What Helmkamp does

Helmkamp Construction Co. is a privately held, full-service general contractor and construction management firm headquartered in East Alton, Illinois, founded in 1938 and serving the St. Louis metro and broader Midwest market with national capability across 25 states. The company operates three core business units — Industrial (chemical, food and beverage, metals, petrochemical, power, utilities), Building (commercial, education, financial, data communications), and Life Science (healthcare, pharmaceutical, biomedical, agriculture, animal health) — and delivers projects through preconstruction, design-build, construction management, general contracting, EPC partner support, and self-perform execution. Approximately half of all work is self-performed across civil, concrete foundations and slabs, structural steel, rough and finish carpentry, millwright equipment installations, excavations, and laser alignment/precision leveling.

The company's technology stack is conventional construction operations tooling rather than a differentiated platform: it uses ProCore for project management and real-time safety inspection visibility by its Safety Director, and it relies on industry-standard prequalification systems (ISNetworld RAVS Plus, NCI risk control). The business model is professional-services, project-based, quote-driven, and multi-year; revenue is generated from construction management fees, general contracting markups, design-build delivery, and self-perform labor and equipment on customized engagements with enterprise and institutional buyers. GTM is direct enterprise field sales targeting repeat professional buyers, supported by industry event participation, content marketing, and the Helmkamp Cares Foundation community program.

Helmkamp transitioned from third-generation family ownership to employee ownership in 2018 when Rob Johnes, who joined as an intern in 1997, became the first non-family owner; a 2025 succession plan elevated Johnes to CEO, Kyle Ogden to President, and Kyle Runge to VP of Finance. Notable enterprise customers include Phillips 66, Monsanto/Bayer, BJC Healthcare, Washington University in St. Louis, Vistra Energy, Prairie State Generating, and Wieland, the latter anchoring a $500M multi-year modernization and expansion in East Alton. Recognition includes 2024 ASA Midwest Council General Contractor of the Year, 2025 Best Places to Work, and 2025 Top Workplace, alongside consistent regional safety awards.

Name

Helmkamp

Legal name

Helmkamp Construction Co.

Website

https://helmkamp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Helmkamp Construction Co. is a privately held, full-service general contractor founded in 1938, serving Industrial, Building, and Life Science clients in the St. Louis metro and Midwest with self-perform construction management, design-build, general contracting, and EPC support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Services

NAICS

Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Site Preparation Contractors (23891), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Self-Performing General Contractors (IMAFAAAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Program Management (Multi-site/Portfolio) (IMAFAAAF), Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)

Keywords

• General contracting services
• Construction management
• Design-build construction
• Industrial construction services
• Self-perform construction

Headquarters

HQ city

East Alton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. General Contracting: Full-service general contractor providing construction services across Industrial, Building, and Life Science markets. Offers traditional general contracting, construction management, design-build, and preconstruction services. Revenue generated from project-based fees on construction projects.
2. Construction Management: Provides construction management expertise with single point of contact and dedicated focus on projects. Planning, coordination, and management of subcontractors.
3. Design-Build: Design-build process starting with listening and understanding client's business, selecting design team, creating concept design, reliable conceptual cost estimate, and project schedule.
4. Preconstruction Services: Early participation in planning including budgeting, scheduling, value engineering, and constructability reviews to help avoid issues during construction.
5. EPC Support: Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) partner support, providing unsurpassed value through planning, coordination, management of subs for industrial projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Helmkamp is a full-service general contractor providing construction management, design-build, preconstruction, general contracting, self-perform construction, and EPC partner services across Industrial, Building, and Life Science market segments. Approximately half of project work is self-performed in-house, covering civil work, concrete foundations and slabs, structural steel, rough and finish carpentry, millwright equipment installations, and laser alignment/precision leveling. Primary service geography is the St. Louis metropolitan area, Illinois, and Missouri, with national capability to deliver projects across 25 states.

