Mako

What Mako does

MAKO Schalungstechnik (legal entity: Mako Bau GmbH & Co. KG Schalungstechnik) is a German industrial manufacturer of lost (permanent) formwork systems for the building construction sector, headquartered and produced in Ohrdruf, Thuringia. The company was founded in 2008 and operates with 11-50 employees, distributing its products nationally across Germany. Its core product families are MAKORING (ring beam and lintel formwork), MAKOSTURZ (lintel and beam formwork), and MAKORAND (foundation, deck edge, expansion joint, and wall edge formwork), all available in fire-resistance classes A1 (non-combustible fiber cement plates) and B1 (cement-bonded wood fiber plates), with THERMO variants integrating EPS or XPS insulation to address thermal-bridge prevention in energy-efficient and passive-house construction.

The technical differentiator is the patented Bügelkralle (bracket claw) connection element embedded in U- and L-shaped brackets, which creates form-locking and force-locking connections with poured concrete, enabling faster assembly times versus traditional formwork. Manufacturing is performed in-house at the Ohrdruf facility with high automation for tight dimensional tolerances. The portfolio is supplemented by accessories (connectors, ground nails, reinforcement bars, adhesives) and supported by the Ausschreibungsmanager tool, which distributes MAKO tender texts in GAEB, Excel, Word, and PDF formats to architects and specifiers.

MAKO's go-to-market is sales-led B2B, targeting German construction companies, building contractors, and trade builders as the primary segment, with architects and structural engineers as a secondary specification-influencing persona. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales rather than recurring contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is handled via direct inquiry. The company has received multiple industry recognitions including the TOP 100 innovation seal (2023), German Brand Award, Best-of-Architecture Award (2023), and Focus Money's 'Deutschlands Beste' in building materials, but it remains privately held under a GmbH & Co. KG structure with no disclosed parent, external investors, or M&A activity.

Name

Mako

Legal name

Mako Bau GmbH & Co. KG Schalungstechnik

Website

https://mako-bau.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

MAKO Schalungstechnik is a German manufacturer of lost (permanent) formwork systems — including ring beam, lintel, and foundation formwork — sold to construction companies, builders, and architects in Germany from its production facility in Ohrdruf, Thuringia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Formwork Systems

NAICS

Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing (32121), Prefabricated Wood Building Manufacturing (321992), Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing (337212)

SIC

Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430), Prefabricated Wood Bldgs & Components (2452)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineered Wood Siding, Trim & Mouldings (IMAMACAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wood Mouldings, Millwork & Trim (IMADADAG)

Keywords

• Lost formwork systems
• Construction formwork manufacturing
• Ring beam formwork
• Concrete forming solutions
• Building insulation products

Headquarters

HQ city

Ohrdruf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Lost Formwork Systems Sales: One-time sale of proprietary lost formwork systems including ring beam formworks (MAKORING), lintel formworks (MAKOSTURZ), foundation formworks (MAKORAND), and accessories. Products are sold directly to construction companies and builders with national distribution in Germany.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

MAKO Schalungstechnik designs, manufactures, and sells lost (permanent) formwork systems for building construction in Germany. Its product range covers ring beam and lintel formwork (MAKORING, MAKOSTURZ), foundation and edge formwork including deck edge and separation elements (MAKORAND family with MAKOBOARD, MAKOTHERM, MAKODERA, MAKOFORM, MAKOTRENN, MAKOSTREIF, MAKOCONNECT), plus accessories and consumables. Systems are available in A1 non-combustible fiber cement and B1 cement-bonded wood fiber variants, with THERMO versions integrating EPS/XPS insulation to prevent thermal bridging.

