What Schmid Automation AG does

Schmid Automation AG is a Swiss-headquartered industrial automation system integrator founded in 1958, with operations in St. Gallen (Switzerland) and Augsburg (Germany). The company delivers holistic automation solutions for the process industry across the full project lifecycle — from concept planning and consulting, through electrical engineering (EPlan Electric P8, Pro Panel, eVIEW), PLC programming and process control (Siemens, automationX aX5, ProLeiT, Rockwell, AVEVA), to switchgear manufacturing via partner Högger Urban & Infra and on-site commissioning worldwide. Its primary customer base is European mid-market enterprises in grain processing (maltings, mills), beverages (breweries), food production (dairy, confectionery, bakery), life sciences, and public infrastructure (wastewater, energy).

The company generates revenue predominantly through professional services engagements: long-duration, quote-based custom automation projects with durations of months to years, complemented by managed-service digitalization contracts (including SLA-based maintenance) and hardware revenue from partner-manufactured switchgear. Following the 2022 management buy-out by Simon Sauter, Schmid Automation has explicitly pivoted toward digitalization: a dedicated Digitalization department was created in 2024 (led by Pascal Kolb), the company became an iDIP no-code/low-code platform partner in 2025, and vertical-specific packaged solutions (e.g., cheese dairy digitalization, OEE Cockpit for ORIOR Group) have been launched. Go-to-market is B2B enterprise field sales with named senior consultants (Marcel Fust in Switzerland, Marc Diesing in Germany), supported by free digitalization and energy-management workshops, a German/English website, and selective industry event presence. The company holds ISO 9001 certification and operates with an estimated 30-50 FTE across two countries.

Name

Schmid Automation AG

Legal name

SCHMID AUTOMATION AG

Website

https://schmidautomation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1958

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Schmid Automation AG is a Swiss industrial automation system integrator, founded 1958, delivering end-to-end process automation, electrical engineering, and digitalization services to mid-market enterprises in grain processing, beverages, food, life sciences, and public infrastructure across Europe and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Automation Services

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)

akta.pro primary industry

Control System Integration & Engineering Services (Design, Commissioning, Retrofits) (IMAGABAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial Automation Software (SCADA, HMI, MES, Historian) (IMAHAHAJ), Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC), SCADA, Instrumentation & Controls Integration for Water/Wastewater Projects (IMAFAGAK)

Keywords

• Process automation systems
• Industrial control engineering
• PLC programming services
• MES implementation
• Switchgear manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Gallen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Automation project services: Full-service automation projects from concept design through commissioning. Includes concept planning, electrical engineering, software engineering (PLC programming), switchgear manufacturing, installation, and on-site services. Projects are typically custom, one-time engagements with durations ranging from months to years.
2. Digitalization and MES solutions: Digitalization workshops (1-day format), MES implementation projects, and digitalization platform integration services. Includes ongoing service contracts (SLA) for cyclical maintenance of IT infrastructure and applications.
3. Switchgear and control panels: Custom switchgear combinations manufactured by partner Högger Urban & Infra for industrial systems, machines, and low-voltage distribution. Includes individual production, prototype construction, and series production.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schmid Automation AG is an independent system integrator delivering holistic automation and digitalization solutions for process industries. Its services span concept planning and consulting, electrical engineering, process automation (PLC programming and software engineering), switchgear and control-panel manufacturing, on-site installation, commissioning, and ongoing managed-services support. Customers are industrial enterprises in beverages, grain processing, food, life sciences, and public infrastructure primarily in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, and additional international markets.

