What TK Consult does

TK CONSULT AG is a Swiss specialist engineering consultancy headquartered in Zurich that has delivered numerical modelling services in hydrogeology and hydraulics since its founding in 1995 by Dr. Jürg Trösch and Dr. Uli Kuhlmann following their research at the ETH Zurich VAW laboratory. The firm designs, calibrates, and applies 2D and 3D groundwater flow and transport models, 1D/2D/3D surface water hydraulic models, multiphase 3D CFD simulations, and hydrothermal geothermal models, alongside inverse/automatic model calibration integrated into commercial software packages such as SPRING and FLUX/FLORIS. A flagship capability is a real-time groundwater management system combining 3D flow models, ensemble Kalman filter data assimilation, evolutionary optimization algorithms, and web-based decision support, deployed since 2008 for Wasserversorgung Zürich's Hardhof works with greater than 99 percent availability and renewed in April 2026 after a five-year redevelopment.

The company serves a predominantly Swiss public-sector and regulated-industrial customer base, including municipal water utilities (Wasserversorgung Zürich, IWB Basel), cantonal and federal authorities (BFE, ASTRA, Kanton Thurgau, Kanton Basel-Stadt, Kanton Jura, IRKA), and selected industrial buyers (Grob Gemüse AG, Lindt & Sprüngli, Blum, BKW), with episodic international projects in Austria, Germany, and China. Revenue is generated through project-based professional-services engagements and recurring real-time system operations and maintenance contracts, with no self-serve or reseller channels. TK CONSULT AG has been a wholly owned subsidiary of HOLINGER AG since 2016, operating independently with the current CEO Stephan Suter (effective February 2025) and a board comprising HOLINGER executives; the firm is ISO 9001:2015 certified since February 2019 and employs a team of roughly 1-10 specialists.

Name

TK Consult

Legal name

TK CONSULT AG

Website

https://tkconsult.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

TK CONSULT AG is a Zurich-based specialist engineering consultancy, founded in 1995, that delivers numerical modelling services in hydrogeology, hydraulics, CFD, and geothermal energy for Swiss municipalities, cantonal and federal authorities, and selected industrial clients. The firm operates as an independent subsidiary of HOLINGER AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydrogeology and Hydraulic Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Water, Wastewater & Hydraulics Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydraulic Modeling & System Optimization (Calibration, Minimum Night Flow, Demand Analysis) (EUANAKAM), Groundwater & Contaminant Fate/Transport Modeling (MODFLOW/MT3D, Plume Modeling) (EUAHAKAG), Water Quality & Watershed/Hydrologic Modeling (SWMM/HEC-RAS, Flood/Runoff/Nutrient) (EUAHAKAF)

Keywords

• Numerical groundwater modelling
• Hydrogeology consulting
• Hydraulic engineering services
• Computational fluid dynamics
• Real-time water forecasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering Consulting Services: TK Consult generates revenue through project-based consulting engagements involving numerical modelling for groundwater and surface water. Services are commissioned by municipalities, cantons, federal agencies, industry, and engineering firms. Engagements include one-time studies as well as ongoing monitoring and real-time system maintenance contracts.
2. Real-Time System Operations & Maintenance: Ongoing operational support and maintenance of deployed real-time groundwater management systems, generating recurring service revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

TK Consult provides specialist numerical modelling consulting for groundwater flow and transport, surface water hydraulics, computational fluid dynamics, and geothermal energy systems. Services include 2D/3D groundwater models with inverse calibration, surface water hydraulic modelling (1D/2D/3D) including flood and sediment transport, 3D CFD multiphase simulations for hydraulic structures, and real-time groundwater management systems that deliver daily operational recommendations to water utilities. The firm also offers training courses and operates deployed systems on a recurring maintenance basis.

Product overview

TK Consult AG offers a suite of numerical modelling services for hydrogeology and hydraulics, organized around three core pillars: (1) Groundwater Modelling Services using SPRING/FEFLOW for 2D/3D flow and transport models with inverse parameter calibration; (2) Surface Water Modelling Services including hydraulic 1D/2D/3D modelling, sediment transport, morphodynamics, and flood simulation; and (3) CFD Simulation Services for urban drainage systems, hydraulic structures, and industrial applications using multiphase (water/air) models. These are complemented by Realtime Systems (online models with Ensemble-Kalman Filter assimilation and evolutionary optimization algorithms), Geothermal Energy Modelling (3D hydrothermal simulation), Transport Modelling (for contamination and protection zones), and Training Courses. All offerings are delivered as consultancy services rather than packaged software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Groundwater Modelling Services Set-up, calibration, and application of numerical flow and transport models in porous media including 2D and 3D groundwater models using SPRING/FEFLOW, 1D and 2D hydraulic models for groundwater-surface-water interactions, and inverse automatic parameter fitting.
• Surface Water Modelling Services Hydraulic 1D/2D/3D modelling, sediment and suspended transport, morphologic development, ecological habitat modelling, hazard and risk analysis, flood simulation, and hydrology (rainfall-runoff models).
• CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) Simulation 3D CFD multiphase modelling (water/air) for hydraulic structures, urban drainage systems, fish passes, vortex dropshafts, ozonation reactors, retention basins, distribution structures, and sediment transport simulations.
• Real-Time Groundwater Management Systems Integrated real-time systems with web interface combining data assimilation methods (Ensemble-Kalman Filter), evolutionary optimization methods, and long-term storage concepts to provide daily operational recommendations for groundwater recharge optimization and numerical system monitoring.
• Geothermal Energy Modelling Simulation of deep geothermal energy systems including 3D hydrothermal groundwater modelling, temperature distribution in aquifers, thermal groundwater usage for heat pumps and cooling, and derivation of heat potential maps.
• Transport Modelling Inverse transport simulations for calculation of protection zones, hydrogeological quantification of polluted areas and remediation measures, including multiphase-multicomponent simulations for groundwater contamination (e.g., PCE polluted sites using iTOUGH2).
• Training Courses Training courses for international skilled employees covering theory of numerical groundwater models, set-up, inverse fitting and validation of groundwater models.