Product overview

Helmkamp Construction Company is a full-service general contractor with self-perform capabilities serving the St. Louis and Metro East communities since 1938. The company operates across three core market segments—Industrial (chemical, food & beverage, manufacturing, petro refining, power, utilities), Building (commercial, education, financial, data communications), and Life Science (healthcare, pharmaceutical, biomedical, agriculture, animal health)—offering comprehensive project delivery methods including preconstruction, design-build, construction management, general contracting, self-perform, and EPC partnership. Their differentiated value lies in self-performing approximately half of all work, including civil, concrete, structural steel, millwright, excavations, and precision laser alignment services. The company also operates the Helmkamp Cares Foundation for community charitable initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Construction Services Full-service industrial construction for chemical, food and beverage, logistics, manufacturing, metals, petro refining, power, and utilities sectors. Services include construction management, civil work, equipment installations, excavations, foundations, millwright, steel erection, laser alignment, and control rooms.
• Building Construction Services Commercial building construction covering commercial, data communications, education, and financial sectors. Services include new construction, renovations, building additions, carpentry, sitework, and utility upgrades.
• Life Science Construction Services Specialized construction for agriculture, animal health, biomedical, healthcare, and pharmaceutical sectors. Services include laboratory build-outs, healthcare facility construction, manufacturing spaces, control rooms, equipment installations, and support facilities with infection control expertise.
• Preconstruction Services Early-stage planning services including constructability reviews, cost estimates, design options analysis, phasing planning, and schedule development to ensure project expectations are well-defined before construction begins.
• Design-Build Services Integrated design-build delivery method where Helmkamp leads a team of designers, engineers, and subcontractors to create concept design, reliable cost estimates, and project schedules. Allows construction to begin before final design is complete.
• Construction Management Full-service construction management providing a single point of contact with dedicated focus on projects, including planning, coordination, and subcontractor management.
• General Contracting Traditional general contracting services for projects with well-defined requirements.
• Self-Perform Services In-house execution of civil work, concrete, steel erection, millwright, excavations, foundations, laser alignment, and equipment installations including rotating and material handling equipment.
• EPC Partner Services Engineering, Procurement, and Construction partnership support for EPC firms, providing planning, coordination, and subcontractor management for industrial clients in highly-regulated markets.

Quantifiable outcome

• Safety record well above industry standards, qualified by global prequalification organizations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Graycor Construction CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEPCM (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Management) partner on Wieland's $500M East Alton expansion project. Graycor serves as the primary EPCM partner while Helmkamp provides construction execution for the multi-phase project including Casting Unit 6 and new 387,000 sq ft building.
• Vestal CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign partner providing civil, structural, architectural, and building MEP design services for Wieland project. Also partnered on Sustainability Campus project for Waste Connections.
• Salas O'BriencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProcess engineering design services partner for Wieland's $500M modernization and expansion project, providing design expertise for metals process engineering.
• WielandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal copper supplier and solutions firm for which Helmkamp is construction partner on $500M East Alton facility modernization and expansion. Project includes Casting Unit 6 and new hot rolling mill facility.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Graycor Construction Company: Midwest-based full-service GC and EPCM firm. Direct peer: serves the same industrial, healthcare, and commercial markets as Helmkamp and is actually Helmkamp's EPCM partner on the Wieland $500M project. Overlap in self-perform trades and customer base is substantial.
• McCarthy Building Companies: St. Louis-headquartered, employee-owned GC with national reach. Competes head-to-head with Helmkamp in healthcare, life science, and industrial work in the St. Louis market; similar self-perform, design-build, and CM delivery model.
• Alberici Corporation: St. Louis-based, employee-owned GC specializing in industrial, energy, water, and heavy civil work. Direct Midwest competitor to Helmkamp's industrial vertical with similar size, self-perform culture, and union trade base.
• Clayco: St. Louis-based design-build GC with strong life sciences, industrial, and commercial practice. Competes with Helmkamp for life science and industrial clients in the St. Louis/Illinois corridor and shares a similar self-perform, integrated delivery approach.
• Tarlton Corporation: St. Louis-based, employee-owned GC focused on healthcare, life sciences, and higher education. Direct competitor to Helmkamp's Life Science and Building segments, with a comparable relationship-driven, repeat-buyer GTM motion.
• BSI Constructors: St. Louis-area commercial and life sciences GC with self-perform capabilities. Competes with Helmkamp for healthcare, biotech, and commercial building work in the St. Louis metro; similar size and delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Walsh Construction: Chicago-based, large national GC serving healthcare, education, and commercial markets. Competes with Helmkamp's Building segment from a larger scale; not as strong in Helmkamp's core industrial vertical but a clear incumbent bidder in the broader Midwest.
• Burns & McDonnell: Kansas City-based, employee-owned EPC firm with strong industrial and power generation practice. Competes for the same industrial and utility customers as Helmkamp's industrial segment; offers broader design and EPC capabilities at a larger scale.

Emerging players

• Russell Construction Company: Iowa-based GC specializing in senior living, healthcare, and commercial construction. Comparable to Helmkamp's life sciences and healthcare building practice; smaller footprint and primarily regional, overlapping with Helmkamp on certain projects.

Others

• Vestal Corporation: St. Louis-area design firm and a Helmkamp partner on Wieland and the Waste Connections Sustainability Campus. Not a direct competitor but a comparable Midwest design/construction ecosystem player adjacent to Helmkamp's design-build delivery.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/helmkampconstruction

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Helmkamp