What Combi Lift does

Combi Lift is a global project logistics specialist headquartered in Bremen, Germany, and a wholly-owned subsidiary of maritime conglomerate Harren Group. Founded in 2000 and operating across 9+ offices (Germany, USA, India, Japan, Korea, UAE, Spain, Kazakhstan, Algeria), the company focuses on the end-to-end transport of oversized, heavy-lift, and mission-critical cargo for EPC companies, OEMs, and industrial operators in maritime, chemical, energy, railway, and infrastructure verticals. Notable customers include Liebherr Maritime Cranes, MSC Cruises, Port of Miami, ADELTE, and SCHMIDTSCHE SCHACK – Arvos GmbH. The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, and ISO 45001:2018 certifications, and its U.S. subsidiary Combi Lift Projects, LLC holds a U.S. Customs Brokers License.

The company's technology stack comprises an AI-enhanced Transport & Logistics Control Tower for real-time monitoring and coordination across multimodal flows (ocean, river, rail, road, air), a proprietary digital collaboration platform that provides full project visibility to clients and stakeholders, and an engineering toolkit for feasibility work that includes 3D simulations, digital twins, motion and stability checks, and custom lifting/securing designs. It is integrated with sister Harren Group entities — SAL Heavy Lift (vessels), SAL Engineering, Hooked Engineering, and Harren Ship Management — which gives Combi Lift differentiated access to specialized tonnage and engineering capacity for first-of-kind routing (e.g., the first-ever cargo transit of the Northern Sea Route from UK to Sakhalin via MV Hilke). Its four service lines are Project Logistics, Engineering & Technical Services, Forwarding Solutions, and Consulting & Optimization.

Commercially, Combi Lift runs a project-based B2B model with custom pricing tied to cargo specifications (dimensions, weight), routing, multimodality, and complexity. Revenue is generated through transactional fees on multimodal freight and forwarding, plus professional-services fees on engineering and consulting engagements. GTM is direct enterprise sales through global offices and tender responses (it operates a Global Tender Manager function), supported by participation in industry associations such as RICA, MALA, and CTL & BHP India. Recent strategic emphasis has been on geographic expansion (India 2023, MEA Abu Dhabi 2025), regulatory capability (U.S. Customs Brokers License 2024), and product diversification into scalable forwarding and advisory services.

Name

Combi Lift

Legal name

Combi Lift Projekt GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://combi-lift.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Combi Lift is a global project logistics specialist, owned by Harren Group, that transports oversized, heavy-lift, and mission-critical cargo for EPC companies, OEMs, and industrial operators through multimodal, engineering-led solutions across 9+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Project Logistics Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), Deep Sea Freight Transportation (483111), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Deep Sea Foreign Transportation Of Freight (4412)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Plants & Process Equipment (EPC/Turnkey Projects) (TLACAIAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Heavy Machinery & Oversized Equipment (Cranes, Excavators, Presses) (TLACAIAH), Site Delivery, Installation Support & On-Site Supervision (Door-to-Site) (TLACAIAM), Chartering & Heavy-Lift Vessel / Barge / RoRo Solutions (TLACAIAJ), Project Cargo Packing, Crating & Securing (Lashing/Dunnage) (TLAIAKAJ)

Keywords

• Project logistics services
• Heavy lift cargo transport
• Multimodal freight forwarding
• EPC logistics solutions
• Oversized cargo handling

Headquarters

HQ city

Bremen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Project Logistics Services: End-to-end project logistics services for oversized, heavy-lift cargo including multimodal transport (ocean, river, rail, road, air), transport engineering, route surveys, risk management, permitting, and customs clearance. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts for EPCs, OEMs, and industrial operators.
2. Forwarding Solutions: Scalable forwarding services for recurring cargo flows, just-in-time deliveries, and commodity cargo. Includes warehousing, terminal handling, customs clearance, and digital tracking systems. Revenue generated through freight forwarding fees and handling charges.
3. Consulting & Optimization Services: Strategic logistics advisory including tender and concept preparation, process audits, optimization, digital interface integration, and knowledge transfer. Revenue generated through professional services engagements.
4. Engineering & Technical Services: Technical services including feasibility studies, engineering concepts, method statements, execution plans, route and site surveys, risk and compliance assessments. Revenue generated through engineering service fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Combi Lift provides end-to-end project logistics services for oversized, heavy-lift, and mission-critical cargo worldwide. Services encompass multimodal transport architecture (ocean, river, rail, road, air), transport engineering with 3D simulations and digital twins, route and site surveys, risk management, permitting, customs clearance, and real-time project control. The company serves EPCs, OEMs, and industrial operators with single-point accountability for complex multinational logistics projects.

