What Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH does

Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH is a privately held German mining services specialist headquartered in Mülheim an der Ruhr, founded in 1871 by August Thyssen and still in family ownership under Thyssen Schachtbau Holding GmbH. The group provides the full spectrum of underground mining services across both horizontal (roadway development, tunneling) and vertical (shaft sinking, raise boring, shaft rehabilitation) operations, plus surface and underground drilling, ground freezing and injection methods, and centralized planning and engineering. Operating in 51 countries with approximately 1,700 employees and a fleet of specialized rigs (Herrenknecht RBR400VF/RBR300S, Epiroc Boomer E2C, Hütte HBR201, Turmag, Paus PScale 8-T), the company serves enterprise mining clients (K+S, Norilsk Nickel, Kazchrome, Amaroq Minerals, Lhoist/Rheinkalk), infrastructure developers (ÖBB, consortium partners Implenia and HOCHTIEF), energy players (illwerke vkw, SWS AG for SuedLink), and government authorities (LMBV, RAG). Five wholly owned subsidiaries — TS BAU GmbH, TS Technologie + Service GmbH, OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH, TOO Schachtbau Kasachstan, and Thyssen Schachtbau Iberia LDA — provide construction, technical service, equipment manufacturing (SIL3-certified hoist winders), and regional execution, respectively.

The company earns revenue primarily through project-based contracts for specialized shaft construction, mining services, drilling, and tunnel excavation, supplemented by equipment sales from OLKO and rehabilitation work from TS BAU. Pricing is quote-based with no public rate cards, and acquisition is driven by direct enterprise field sales through site managers and engineering relationships — long cycles weighted by technical reputation and prior project references. Notable quantifiable outcomes include 13,000+ meters excavated on the Semmering Base Tunnel, 117,000+ meters of drilling at the K+S Zielitz potash mine, and 38,712.5 m³ of concrete placed at the Zollverein 12 shaft backfill.

Since the end of German hard coal mining in 2018, the company has deliberately pivoted toward diversified mining, infrastructure tunneling, and energy-storage drilling, building new regional bases (Portugal, December 2023) and vertically integrating through custom engineering (Remote Shaft Lining System, dry-drilling method, CE-certified protective systems for explosive atmospheres). ISO 14001 and SIL3 certifications underscore a positioning around regulated, safety-critical underground works.

Name

Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH

Legal name

Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH

Website

https://thyssen-schachtbau.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1871

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH is a 155-year-old, family-owned German mining services specialist providing shaft construction, underground tunneling, drilling, and ground stabilization to mining, infrastructure, and energy clients across 51 countries via five subsidiaries and c.1,700 employees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mining Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Mining (213), Mining Machinery and Equipment Manufacturing (333131), Support Activities for Nonmetallic Minerals (except Fuels) Mining (213115)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532), Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400)

akta.pro primary industry

Mine Construction & Development Contracting (Shaft Sinking, Tunneling, Pre-Strip, Civil Works) (IMAKAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mine Operations Contracting (Open-Pit & Underground Development, Production, Load/Haul) (IMAKAKAD), Mining & Mineral Processing Facility Construction (IMAFADAE)

Keywords

• Underground mining services
• Shaft construction
• Raise boring drilling
• Tunnel construction services
• Mining engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Mülheim An Der Ruhr

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Shaft Construction Services: Project-based revenue from vertical shaft construction, shaft sinking, and shaft rehabilitation for mining and infrastructure projects worldwide
2. Mining Services: Comprehensive mining services including roadway development, logistics, infrastructure, coalface extraction, and mine water management for coal and mineral mining operations
3. Drilling Services: Exploration drilling, horizontal drilling, raise boring, and specialized drilling for mineral exploration and infrastructure projects including geotechnical investigations
4. Engineering and Planning Services: Technical planning and engineering services provided from central offices for group projects
5. Equipment Manufacturing (via OLKO): Manufacturing and sale of hoisting winders, bobbins, and mining equipment through subsidiary OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH
6. Construction Services (via TS BAU): Construction and mine rehabilitation services through subsidiary TS BAU GmbH

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH provides specialized underground mining services covering the complete spectrum of horizontal and vertical mining operations. Core offerings include shaft construction (Schachtbau), comprehensive mining services (Bergbaudienstleistungen), surface and underground drilling technology (Bohrtechnik), ground freezing and injection methods for difficult geological conditions, and planning/engineering services. The company also manufactures hoisting technology and mining equipment through its OLKO subsidiary and delivers construction and mine rehabilitation services through TS BAU.

