Knobelsdorff
Knobelsdorff is a private, multi-division industrial electrical contractor providing automation, electrical, power services, and solar EPC to enterprise customers across food & beverage, grain/feed, cement, mining, data centers, and renewable energy, with proprietary TerraKE MES software.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersGoodhue, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Knobelsdorff does
Knobelsdorff is a private, multi-division industrial electrical contractor headquartered in Goodhue, Minnesota, with additional offices in Eagan, MN and Oglesby, IL. The company operates four integrated divisions — Automation & Controls Engineering, Industrial Electric, Renewable Energy (Solar EPC), and Power Services & Testing — and serves enterprise customers across food & beverage, grain/feed/flour, cement, mining, data centers, pet food, greenhouse, industrial manufacturing, renewable fuels/oil & gas, and renewable energy. Its self-perform model spans engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance, with 650+ employees logging 791,704 field manhours in 2025 and a cumulative footprint of 1 GW+ of solar projects built and maintained plus 2 GW of connected load/generation experience.
The technical core combines UL 508A/698A certified control panel fabrication, PLC/HMI/SCADA programming, and proprietary TerraKE software — an all-in-one MES automation platform for material processing facilities (flour mills, grain elevators, feed mills) that integrates production scheduling, recipe management, bin management, ERP integration, and customizable reporting; a 2024 extension added a Truck Management System module. The renewable energy division provides turnkey EPC services for utility-scale solar, distributed generation, community solar, and battery energy storage systems (BESS), backed by structured financing partnerships with Stonehenge Capital and ING Capital LLC and a long-term 125 MWDC O&M portfolio across 28 Minnesota sites.
Revenue is generated through project-based EPC contracts, recurring O&M and managed services, professional services for industrial electrical and automation work, and subscription/licensing of the TerraKE platform. Pricing is custom and quote-based with no public disclosure. The customer base is entirely enterprise — including ADM, EDF Renewables, Dairy Farmers of America, LafargeHolcim, Heidelberg Materials, and U.S. Solar — with several relationships exceeding 15-20 years. The company holds ISO 9001, UL 508A/698A, NFPA 70E/70B, MSHA, OSHA, and SCADA/PLCA integrator certifications, and operates as a privately held entity with no disclosed external equity investment.
Knobelsdorff firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Knobelsdorff
- Legal name
- Knobelsdorff
- Website
- https://knobelsdorffenterprises.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Knobelsdorff is a private, multi-division industrial electrical contractor providing automation, electrical, power services, and solar EPC to enterprise customers across food & beverage, grain/feed, cement, mining, data centers, and renewable energy, with proprietary TerraKE MES software.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Knobelsdorff industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Industrial Electrical Contracting
- NAICS
- Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519), Industrial Machinery Manufacturing (33324)
- SIC
- Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration) (IMAGABAJ), Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)
Keywords
Where Knobelsdorff is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Goodhue
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Knobelsdorff business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC): Turnkey EPC services for renewable energy projects including utility-scale solar, distributed generation, community solar, and battery energy storage systems. Services span from design through commissioning.
- Industrial Electrical Services: Electrical design-build construction, in-house maintenance, 24/7/365 emergency support, and electrical testing services for industrial facilities.
- Automation & Controls Engineering: Process controls system integration, MES, IoT, ERP integrations, and UL panel building for manufacturing, grain, feed, flour, and food processing markets.
- Operations & Maintenance (O&M): Contract O&M services for solar installations including 24/7 monitoring, field response, spare parts management, and warranty claims processing.
- Power Services & Testing: Electrical testing and preventative maintenance from substations to final plant power distribution, including 24/7 emergency services.
- TerraKE Software Platform: MES automation platform licensing and implementation services for material processing facilities including flour mills, grain elevators, and feed mills.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels9 records
Knobelsdorff product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Knobelsdorff is a privately held industrial electrical contractor providing integrated automation and controls engineering, industrial electrical services, renewable energy (solar/BESS) EPC, and power services & testing for industrial facilities. The company also offers TerraKE, a proprietary MES automation platform for material processing facilities (flour mills, grain elevators, feed mills). Projects span design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and ongoing operations and maintenance.
Product overview
Knobelsdorff is an industrial electrical contractor offering four integrated divisions: Automation & Controls Engineering, Industrial Electrical, Renewable Energy (Solar EPC), and Power Services & Testing. The company's core product is TerraKE, a proprietary all-in-one MES automation platform for material processing facilities, which works alongside specialized BESS EPC services, automation and controls engineering, industrial electrical services, and power testing. The portfolio is unified by cross-divisional delivery, where multiple divisions collaborate on projects to provide end-to-end solutions from design through commissioning and ongoing support.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TerraKE™: Proprietary MES automation platform designed to automate processes, track performance, and provide real-time operational visibility for material processing facilities including flour mills, grain elevators, and feed mills.
Products and services
- TerraKE MES Platform Proprietary all-in-one MES automation platform for material processing facilities (flour mills, grain elevators, feed mills). Automates processes, tracks performance, provides real-time operational visibility, and enables data-driven decision-making with features including production scheduling, recipe management, bin management, ERP integration, and customizable reporting.
- Automation & Controls Engineering End-to-end automation solutions including system design, UL 508A/698A control panel fabrication, PLC/HMI/SCADA programming, MES integration, ERP connectivity, and ongoing support for manufacturing, grain, feed, flour, and food processing markets.
- Industrial Electrical Services Complete industrial electrical services including electrical design and engineering, high/medium/low voltage installation, substation and power distribution systems, testing and commissioning, maintenance, and 24/7 emergency response.
