Pfaffinger

What Pfaffinger does

Pfaffinger is a fifth-generation family-owned German construction group headquartered in Passau, Bavaria, operating through Pfaffinger Bau SE and six wholly-owned subsidiaries. Founded in 1855, the company reported €170 million in annual revenue and approximately 750 employees across nine German office and production locations. Its business spans six divisions: Hochbau (building construction), Ingenieurbau (civil engineering, concrete construction, concrete restoration, noise protection), Rohrleitungs-/Netzbau (pipeline and network construction for gas, cable, district heating, water, and wastewater), Grabenlose Bauweisen and Saugbaggertechnik (trenchless and suction excavation methods), Anlagenbau & Energietechnik (industrial plant construction and energy systems including hydrogen), and Rohrnetz- & Sanierungstechnik (sewer network cleaning, inspection, and rehabilitation) plus Bohrtechnik (horizontal directional drilling).

The company's technology stack centers on specialized civil engineering methods rather than software, including horizontal directional drilling up to 1,000m length and 800mm diameter, trenchless pipe rehabilitation via press/pull (GN 1), pipe bursting (GN 3), and relining (R 2/R 3) methods, gas pressure regulation systems certified under DVGW G 493-1 (covering natural gas, biogas, and hydrogen), and certified sewer rehabilitation using GFK-Schlauchrelining, robot-assisted systems, and various liner technologies. The company holds DVGW certifications dating back to 1964 for water and 1974 for gas, Güteschutz Kanalbau AK1 certification, AGFW FW 601 for district heating, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and AMS BAU for occupational safety.

Pfaffinger operates a relationship-driven, project-based B2B revenue model targeting five primary verticals: public sector/municipalities (Stadtwerke, Landeshauptstadt Stuttgart, Wasserwirtschaftsamt Weiden), energy utilities (bayernets, Energienetze Bayern, Open Grid Europe, MVV Netze), industrial companies (Wacker Chemie), railway operators (Deutsche Bahn), and telecommunications (Deutsche Telekom). Revenue is generated through public tenders, negotiated framework agreements with multi-year horizons, and private construction contracts. The company converted its parent entity from a GmbH to a Societas Europaea (SE) in 2023 and has no external institutional ownership.

Name

Pfaffinger

Legal name

Pfaffinger Unternehmensgruppe

Website

https://pfaffinger.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1855

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Pfaffinger is a fifth-generation family-owned German construction group headquartered in Passau, specializing in civil engineering, pipeline construction, trenchless rehabilitation, and industrial plant construction. It serves energy utilities, municipalities, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, and industrial clients through nine German locations, reporting €170M in annual revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering and Infrastructure Construction

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Civil & Site Works EPC (Earthworks, Roads, Drainage, Foundations) (EUAEADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG)

Keywords

• Civil engineering services
• Pipeline construction services
• Sewer rehabilitation solutions
• Horizontal directional drilling
• Energy infrastructure construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Passau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction Services: General construction and civil engineering services including Hochbau (building construction), Ingenieurbau (civil engineering), Rohrleitungsbau (pipeline construction), and specialized services. Revenue generated from project-based contracts, annual framework agreements, and public tenders. Major revenue streams include gas pipeline construction, water supply systems, sewage treatment plants, industrial plants, and building construction.
2. Pipeline Network Construction: Construction and maintenance of gas, water, sewage, and cable pipeline networks. Services include new installations, rehabilitation using trenchless technologies, and ongoing maintenance contracts.
3. Plant Construction & Energy Systems: Design, fabrication, and construction of industrial plants including gas pressure regulation systems, hydrogen facilities, district heating/cooling systems, and industrial piping. Includes planning, production, execution, documentation and commissioning services.
4. Sewer Network Services: Cleaning, inspection, and rehabilitation of sewage networks using camera systems and specialized rehabilitation technologies. Includes ongoing maintenance contracts with municipalities.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Pfaffinger is a German family-owned construction group that delivers civil engineering, building construction, pipeline network construction, sewer rehabilitation, horizontal directional drilling, and industrial plant and energy technology services. The company serves municipalities, energy utilities, Deutsche Bahn, Deutsche Telekom, and industrial firms through direct contracts, framework agreements, and public tenders across Germany, with specialized expertise in DVGW-certified gas and water pipeline construction, trenchless rehabilitation, and hydrogen infrastructure.