Product overview

Combi Lift is a global logistics specialist offering four core service areas: Project Logistics (end-to-end project logistics for complex, oversized, and mission-critical cargo), Engineering & Technical Services (engineering support including 3D simulations, digital twins, and transport method planning), Forwarding Solutions (scalable logistics for cargo flows with digital visibility systems), and Consulting & Optimization (strategic advisory for logistics planning and process improvement). The company positions itself as a combination of engineering precision and solution-driven logistics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Project Logistics End-to-end project logistics services for complex, oversized, and mission-critical cargo, including multimodal transport architecture (ocean, river, rail, road, air), transport engineering, route surveys, risk management, permitting, customs compliance, and real-time project control and supervision. Serves EPCs, OEMs, and industrial operators globally.
• Engineering & Technical Services Engineering and technical support including tailor-made solutions for complex cargo logistics, 3D simulations and visualizations, custom lifting and securing designs, transport method planning, route and site surveys, digital twins, motion and stability checks, and virtual simulations for informed decision-making.
• Forwarding Solutions Scalable logistics services for recurring cargo flows and just-in-time deliveries, efficient forwarding solutions for one-off shipments, cost-optimized routing, warehousing, terminal handling, customs clearance, and digital systems for full visibility, tracking, and reporting.
• Consulting & Optimization Strategic logistics advisory services including tender and concept preparation, project monitoring and quality assurance, process audits and optimization, digital interface integration, and collaborative knowledge transfer and training for industrial operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully transported 2,000-ton crawler crane with 166 cargo units totaling 4,100 freight tons
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• T&T SalvagecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 November 2021Combi Lift worked alongside T&T Salvage on the historic Golden Ray wreck removal operation in the U.S., providing structural verifications and engineering support. Combi Lift provided comprehensive structural strength verifications for cutting, lifting, and transport of the capsized vessel's sections, and designed lifting lugs adapted to the VB-10,000 hook configuration.
• BigLift Shipping B.V.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for transport of four passenger boarding bridges from Barcelona to Miami. BigLift Shipping provided vessel for the oversized cargo shipment, working with Combi Lift for precision loading and transport operations.
• SAL Heavy LiftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company within Harren Group providing heavy lift vessel (MV Hilke) for Northern Sea Route navigation project. Combi Lift leveraged the heavy lift vessel for first-ever cargo delivery through the Northern Sea Route from UK to Sakhalin.
• SAL EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering support partner for complex multinational logistics projects. Provided crucial engineering expertise for Algeria EPC project, supporting Combi Lift India and Combi Lift Bremen's joint execution.
• Harren GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company providing corporate infrastructure, shared services, and group-wide synergies. Combi Lift is a subsidiary of Harren Group, which also owns SAL, SAL Engineering, Hooked Engineering, SAL Intermarine, trans-Mar-supply, Harren Crewing, and Harren Ship Management.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Geodis (Industrial Projects): French global forwarder with an Industrial Projects division handling heavy lift and complex logistics. Competes with Combi Lift on multinational EPC and energy projects.
• C.H. Robinson Project Logistics: Large U.S.-headquartered forwarder and 3PL with a project logistics capability. Broader scope than Combi Lift but overlaps in heavy-lift project cargo for North American clients.
• DHL Global Forwarding (Industrial Projects): Deutsche Post DHL's project logistics arm offering heavy-lift, oversized cargo, and industrial project services. Much larger scale and global footprint, directly competing for enterprise tenders Combi Lift targets.
• Kuehne+Nagel (KN Projects): Global top-3 freight forwarder with a dedicated Projects & Heavy Lift division. Significantly larger scale; competes for the same EPC and OEM project cargo contracts as Combi Lift but as part of a much broader portfolio.
• DSV Projects (post-DB Schenker): DSV's project division following the DB Schenker acquisition, making it one of the largest project cargo forwarders globally. Directly competes for heavy-lift EPC contracts across all of Combi Lift's key geographies.

Direct peers

• Deugro: German-headquartered specialist project cargo forwarder with deep EPC, energy, and heavy-lift capabilities. Closest direct peer to Combi Lift — comparable scale, customer base (OEMs, EPCs), and engineering-driven service model.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German-headquartered global forwarder with dedicated Project Logistics and Heavy Lift division. Overlapping customer base (OEMs, EPCs) and comparable multimodal project capabilities.
• Röhlig Logistics: German mid-size forwarder with strong project cargo and heavy-lift capabilities. Similar profile to Combi Lift in scale, ownership structure (private/closely-held), and customer focus on industrial clients.
• Trans Global Projects: UK-headquartered specialist project cargo forwarder focused on heavy lift and oversized transport. Comparable niche positioning and project-based service model to Combi Lift.

Regional players

• Yusen Logistics (Project Cargo): Japanese-headquartered global forwarder with strong Asia project cargo presence. Particularly relevant competitor for Combi Lift's Japan/Korea operations and intra-Asia heavy-lift flows.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/combi-lift

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Subsidiaries6 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 Combi Lift