- Renewable Energy (Solar EPC)
Quantifiable outcome
- Hubbard Feeds achieved 25.6% ROI with 3.2 year payback on TerraKE automation system
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Knobelsdorff
Customer profileNamed customers25 records
Segments10 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Knobelsdorff technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature4 records
Knobelsdorff partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Airstreams RenewablescorePartnership with Airstreams Renewables provides fast-paced, hands-on training focused on preparing military veterans for entry-level roles in renewable energy. Knobelsdorff regularly visits their California facility for on-site presentations, mentorship, and hiring. This partnership has resulted in numerous successful hires with excellent retention rates.
- EvolvecoreChicago-based partnership focused on education, empowerment, and innovation for individuals from underserved communities. The foundation provides industry certifications, stipends, and life skills training. Participants receive support services for housing, financial guidance, and emotional support for long-term success.
- Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)minorIndustry association membership for solar industry representation and advocacy.
- Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association (MN SEIA)minorRegional solar industry association membership.
- International Association of Operative Millers (IAOM)minorIndustry association for grain, feed, flour, and milling operations.
- Grain Elevator and Processing Society (GEAPS)minorIndustry association for grain elevator and processing operations.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Knobelsdorff competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Faith Technologies: Faith Technologies is a national industrial electrical contractor and systems integrator offering electrical construction, engineering, automation, and pre-fabrication services — closely overlapping Knobelsdorff's automation, electrical, and panel-building capabilities across food/beverage, industrial, and energy customers.
- Interstates Companies: Interstates is a Midwest-based industrial electrical contractor and control systems integrator offering engineering, electrical construction, automation, and UL panel fabrication — directly comparable to Knobelsdorff's Automation, Electrical, and Power Services divisions serving grain, food, and industrial clients.
- Blattner Energy (Quanta Services): Blattner Energy, now part of Quanta Services, is a top-tier utility-scale solar and BESS EPC contractor with renewable energy O&M services — directly comparable to Knobelsdorff's solar EPC, BESS, and 125 MW O&M portfolio across utility-scale solar developers.
- ERMCO (Electrical Resources and Manufacturing Company): ERMCO is an electrical contractor and systems integrator offering power distribution, motor control, industrial automation, and prefabricated electrical solutions — directly comparable to Knobelsdorff's industrial electrical, MCC, and automation work in manufacturing and heavy industrial markets.
Broad incumbents
- Mortenson Construction: Mortenson is a large national construction and EPC firm with a strong renewable energy practice (wind, solar, BESS) and data center vertical — a broader incumbent player that overlaps with Knobelsdorff's renewable energy and data center work segments at a larger scale.
- M.C. Dean: M.C. Dean is a large-scale electrical and systems integration contractor with significant mission-critical (data center, government) and industrial automation work — a broader incumbent with overlapping capabilities in SCADA, PLC, electrical, and high-voltage systems.
- EMCOR Group: EMCOR Group is a publicly-traded Fortune 500 provider of electrical and mechanical construction, energy, and facilities services — a broad incumbent operating across industrial, utility, and commercial verticals with overlapping capabilities in electrical services, automation, and power.
- Quanta Services: Quanta Services is the largest publicly-traded specialty contractor for utility and infrastructure construction, with major renewable energy and BESS EPC operations — a broad incumbent competing with Knobelsdorff on utility-scale solar, BESS, and high-voltage substation work.
Others
- Burns & McDonnell: Burns & McDonnell is a major engineering, construction, and consulting firm with power, T&D, and renewable energy practices — comparable to Knobelsdorff's Power Services, engineering, and renewable energy segments, particularly on testing, inspection, and commissioning work.
Regional players
- Sachs Electric: Sachs Electric is a Midwest-based industrial electrical contractor serving similar geographies to Knobelsdorff — a regional player with overlap in industrial electrical construction, automation, and power distribution in food/beverage, manufacturing, and energy markets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Knobelsdorff social profiles
Digital presenceKnobelsdorff compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance11 records
Knobelsdorff financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Knobelsdorff leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Knobelsdorff funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Knobelsdorff M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Knobelsdorff
What does Knobelsdorff do?
Knobelsdorff is a privately held industrial electrical contractor providing integrated automation and controls engineering, industrial electrical services, renewable energy (solar/BESS) EPC, and power services & testing for industrial facilities. The company also offers TerraKE, a proprietary MES automation platform for material processing facilities (flour mills, grain elevators, feed mills). Projects span design, engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and ongoing operations and maintenance.
Is Knobelsdorff a public or private company?
Knobelsdorff is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Knobelsdorff founded?
Knobelsdorff was founded in 1994. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Knobelsdorff based?
Knobelsdorff is headquartered in Goodhue, United States, in the North America region.
How does Knobelsdorff make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) is the primary driver. The others are industrial Electrical Services, automation & Controls Engineering, operations & Maintenance (O&M), power Services & Testing and terraKE Software Platform.
Who are Knobelsdorff's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Faith Technologies, Interstates Companies, Blattner Energy (Quanta Services) and ERMCO (Electrical Resources and Manufacturing Company). Broad incumbents are Mortenson Construction, M.C. Dean, EMCOR Group and Quanta Services. Burns & McDonnell is listed as an others. Sachs Electric is listed as a regional player.
Does Knobelsdorff have an API?
No public API is recorded for Knobelsdorff.
What industry is Knobelsdorff in?
Knobelsdorff's product category is Industrial Electrical Contracting. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAHAHAK, Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation), with a secondary code of IMAGABAJ, Industrial Control Panels & Enclosures (Panel Building, MCCs, Integration). Its NAICS code is 334519 and its SIC code is 3620.