Quantifiable outcome

• Real-time groundwater model in continuous operation since 2008 with >99% availability, providing daily operational recommendations for artificial groundwater recharge.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HOLINGER AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTK Consult has been a wholly owned subsidiary of HOLINGER AG since 2016. The acquisition was part of a succession plan. TK Consult operates independently while developing synergies within the HOLINGER Group. Board members include HOLINGER AG executives.
• ETH Zurich (VAW Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research partnership with ETH Zurich's Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW). Founders came from ETH research. Jointly developed the real-time groundwater management system with the Institute of Environmental Engineering Sciences. Continued collaboration includes thesis supervision and student projects.
• Wasserversorgung Zürich (WVZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-term collaboration since 2005-2008 developing the real-time groundwater management system for Zurich's Hardhof groundwater works. TK Consult has operated and maintained the system since 2008. Updated real-time system released in April 2026.
• University of Bern (Institute of Geology)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on geothermal modelling projects including the Schlattingen project. University Bern adapted the conceptual model incorporating reactive transport modelling, and collaborated on recalibration of hydrothermal models.
• Enevista Energy AG (Frauenfeld)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated with TK Consult and University of Bern on integrating hydrochemical and hydrogeological modelling concepts for the Schlattingen geothermal project commissioned by the Thurgau Energy office.
• SWISSWATER AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint commission with TK Consult to optimize groundwater management in Jinan, China. SWISSWATER AG led the overall project while TK Consult provided numerical modelling expertise.
• delta h (SPRING software developer)coreTechnology or IntegrationLong-term partnership spanning decades. TK Consult's inverse modelling methodology was integrated into SPRING groundwater software. Delta h provides software development and interfaces. TK Consult presented coupling of SPRING with C source codes for real-time modelling at SPRING user conferences.
• Schweizerische Gesellschaft für Hydrogeologie (SGH)minorOthersProfessional association membership providing network access and industry visibility.
• Fachsektion Hydrogeologie e.V. (FH-DGGV)minorOthersProfessional association membership within German Geological Society.
• Geothermie-Schweiz / Geothermie-SuisseminorOthersSwiss geothermal energy association membership providing industry network and advocacy.
• hydrosuisse (formerly Wasserwirtschaftsverband)minorOthersSwiss water management association membership.
• RheinverbandminorOthersRhine basin water management association membership.
• Verband Schweizer Abwasser- und Gewässerschutzfachleute (VSA)minorOthersSwiss association for wastewater and water protection professionals. TK Consult presents at VSA symposia.
• suisse.ing (Schweizerische Vereinigung Beratender Ingenieurunternehmungen)minorOthersSwiss association of consulting engineering companies membership.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• HOLINGER AG: Parent company of TK Consult and a full-service Swiss engineering consultancy covering water, environment, infrastructure, and energy. Overlaps on hydrogeology and water-resources consulting but operates across a much broader portfolio of civil and environmental engineering.
• DHI Group: Global water-modelling powerhouse providing MIKE suite software (hydrodynamics, groundwater, coastal) and consulting services. Stephan Suter previously led Swiss-wide lake-regulation work for FOEN at DHI and brings that tradition to TK Consult.
• Pöyry / AFRY: Large Nordic engineering consultancy with a significant water and environment practice, including hydropower, dam, and groundwater modelling across Europe. Comparable to TK Consult on hydropower fish-pass and dam-safety CFD work but at much broader scale.
• Sweco AB: European engineering consultancy with deep water-management capabilities across hydrology, hydrogeology, and flood modelling. Overlaps with TK Consult on Swiss and broader European water-engineering projects, particularly on hydraulic structures and flood risk.
• Ramboll Group: Global engineering, design, and consultancy firm with a strong water-and-environment practice serving utilities and governments on hydrogeology, flood modelling, and climate adaptation. Comparable buyer/competitor set to TK Consult in DACH/Europe.

Direct peers

• delta h Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH: Developer of the SPRING groundwater simulation software and a long-standing technology partner of TK Consult. delta h operates in the same niche of numerical groundwater and surface water modelling and is the closest direct counterpart in product/methodology.
• INTERA Incorporated: International hydrogeology and geosciences consultancy with expertise in groundwater flow and contaminant transport modelling, including iTOUGH2 (used by TK Consult on the Canton of Jura PCE site). CEO Stephan Suter worked at INTERA before joining TK Consult.
• hydrogeologie + angewandte Umwelttechnik GmbH (hpu): German specialist hydrogeology consultancy focused on groundwater modelling, pumping-test analysis, and contaminant transport. Comparable in scale, methodology, and customer base (public authorities and industrial water users) to TK Consult.

Emerging players

• Photrack AG: Swiss specialist in image-based and particle-tracking flow measurement used to validate CFD simulations. Partnered with TK Consult and HOLINGER AG on distribution-structure validation projects, overlapping on hydraulic structure verification.

Others

• Eawag (Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology): Swiss water-research institute that hosts CH-GNet and co-presents with TK Consult at Hardhof events. Functions as an upstream research partner and indirect credibility source rather than a commercial competitor, but its research output sets the scientific standard TK Consult's methodology must meet.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tk-consult-ag

Compliance1 record

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 TK Consult