Product overview

Schmid Automation AG is a leading independent system integrator for holistic automation and digitalization systems in the process industry. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of services spanning the entire project lifecycle from concept design through commissioning. Core service offerings include: (1) Concept Design and Consulting, which provides project initiation, requirements analysis, and MES consulting using their proprietary 'Road to MES' methodology; (2) Electrical Engineering using EPlan tools for documentation and design; (3) Process Automation and Software Engineering implementing PLC programming, visualization, and process control systems using standard industry platforms (Siemens, automationX, ProLeiT, Rockwell Automation, AVEVA); (4) Digitalization and Data Integration using iDIP no-code/low-code platform, node.js/React, MS SQL/PostgreSQL databases, and Qlik BI tools; (5) Switchgear and Control Panel manufacturing through partner Högger Urban & Infra; and (6) On-Site Services for installation, assembly, and commissioning. Specialized offerings include digitalization workshops, energy management system workshops, the Digital Plant Maturity Model assessment tool, and OEE Cockpit for production effectiveness monitoring. The company operates from St. Gallen, Switzerland and Augsburg, Germany, serving customers worldwide in grain processing, beverages, life sciences, food, and public infrastructure industries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced error rates through one-source solution eliminating interfaces
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration10 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• iDIPcoreTechnology or Integration · 26 March 2025Schmid Automation is an iDIP partner and experienced system integrator, serving as a reliable contact for digital transformation. iDIP is a no-code and low-code platform used for implementing digitalization projects including their first iDIP application at Güntensperger Käse AG.
• Högger Systems AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 September 2023Schmid Automation AG and Högger Systems AG have maintained a business relationship for several years. In 2023, they deepened their collaboration. Högger Urban & Infra (formerly Schmid Schaltanlagen AG, rebranded in 2023) serves as strategic and exclusive supplier of switchgear combinations for Schmid Automation AG.
• IDS Schweiz AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with IDS Schweiz AG for network control technology projects. Won contract in 2016 for migration/updating of entire network control technology for Gemeindewerke Pfäffikon.
• Siemens Mobility AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubcontractor for Siemens Mobility AG on ventilation systems for the Ceneri Base Tunnel. Schmid Automation provided control systems for the operational ventilation.
• J&E Maier AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEquipment supplier and engineering partner for biopharmaceutical projects. J&E Maier AG supplies plant components (e.g., pomace conveyor system for Bioforce AG).
• ROLECminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEquipment supplier for brewing projects. ROLEC supplies plant sections such as malt storage silos with grinding, CIP plants, 4-vessel brewing systems, and other equipment to breweries that Schmid Automation then automates.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Siemens AG (Digital Industries / Process Automation): Global industrial automation incumbent whose Siemens S7/TIA Portal PLCs and PCS 7 process control systems are explicitly used by Schmid Automation on customer projects. Competes broadly for large-scale automation contracts but lacks Schmid's boutique, full-lifecycle integration focus for mid-market F&B and grain processors in DACH.
• ABB Ltd: Swiss-headquartered automation and process control incumbent offering ABB Ability System 800xA and a global systems integration network. Overlaps with Schmid in process automation projects for breweries, malting, and water/wastewater, particularly in the Swiss and German markets.
• Rockwell Automation: US industrial automation major whose Allen-Bradley ControlLogix/CompactLogix PLCs Schmid adopted to enter the US market in 2008. Competes as both a platform vendor and integrator in regulated process industries, providing direct overlap on Rockwell-based automation projects.
• AVEVA Group: Industrial software and SCADA/DCS platform provider (Wonderware, AVEVA Plant SCADA, Historian) that Schmid integrates into customer projects. Competes at the software-platform layer and through its own system integrator network for process-industry digitalization work.
• Schneider Electric: Global automation and energy management major offering EcoStruxure, Modicon PLCs, and process automation solutions used in food/beverage and water/wastewater facilities. Direct competitor for SCADA, control, and energy management projects where Schmid also delivers EnMS workshops.
• GEA Group AG: German process engineering and equipment supplier with deep focus on food, beverage, and dairy customers. Provides both process equipment and automation solutions directly to the same breweries, dairies, and food producers that comprise Schmid Automation's core customer base.

Direct peers

• ATS Automation Tooling Systems: Canadian-headquartered automation systems integrator delivering custom, full-lifecycle automation solutions for regulated process industries including food, beverage, and life sciences. Closely comparable business model to Schmid: project-based integration, MES/controls, and commissioning services for enterprise customers.

Emerging players

• COPA-DATA / zenon: Austrian SCADA/HMI software vendor (zenon) with its own integrator ecosystem serving brewery, food, and energy customers in Europe. Provides comparable process-control software and partner-channel business model that competes for similar mid-market process-industry automation spend.
• KISTERS AG: German vendor of KISTERS Vision, a SCADA/MES platform widely used in water/wastewater, renewable energy, and resource-management applications. Competes with Schmid for municipal-infrastructure automation projects (ARA Lauterbrunnen, Abwasserverband Altenrhein type deployments).
• ProLeiT AG: German process automation specialist focused on the brewing and beverage industry with its own integrated MES/process-control platform. Provides a competing software-plus-services stack to one of Schmid's strongest verticals (breweries such as Heineken Chur, Brouwerij Frontaal, Thatchers).

Market position

Strengths3 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/schmidautomation
• LinkedInch.linkedin.com/company/schmidag

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries2 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 Schmid Automation AG