Product overview

Pfaffinger Unternehmensgruppe is a fifth-generation family-owned construction company founded in 1855, operating as a unified enterprise with multiple specialized business divisions. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of construction and engineering services organized into six main divisions: (1) Hochbau (Building Construction) for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings including turnkey and renovation projects; (2) Ingenieurbau (Civil Engineering) comprising Betonbau (concrete construction), Betoninstandsetzung (concrete restoration), and Lärmschutz (noise protection); (3) Rohrleitungs-/Netzbau (Pipeline/Network Construction) covering Gasleitungsbau (gas pipelines), Kabelleitungsbau (cable ducts), Fernwärmeleitungsbau (district heating), Wasserleitungsbau (water pipelines), Abwasserleitungsbau (wastewater), Grabenlose Bauweisen (trenchless methods), and Saugbaggertechnik (suction dredging); (4) Anlagenbau & Energietechnik (Plant Construction & Energy Technology) for industrial plants and energy systems; (5) Rohrnetz- & Sanierungstechnik (Pipe Network Renovation) for wastewater canal rehabilitation; and (6) Bohrtechnik (Drilling Technology) for horizontal directional drilling. The company operates primarily in southern Germany with locations in Passau (headquarters), Leipzig, Munich, Berlin, Stuttgart, and Iggensbach, employing approximately 750 people with annual revenues of 170 million EUR.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hochbau (Building Construction) Residential and commercial building construction services including turnkey construction, shell construction, building in existing structures, modernization, and renovation for developers, housing companies, and private clients.
• Ingenieurbau / Betonbau (Civil Engineering and Concrete Construction) Specialized civil engineering services for bridges, water treatment plants, railway overpasses, and technical structures including concrete construction with decades of experience executing complex civil engineering structures.
• Betoninstandsetzung (Concrete Restoration) Specialized restoration of concrete structures using surface protection systems up to cathodic corrosion protection, serving underground garages, parking structures, and drinking water reservoirs. Certified to DVGW W 316 as one of very few specialist companies for drinking water reservoir restoration.
• Lärmschutz (Noise Protection) Design and construction of noise barriers using various materials including highly absorbing aluminum wall elements for railway noise remediation programs.
• Gasleitungsbau (Gas Pipeline Construction) Gas pipeline construction certified by DVGW since 1974, executing low, medium, and high-pressure pipelines in all nominal widths, materials, and pressure stages, including hydrogen pipeline projects for energy transition.
• Kabelleitungsbau (Cable Duct Construction) Construction of cable infrastructure for low and medium voltage systems as well as broadband expansion (FTTH deployments), including HDD horizontal directional drilling projects for telecom providers such as Deutsche Telekom.
• Fernwärmeleitungsbau (District Heating Construction) District heating pipeline construction certified according to AGFW FW 601, executing heating water and steam systems with plastic and steel casing pipes of all nominal sizes, design temperatures, and pressure levels.
• Wasserleitungsbau (Water Pipeline Construction) Water pipeline construction certified by DVGW since 1964, executing water supply systems in all pressure stages, nominal widths, and materials, with over 2,500 km of water pipeline constructed.
• Abwasserleitungsbau (Wastewater Pipeline Construction) Wastewater pipeline construction with Güteschutz Kanalbau membership since 2001 at the highest AK 1 certification level, executing large-scale canal construction projects nationwide with over 100 wastewater treatment plants constructed.
• Grabenlose Bauweisen (Trenchless Construction Methods) Trenchless pipe replacement and rehabilitation services including press/pull method (GN 1), pipe bursting (GN 3), relining with annular space (R 2), and relining without annular space (R 3), certified by DVGW, for pipe diameters up to DN 1600 and lengths up to 1000m.
• Saugbaggertechnik (Suction Dredging Technology)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 wastewater treatment plants constructed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BeermanncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Joint venture founded in 2010 to create PFAFFINGER BEERMANN PB Drill- & Energietechnik GmbH, enhancing Pfaffinger's trenchless construction capabilities through horizontal drilling technology. The company has established itself quickly with multiple drilling rigs.
• Sewerin GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988Joint venture partnership established in 1988 to found Rohrnetz-Service GmbH (later merged into Pfaffinger Rohrnetz- und Sanierungstechnik GmbH) for leak detection and water pipe rehabilitation services. This partnership established Pfaffinger's pipe network rehabilitation division.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves18 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Max Bögl Bauservice GmbH & Co. KG: Large Bavarian family-owned construction group with civil engineering, pipeline, building and infrastructure divisions; comparable mix of Hochbau + Ingenieurbau + Rohrleitungsbau with similar Bavarian concentration.
• Leonhard Weiss GmbH & Co. KG: Mid-sized German family-owned construction group operating across road/bridge construction, pipeline/duct construction, building construction and civil engineering — the closest direct comparable to Pfaffinger's diversified Tiefbau + Hochbau portfolio in southern Germany.
• Swietelsky AG: Austrian family-controlled construction firm with comparable Tiefbau, pipeline, civil engineering, and building-construction divisions operating across DACH; closest scale and ownership-profile analog to Pfaffinger outside Germany.
• Matthäi Bauunternehmen GmbH & Co. KG: German family-owned civil engineering, road and pipeline construction group with similar regional footprint in Lower Saxony/Bavaria; directly comparable service portfolio including pipeline, sewer, civil engineering and building construction.
• Kirchner Bau GmbH & Co. KG: German mid-market construction company active in pipeline construction, civil engineering, and turnkey infrastructure projects with comparable southern-German footprint and customer base.
• HEITKAMP Unternehmensgruppe: German civil engineering and infrastructure contractor with strong trenchless-construction and pipeline-network focus; directly comparable to Pfaffinger's Rohrleitungs-/Netzbau and Rohrnetz-Sanierungstechnik divisions.

Broad incumbents

• HOCHTIEF AG: German-listed construction incumbent active in civil engineering, building and infrastructure; overlaps with Pfaffinger on bridge/rail and pipeline projects but operates at much greater scale across multiple continents.
• STRABAG AG: Austrian/European construction incumbent operating across building, civil engineering, pipeline, and transportation infrastructure with much greater scale; competes for the same public tenders but offers a far broader portfolio than Pfaffinger.

Emerging players

• Hermann Sewerin GmbH: German specialist in water-leak detection and pipeline-rehabilitation equipment; Pfaffinger's 1988 JV partner that co-founded Rohrnetz-Service GmbH and remains an ecosystem partner in trenchless water-pipe rehabilitation.
• Beermann Holding GmbH: Partner in PFAFFINGER BEERMANN PB Drill- & Energietechnik GmbH (founded 2010); provides horizontal directional drilling services and overlaps with Pfaffinger's Bohrtechnik division in HDD/microtunneling work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCArDGBQxr2z_oYRDe4_hGPA
• Facebookfacebook.com/pfaffinger.unternehmensgruppe
• LinkedInde.linkedin.com/company/pfaffinger
• Instagraminstagram.com/pfaffinger_unternehmensgruppe/?hl=de
• TikToktiktok.com/@pfaffinger_bau

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries7 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 Pfaffinger