Product overview

THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU GMBH is a leading mining specialist company with 155 years of experience offering the complete spectrum of services in both horizontal and vertical mining. The company operates through five core service divisions: Shaft Construction (Schachtbau), Mining Services (Bergbaudienstleistungen), Drilling Technology (Bohrtechnik) for surface and underground applications, Freezing and Injection Methods (Gefrier- und Injektionsverfahren), and Planning and Engineering Services (Planungs- und Ingenieurleistungen). The company is organized as a corporate group with several subsidiaries including TS-Bau GmbH, TS Technologie + Service GmbH, OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH, THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU IBERIA LDA, and TOO SCHACHTBAU KASACHSTAN. Operations span 51 countries with approximately 1,700 employees, serving clients in mining, infrastructure (tunneling), and energy sectors including geothermy and pumped storage power plants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Schachtbau (Shaft Construction) Vertical shaft construction and excavation services for mining operations, including sinking, lining, and shaft conversion for mine water management systems.
• Bergbaudienstleistungen (Mining Services) Comprehensive underground mining services including roadway development, logistics, infrastructure, coal/mineral extraction operations, mine water management, and shaft conversion for mining companies.
• Bohrtechnik – Oberfläche und Untertage (Drilling Technology – Surface and Underground) Exploration and production drilling services for both surface and underground applications, including vertical wireline core drilling and horizontal directional drilling up to 2,500 meters, serving mineral exploration and infrastructure projects.
• Gefrier- und Injektionsverfahren (Freezing and Injection Methods) Ground freezing and injection techniques for shaft construction in challenging geological conditions, providing ground stabilization for excavation work in difficult environments.
• Planungs- und Ingenieurleistungen (Planning and Engineering Services) Engineering and planning services for mining and infrastructure projects, including technical planning, project management, and consultation services delivered from the company's central technical offices.
• OLKO Hoisting Technology (via OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH) Intelligent hoisting winders, high-performance and high-speed winders, mobile frictional winches, and mine winder braking systems with SIL3 certification, manufactured by subsidiary OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbH for mining and shaft hoisting applications.
• TS BAU GmbH Construction and Mine Rehabilitation Services Construction services and mine rehabilitation delivered by subsidiary TS Bau GmbH, including shaft construction, infrastructure projects, and educational outreach.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully completed 13,000+ meters of tunnel excavation and 2 shafts (250m each) at Semmering Base Tunnel
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ImpleniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner with THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU and HOCHTIEF for construction of Lot SBT1.1 of the Semmering Base Tunnel in Austria (7.3 km from Gloggnitz). Joint execution of one of Europe's most important infrastructure projects.
• HOCHTIEFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium partner with THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU and Implenia for construction of Lot SBT1.1 of the Semmering Base Tunnel in Austria. Joint execution of tunnel excavation under difficult geological conditions.
• German Mining Solution GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner with THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU for underground limestone quarry construction at Rheinkalk Flandersbach plant. German Mining Solution had previously worked on construction of access portals.
• TS Technologie + Service GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal subsidiary handling equipment assembly and technical services including assembly of working platform at Friedrich Thyssen 4 project. Part of integrated group operations.
• OLKO-Maschinentechnik GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary specializing in hoisting winders, bobbins, and shaft hoisting technology. Produces intelligent conveyor machines including high-performance winders and mobile frictional winches. Equipment used across group projects.
• TS BAU GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSubsidiary handling construction services and mine rehabilitation. Conducts educational outreach programs and executes construction projects including cable replacement and shaft work.
• BG RCI (Employers' Liability Insurance Association)minorOthersGerman employers' liability insurance association for mining that conducts safety training courses including tripping hazard courses for THYSSEN SCHACHTBAU employees.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Macmahon Holdings: Australian mining contractor with diversified underground and surface mining services, comparable in scale and customer base to Thyssen Schachtbau's mining services division.
• Barminco (Perenti): Large underground mining services provider part of Perenti, offering broader mining services portfolio that includes shaft sinking and raise boring alongside production drilling and bulk earthworks.

Direct peers

• Byrnecut Group: Underground mining contractor offering mine development, production, and shaft-related services to a global mining customer base, overlapping with Thyssen Schachtbau's mining services line.
• Redpath Mining: Global shaft sinking, raise boring, and underground mining contractor with directly comparable service lines (shaft construction, mine development) and a similar enterprise/mining customer base spanning multiple continents.
• Master Drilling Group: Specialist raise boring and drilling contractor offering directly comparable services (raise boring up to 700m+ depth, shaft construction), with similar exposure to global mining customers.
• Implenia: Swiss construction and tunneling contractor — consortium partner with Thyssen Schachtbau on Semmering Base Tunnel — with directly comparable underground construction capabilities for rail and infrastructure projects.
• Deilmann-Haniel: Historic German mining services and shaft construction specialist with overlapping shaft sinking, roadway development, and mine water management capabilities, sharing the German mining-services heritage.
• Cementation (Murray & Roberts): Shaft sinking and underground construction specialist with direct overlap in vertical shaft construction, mine infrastructure, and raise boring for global mining clients.
• DMC Mining Services: North American shaft sinking, raise boring, and underground construction contractor serving mining clients with comparable specialty services in difficult geological conditions.

Others

• Herrenknecht AG: Manufacturer of TBMs, raise boring rigs (RBR400VF/RBR300S — both supplied to Thyssen Schachtbau), and shaft construction equipment. An equipment supplier rather than direct services competitor, but a key ecosystem partner and adjacent value-chain participant.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thyssen-schachtbau
• Facebookfacebook.com/thyssenschachtbau

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH