Stirnimann

What Stirnimann does

Stirnimann AG is a Swiss family-owned distributor of construction machinery and lifting equipment founded in 1915, headquartered in Olten, Switzerland. The company operates six branch locations across Switzerland (four), Austria (one) and Denmark (one), serving as the official general representative for premium global OEMs including POTAIN (tower cranes), GROVE (mobile cranes), JLG (aerial work platforms), Multitel Pagliero (truck-mounted platforms) and AlmaCrawler (tracked aerial platforms). Its customer base is concentrated in construction firms, industrial companies, and government bodies (notably industrial firefighters), supported by named long-term accounts such as Wilhelm Büchel, Emil Egger, Friderici, and Frutiger.

The company's offering spans four integrated revenue streams: equipment sales, equipment rental, after-sales service and spare parts, and specialist operator training delivered through its accredited Kran-Akademie. Technology deployed is largely OEM-sourced — telematics such as Manitowoc's POTAIN CONNECT/GROVE CONNECT for fleet visibility, and proprietary mechanical innovations like the GAPO tandem rear-axle system on select vehicles — combined with Stirnimann's own service and training infrastructure. Go-to-market is direct field sales across six physical locations with quote-based pricing across both capital sales and recurring rental/service contracts.

Stirnimann is family-controlled, with Katharina Lichtner as Owner and Board President and Pascal Möckli as CEO; in April 2025 Möckli was elected president of the Swiss construction machinery industry association VSBM. The firm has executed incremental geographic expansion via wholly-owned subsidiaries in Austria (2013) and Denmark (2021), added new OEM representations (Multitel Pagliero 2019, AlmaCrawler 2022), opened a Schaffhausen branch in July 2025, and won the JLG Dealer of the Year 2023 award. Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company reports 51–100 employees across the group.

Name

Stirnimann

Legal name

Stirnimann AG

Website

https://stirnimann.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1915

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Stirnimann AG is a Swiss family-owned distributor of cranes and aerial work platforms, official general representative for POTAIN, GROVE, JLG, Multitel Pagliero and AlmaCrawler across Switzerland, Austria and Denmark, serving construction, industrial and government customers via sales, rental, service and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Machinery Distribution

NAICS

Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

SIC

Wholesale-Construction & Mining (No Petro) Machinery & Equip (5082)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tower Cranes (IMAHAJAB), Mobile & Crawler Cranes (IMAHAJAA), Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD), Cranes, Hoists & Rigging Equipment MRO (Mobile/Tower Cranes, Winches) (TLAKAHAE)

Keywords

• Tower crane distribution
• Mobile crane sales
• Aerial work platforms
• Construction equipment rental
• Crane assembly service

Headquarters

HQ city

Olten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of new construction machinery including tower cranes, mobile cranes, and aerial work platforms from premium brands (POTAIN, GROVE, JLG, Multitel Pagliero, AlmaCrawler)
2. Equipment Rental: Rental of construction machinery including tower cranes and mobile cranes. The company maintains a rental fleet across Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark.
3. Service, Maintenance, and Spare Parts: Comprehensive after-sales service including regular maintenance, repairs, crane assembly/disassembly, and spare parts supply for all equipment brands
4. Specialist Training Services: Training services for crane operators and construction workers including SUVA-certified safety courses and operator certifications, often in partnership with HFS competency center

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Stirnimann distributes, rents, and services premium construction machinery — POTAIN tower cranes, GROVE mobile cranes, JLG and Multitel Pagliero aerial work platforms, and AlmaCrawler self-leveling platforms — across Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark. The company delivers complete lifting solutions including equipment sales, rental fleet, professional assembly and disassembly, scheduled maintenance and repairs, spare parts supply, operator training, and specialized complex-location crane assembly (mountain sites, helicopter/cable car transport).

Product overview

Stirnimann is a construction equipment company offering a portfolio of crane and aerial work platform solutions. The core offering consists of tower/construction cranes (Baukrane) from POTAIN, mobile cranes from GROVE, and aerial work platforms from JLG, Multitel Pagliero, and AlmaCrawler. The company operates on a purchase and rental model, providing equipment sales, rentals, and comprehensive services including assembly, maintenance, repairs, and spare parts. They serve customers in Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark through multiple branch locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Baukrane (Tower Cranes) Sales and rental of tower cranes including POTAIN models such as MDT 319, MDT 189, MDT 159, MDT 139, MDT 162, and quick-assembly cranes from the Igo and Hup series (e.g., Hup 32-27, Hup 40-30, Igo T70A, Igo T99, Igo MA21). Used by construction companies for building and infrastructure projects including high-rise construction.
• Mobilkrane (Mobile Cranes) Sales and rental of GROVE mobile cranes including models such as GMK 6400-1, GMK 5250XL-1, GMK 5250L-1, GMK 5150XL, GMK 5120L, GMK 4100L-2, GMK 4090-1, and GMK 4080-L. Used by construction and industrial clients for heavy lifting and specialized transport.
• Hebebühnen (Aerial Work Platforms) Sales and rental of aerial work platforms and scissor lifts from JLG, Multitel Pagliero (MTE, MJE, MXE series), and AlmaCrawler (Jibbi, Bibi, Multi-Loader series) for work at height including self-leveling platforms for uneven terrain.
• Occasionen (Used Equipment) Pre-owned construction equipment available for purchase, including used cranes and aerial work platforms, sold through Stirnimann's regional offices.
• Kundendienst (Customer Service and Maintenance) Comprehensive after-sales service including regular maintenance, repairs, and crane assembly/disassembly for all equipment brands distributed by Stirnimann, performed by trained technicians at the company's workshop facilities.
• Ersatzteile (Spare Parts Supply) Supply of spare parts for all construction equipment brands represented by Stirnimann, supporting customer maintenance and repair needs across Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark.
• Spezialprojekte (Special Projects and Crane Assembly) Specialized crane assembly, disassembly, and transport projects including complex locations such as mountain sites (e.g., Zermatt at 2,102m altitude), helicopter transport, cable car transport, and rail-mounted installations. Uses proprietary GAPO axle technology for difficult-access crane transport.
• Transporte (Crane Transport Services) Specialized transport services for cranes and heavy equipment to construction sites, leveraging GAPO axle technology for difficult-to-reach locations.
• Operator Training and Certification Services Training services for crane operators and construction workers, including SUVA-certified safety courses, operator certifications, repetition courses for crane operators and foremen, and specialized rescue training. Delivered in partnership with HFS Competence Center since April 2021.
• Flottenmanagement (Fleet Management via Potain CONNECT) Digital fleet management service using the Potain CONNECT telematics platform, providing remote monitoring, maintenance scheduling, and fleet data access for tower crane customers.
• Revisionen (Equipment Overhauls and Refurbishment) Complete equipment overhauls, refurbishment, and major revision services for cranes and aerial work platforms, performed by trained technicians.

Quantifiable outcome

• Solar installation generates approximately 440,000 kWh annually, equivalent to annual consumption of 55 single-family homes
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HFS Competence Center (Hebefen-Fördern-Sichern)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2021Official associate member since April 1, 2021. HFS is a recognized training center founded in 2008 by GERSAG Krantechnik AG, Max Urech AG, and Notterkran AG. Provides theory and practice training for cranes, work platforms, forklifts, lifting equipment, PPE, and load securing. Stirnimann offers customer training through this partnership at attractive conditions.
• Potain (Manitowoc)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial general representative for POTAIN tower cranes and quick-assembly cranes. Partnership established 1986. Stirnimann distributes, rents, assembles, and services POTAIN equipment across Switzerland, Austria, and Denmark.
• GROVE (Manitowoc)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial general representative for GROVE mobile cranes. Longest-standing partnership dating back to 1969. Stirnimann distributes, rents, and services GROVE equipment across their markets.
• JLG IndustriescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial general representative for JLG aerial work platforms since 2004. Stirnimann distributes, rents, and services JLG equipment. Awarded JLG Dealer of the Year 2023.
• Multitel Pagliero S.p.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial general representative for Multitel Pagliero truck-mounted aerial platforms. 30-year partnership established early 1990s. Stirnimann distributes and services Multitel equipment in Switzerland.
• AlmaCrawlercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial general representative for AlmaCrawler self-leveling work platforms since BAUMA 2022. Italian manufacturer since 2013 specializing in innovative self-leveling scissors lifts, telescopic platforms, and multi-loaders on tracks.
• Rollende Werkstatt Kran AGminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLong-term collaboration partner for crane projects. Specialized partner for complex crane assembly and service work including projects like MD 560B M25 installation and Spittelamm dam crane transport.
• Käser AGminorOthersSolar installation partner for photovoltaic system commissioned March 2023. Installed 4,180 m² solar installation generating ~440,000 kWh annually.
• STIRAG Immobilien AGminorOthersReal estate company managing Stirnimann properties. Partner for solar installation project on Stirnimann buildings along Gäustrasse in Olten.
• GygerminorOthersTransport partner mentioned for crane transport services. Collaborated on POTAIN Igo T99 assembly in Féchy.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves20 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Avesco: Swiss Caterpillar equipment dealer offering sales, rental, and service for construction machinery. Direct competitor in the Swiss market alongside Stirnimann, serving many of the same contractor and industrial customers across cranes and earthmoving equipment.
• Robert Aebi: Long-standing Swiss Komatsu dealer distributing construction equipment, parts, and service. Competes head-to-head with Stirnimann in Switzerland for crane, earthmoving, and road construction machinery contracts.
• Riwal: European aerial work platform rental specialist and JLG distributor. Direct competitor to Stirnimann's JLG-powered aerial platform business across multiple European markets and a benchmark for rental-led aerial equipment models.
• mateco: Pan-European aerial work platform rental company with extensive fleet and service network. Overlaps directly with Stirnimann's aerial platform sales, rental, and service offerings in adjacent European geographies.
• Habegger Maschinenfabrik / Habegger Crane Hire: Swiss heavy-lift and crane rental specialist with strong presence on construction sites. Directly comparable in mobile crane services, complex assembly jobs, and the Swiss market coverage that overlaps with Stirnimann's core geography.

Broad incumbents

• Zeppelin Baumaschinen: Largest CAT dealer in Europe with full-line construction equipment distribution and rental across Germany, Austria, and beyond. A broad incumbent whose portfolio overlaps with Stirnimann's premium-brand distribution model but at substantially larger scale.
• Boels Rental: Major European construction equipment rental company with broad fleet including aerial platforms and material handling. Adjacent competitor to Stirnimann's rental operations, especially in cross-border Austrian and Swiss projects.
• Liebherr-International: Swiss-based global manufacturer of tower and mobile cranes (including LTM mobile cranes and EC-B tower cranes). A vertically integrated incumbent that competes with Stirnimann's POTAIN and GROVE offerings as an OEM.
• Manitowoc (Potain/Grove): OEM owner of the POTAIN and GROVE brands that Stirnimann distributes. Supplier-principal relationship, but also a structural risk/competitive constraint since Manitowoc could redistribute territories to other dealers.

Regional players

• Kiloutou: France-headquartered construction equipment rental group with Swiss operations. Regional peer competing with Stirnimann's rental fleet and aerial platform business in the Romandie and cross-border French-speaking market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/StirnimannAG

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Stirnimann