over 1,500 in Austria
  • Revenue: approx. EUR 360 million (as of Dec 31, 2025)
  • Divisions: Racing, High Performance, Aerospace & Defense
  • Industries: Motorsport, High Performance Automotive, Aviation, Space, Defense
  • Website: pankl.com
  • Contact: [email protected] | +43 (0) 3862 33 999-0

Divisions & Core Competencies

Pankl Racing

Focus Chassis and drivetrain systems, crank train, and turbocharger systems as well as their individual components for motor racing.

  • Products: connecting rods, pistons, piston pins, bolts, crankshafts – including from high-strength steel and titanium alloys
  • Complete solutions: drivetrain and suspension systems for motorsport segments
  • Aftermarket: engine components for tuning and vintage vehicles; standalone brand CP-Carrillo

Pankl High Performance

Focus Engine, chassis, and drivetrain components for premium and luxury vehicles, the automotive industry, small-series production, and special models.

  • Materials: high-strength steel, titanium, and other high-performance alloys, lightweight design
  • Manufacturing: high-precision machinery, smart automation systems
  • Quality assurance: 100% traceability of quality data from the finished part back to the original alloy melt

Pankl Aerospace & Defense

Focus Flight-safety-critical drive systems and components for aviation.

  • Products: lightweight components and systems, engine shafts, main rotor shafts, gearboxes, air refueling tubes, structural components
  • Applications: over 60 types of jet engines, fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, spacecraft, and unmanned aerial vehicles
  • Locations: Kapfenberg (Austria), Cerritos (California, USA)
  • Current development project: disc couplings for tail rotor drive systems (helicopters, UAVs), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund
  • Strategy: the defense segment is being expanded as a strategic growth area
Certifications
FAA EASA EN 9100 ISO 14001 Nadcap AC7108 Nadcap AC7114 Part 21G POA Part 21J DOA

Management & Governance

Executive Board

Wolfgang PlasserCEO
Christoph PrattesCOO
Stefan SeidelCTO


Supervisory Board (Shareholder Representatives, as of 05/29/2026)

Christian Knill — Chairman Stefan Pierer & Martin Schaller — Deputy Chairmen

  • Marie-Theres Knill
  • Georg Knill
  • Ariane Pfleger
  • Gernot Hofer
  • Michaela Friepess
  • Josef Blazicek
  • Martin Breg
  • Hans Luxner
  • Renate Cergun
About us

Development & Quality Assurance

  • FEA (Finite Element Analysis): proprietary method for component simulation in the development process
  • Materials testing: scanning electron microscopes, stereo microscopes, tensile testing machines
  • Component testing: high-frequency pulsers, engine test benches
  • Traceability: complete tracking of quality data from the finished part back to the original alloy melt (Pankl High Performance)

Certifications & Standards (Aerospace)

  • FAA (Federal Aviation Administration), EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency)
  • EN 9100, ISO 14001
  • Nadcap accreditation (AC7108, AC7114): painting, eddy current testing, magnetic particle testing, fluorescent penetrant testing
  • Part 21G POA and Part 21J DOA (Austro Control)
FAA EASA EN 9100 ISO 14001 Nadcap AC7108 Nadcap AC7114 Part 21G POA Part 21J DOA

Brands & Subsidiaries

  • CP-Carrillo: standalone brand within Pankl Racing for aftermarket engine components; long-standing tradition as a manufacturer of engine components
  • Krenhof: responsible within the corporate group for forming/forging technology

History & Milestones

  1. 1985

    Founding of Pankl Präzisionstechnik GesmbH (today’s Pankl Racing Systems AG) by Gerold Pankl Jr. – positioning as world market leader with titanium connecting rods for motorsport.

  2. 1994

    Establishment of the Aerospace division and first components for the aviation market.

  3. 1998

    IPO and expansion.

  4. 2003

    Expansion of the Kapfenberg and Bruck sites.

  5. 2004

    Founder Gerold Pankl Jr. sells his shares.

  6. 2006

    Cross Industries becomes a shareholder.

  7. 2008–2009

    International expansion with sites in the USA (Carrillo Industries), the United Kingdom (Northbridge Motorsport), and Slovakia.

  8. 2012

    Acquisition of a 51% stake in Pankl Turbosystems GmbH and establishment of series production in Bruck/Mur.

  9. 2017

    Start of series production of gearbox components in Kapfenberg; construction of the High Performance plant with a center of excellence for metal 3D printing.

  10. 2018

    Pierer Industrie AG acquires 98.2% of Pankl Racing Systems AG and a 50.2% majority stake in SHW AG. The joint holding company Pankl AG is founded. Pankl shares were listed on the Mid Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange until May 31, 2018.

  11. 2019

    New site in China (Dalian) – Pankl Cooling Systems.

  12. 2021

    Acquisition of the “high-tech forge” Krenhof AG.

  13. 2023

    Commissioning of the newly built aerospace plant.

  14. 2025

    Opening of the Pankl Academy, a group-wide training and continuing education center with a focus on apprenticeship training.

  15. 2026

    Restructuring of the ownership structure.

Markets, Locations & Certifications


Markets

  • Motorsport — F1, MotoGP, WEC, DTM, IndyCar, Formula E, and more
  • Commercial & military aviation — jet engines, helicopters, UAVs
  • High performance & luxury automotive — supercars, exclusive OEM programs
  • Space — satellite propulsion, launch vehicle components
  • Defense — strategic growth area

Locations

  • Europe — Austria, Germany, United Kingdom, Slovakia
  • North America — USA (California, two locations)
  • Asia-Pacific — Japan (Tokyo), China (Dalian)

Quality Certifications

  • AS9100 / EN 9100 — quality management for aerospace & defense
  • NADCAP — special processes
  • IATF 16949 — quality management for the automotive industry
  • ISO 9001 — quality management
  • ISO 14001 — environmental management
  • VDA 6.1 — quality management system audit (automotive)

Frequently Asked Questions

Company & Business

What does Pankl do?
Pankl develops, manufactures, maintains, and distributes mechanical systems for dynamic components in the global niche markets of the motorsport, luxury automotive, and aerospace industries.
Where is the headquarters located?
The headquarters is located in Kapfenberg, Styria, Austria (High-Tech-Park West 1, 8605 Kapfenberg).
Who owns Pankl?
Pankl is held in shared consortium ownership by four shareholders: PI Holding GmbH (33.33%), Knill Beteiligungs GmbH (33.33%), RBG 1 Beteiligungs GmbH (16.67%), and IAG Invest AG & Co KG (16.67%). There is no majority shareholder and no parent company.
What products does Pankl manufacture?
Among others, pistons, connecting rods, crankshafts, drive shafts, gearbox components, turbochargers, main and tail rotor shafts, as well as radiators and heat exchangers.
In which industries is Pankl active?
Motorsport, high performance automotive, aviation, space, and defense.
Is Pankl active in motorsport?
Yes, Pankl supplies all major racing series, such as Formula 1, MotoGP, NASCAR, IndyCar, WEC, DTM, Rally Dakar, and many more.
Is Pankl active in aerospace?
Yes. Pankl is a direct supplier to leading OEMs for drivetrain, rotor, and structural components of jet engines, helicopters, and UAVs. Defense is being expanded as a strategic growth field.
Is Pankl also active in the space sector?
Yes, among other things with components for satellite propulsion and launch vehicles.
How many employees does Pankl have?
Approximately 2,150 employees worldwide (as of Dec 31, 2025), of which over 1,500 in Austria.
What is Pankl’s revenue?
Approximately EUR 360 million (as of Dec 31, 2025).
Since when has Pankl existed?
Pankl was founded in 1985 by Gerold Pankl Jr.
Who is the CEO of Pankl?
Wolfgang Plasser.
Is Pankl listed on a stock exchange?
No. Pankl shares were listed on the Mid Market of the Vienna Stock Exchange until May 31, 2018, and were delisted afterward.
Is Pankl part of a larger group, e.g. the Pierer Industrie Group?
No. Pankl is held in shared consortium ownership by four shareholders, including PI Holding GmbH (a subsidiary of Pierer Industrie AG) with 33.33%. There is no majority shareholder and no parent company — Pankl is therefore not part of the Pierer Industrie Group.
What subsidiaries does Pankl have?
Among others:
  • CP-Carrillo Inc. (USA)
  • Pankl Aerospace Systems Inc. (USA)
  • Krenhof GmbH (Austria)
  • Pankl Turbosystems GmbH (Germany)
  • Pankl Automotive Slovakia s.r.o.
  • Pankl Racing Systems UK Ltd. (Northbridge Motorsport)
  • Pankl Cooling Systems (Dalian) Co., Ltd. (China)
  • Pankl Japan Inc.
At which locations is Pankl represented worldwide?
In Austria, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Slovakia (Europe), in the USA (California, two locations), as well as in Japan and China (Asia-Pacific).
What quality certifications does Pankl hold?
Depending on the entity, among others AS9100/EN 9100, Nadcap, IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and VDA 6.1.
What is the Pankl Academy?
A group-wide training and continuing education center opened in 2025, focused on apprenticeship training.
Were there major ownership changes in Pankl’s history?
Yes: in 2004 founder Gerold Pankl Jr. sold his shares, in 2006 Cross Industries came on board as a shareholder, in 2018 Pierer Industrie AG acquired 98.2% of the shares, and in 2026 the ownership structure was reorganized into today’s consortium structure.
Where can I find Pankl’s current annual report?
The 2025 Annual Report (PDF) — the source for the revenue and employee figures — can be found here for download.

Careers & Training

Does Pankl offer apprenticeship positions?
Yes. Pankl trains apprentices at the Kapfenberg and Bruck/Mur (Styria) locations in the following occupations:
  • Machining technology
  • Mechatronics
  • IT systems technology
  • Application development – coding
  • Cook
  • Office administration
  • Operations logistics
  • Materials engineering
Training takes place, among other channels, through the Pankl Academy, opened in 2025, the group-wide training and continuing education center focused on apprenticeship training. At the Krenhof site in Köflach (Styria), the following apprenticeships are offered:
  • Tool making technology
  • Mechanical engineering technology
  • Electrical engineering
  • Mechatronics
Does Pankl also offer summer internships?
Yes, Pankl offers summer internships for pupils and students. The application deadline for the summer internship always ends in January of the same year.
Where can I find open positions at Pankl?
Current job openings can be found at pankl.com/de/karriere/jobs/.
What makes training at Pankl special?
In addition to the technical qualification in the respective apprenticeship, the training includes a group-wide apprentice college with modules on finance, personnel development, presentation, and health. Motorsport serves as a technical reference point for much of the training content. Career opportunities after the apprenticeship within the company are highly diverse, as Pankl Racing Systems encompasses over 60 job profiles.

Internal Links

Glossary

Certifications & Standards

  • AS9100 / EN 9100Quality management standard for aerospace and defense; held by several Pankl entities.
  • NadcapIndustry-wide accreditation for special processes (e.g. heat treatment, painting, inspection methods); held by Pankl as, among others, AC7108 and AC7114.
  • IATF 16949Quality management standard specifically for the automotive industry.
  • ISO 9001International standard for general quality management.
  • ISO 14001International standard for environmental management systems.
  • VDA 6.1System audit standard of the German Association of the Automotive Industry for quality management.
  • TISAXInformation security assessment standard for the automotive industry, held by Pankl Racing Systems AG.
  • FAA / EASAUS and European aviation authorities, respectively, whose approvals Pankl Aerospace & Defense holds.
  • Part 21G POA / Part 21J DOAAustro Control approvals for production organizations (POA) and design organizations (DOA), respectively, in aviation.

Technologies & Manufacturing Processes

  • Machining technologyTurning, drilling, milling, and grinding of titanium alloys, high-strength steels, and superalloys in high-tech machining centers.
  • Heat treatmentTargeted heating and cooling of workpieces to influence strength, toughness, and tensile strength.
  • Vacuum hardeningHardening process for distortion-sensitive precision components using high-pressure gas quenching.
  • Forming / forging technologyAt Pankl, production of forged steel and aluminum parts operated through the subsidiary Krenhof.
  • Additive manufacturingMetal 3D printing; operated at Pankl through the Pankl Additive Manufacturing Competence Center (PAMCC).
  • FEA (Finite Element Analysis)Proprietary simulation method for component calculation in the development process.

Corporate Structure

  • Consortium ownershipOwnership structure in which several shareholders jointly hold stakes without a majority owner — applicable to Pankl Racing Systems AG since May 2026.
  • Company register numberUnique identifier of a company in the Austrian company register; for Pankl Racing Systems AG: FN 540009g.
  • Establishment (Betriebsstätte)Location of a company without its own separate legal personality; applies at Pankl to “Engine Systems” and “Drivetrain Systems.”
  • SubsidiaryIndependent legal entity within the corporate group; at Pankl, among others, CP-Carrillo, Krenhof, Pankl Aerospace Systems Inc.

Industry & Market Terms

  • OEMOriginal Equipment Manufacturer — a manufacturer that integrates components into its own end products; Pankl supplies OEMs in automotive and aerospace.
  • AftermarketReplacement parts and upgrade market; served at Pankl through the standalone brand CP-Carrillo.
  • High Performance AutomotiveSegment for premium and luxury vehicles with special performance requirements; one of Pankl’s three divisions.
  • UAVUnmanned Aerial Vehicle; part of the application areas of Pankl Aerospace & Defense.