Product overview

MAKO Schalungstechnik is a German construction formwork systems manufacturer based in Ohrdruf, Thuringia, producing a comprehensive portfolio of lost (permanent) formwork solutions for building construction. The product portfolio comprises three main formwork system families: MAKORING (ring beam and lintel formwork), MAKOSTURZ (lintel and beam formwork), and MAKORAND (foundation and edge formwork including MAKOBOARD insulation boards, MAKODERA edge stoppers, MAKOFORM separation plates, MAKOTRENN expansion joint elements, and MAKOTHERM insulated foundation formwork). All systems are available in fire resistance classes A1 (non-combustible fiber cement) and B1 (cement-bonded wood fiber) variants, with THERMO versions featuring integrated EPS or XPS thermal insulation for thermal bridging prevention. The portfolio includes core products, add-on modules, and accessories such as the patented Bügelkralle (anchor claw) technology, reinforcement systems, connectors, and adhesives. Products are manufactured in-house in Ohrdruf with high automation for consistent quality and precision tolerances, and the company holds numerous patents for its innovations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MAKORING A1 Ring beam and lintel formwork system with building material class A1 (non-combustible) 8 mm fiber cement plates, certified for building classes 1-5. Designed for construction companies and contractors executing residential and commercial building projects requiring highest fire protection.
• MAKORING A1 THERMO Thermally insulated ring beam and lintel formwork with A1 non-combustible fiber cement plates and integrated EPS (expanded polystyrene) insulation to prevent thermal bridging. For fire- and energy-critical construction projects.
• MAKORING B1 Ring beam and lintel formwork system with building material class B1 cement-bonded wood fiber plates (12 mm). Designed for standard construction applications using natural and sustainable raw materials.
• MAKORING B1 THERMO Thermally insulated ring beam formwork with B1 cement-bonded wood fiber plates and EPS insulation, available for heights up to 100 cm. For standard fire-protection projects also requiring thermal bridge prevention.
• MAKOSTURZ A1 Non-combustible lintel and beam formwork system with A1 fiber cement plates for heights up to 30 cm. Highest fire protection for lintel applications.
• MAKOSTURZ A1 THERMO Thermally insulated lintel and beam formwork with A1 non-combustible fiber cement plates and integrated EPS insulation.
• MAKOSTURZ B1 Lintel and beam formwork with B1 cement-bonded wood fiber plates for standard fire-protection applications.
• MAKOSTURZ B1 THERMO Thermally insulated lintel and beam formwork with B1 cement-bonded wood fiber plates and single or double-sided EPS insulation.
• MAKORAND Foundation and Edge Formwork Family Foundation formwork, floor slab edge formwork, deck edge insulation boards (MAKOBOARD), ceiling edge stoppers (MAKODERA), formwork plates (MAKOFORM), separation elements (MAKOTRENN), insulated foundation formwork (MAKOTHERM), and wall edge strips (MAKOSTREIF). Family-level product line covering foundation, edge, separation, and insulation formwork for construction companies.
• MAKOTHERM Two-sided insulated foundation formwork combining formwork and thermal insulation using XPS (extruded polystyrene) plates for foundation construction.
• MAKOTHERM-MAX Two-sided insulated foundation and floor slab edge formwork with nut-and-groove system, suitable for low-energy and passive houses.
• MAKOTHERM-SYS Single-sided insulated foundation formwork with perimeter insulation for frost protection.
• MAKOBOARD-CLASSIC Deck edge insulation formwork with XPS core and fiber cement base for thermal insulation at ceiling edges.
• MAKOBOARD-PREMIUM Thermal bridge-free deck edge insulation formwork with EPS 031 insulation and PVC angle profile for load transfer.
• MAKODERA Ceiling edge stoppers with foot part for concrete ceiling edge formwork, available in A1 and B1 versions.
• MAKODERA-STRONG Heavy-duty ceiling edge stoppers with mounting angles for higher concrete ceilings.
• MAKOFORM-PP Polypropylene honeycomb structure formwork plate for separation of concrete and earth.
• MAKOTRENN-TFD Expansion joint formwork element for ceilings with stone wool insulation preventing sound transmission.
• MAKOTRENN-TFB Expansion joint formwork element for floor slabs with stone wool core for sound and thermal insulation.
• MAKOSTREIF Wall edge strips made of expanded polystyrene (EPS) for thermal insulation and vapor barrier in masonry walls.
• MAKOCONNECT Z-foil insulation as connection insulation formwork for double-shell masonry with 45-degree slope for moisture drainage.
• MAKOVARIORAND-ZF Reusable galvanized steel edge formwork for floor slabs with fixed heights of 20/25/30 cm.
• MAKOSOHL A1 Non-combustible foundation slab edge formwork with A1 fiber cement plate for concrete bonding.
• MAKOFIX Stripping system for ceilings and cantings from 31 cm height with L-bend connectors.
• MAKOWOW Schalungsklebstoff Foam gun foam adhesive for bonding lost formwork elements and sealing joints.
• MAKOSTECKBÜGEL Plug-in reinforcement bar system for exact positioning of reinforcement steel in ring anchor formwork.
• MAKO Element-Verbinder Connector for joining MAKO formwork sections in the area of cement-bonded wood fiber side parts.
• Erdnagel Ground nail with connecting flange for securing edge formwork.
• MAKOECKE External corner element for ring beams with single-sided thermal insulation.

Quantifiable outcome

• Fast assembly times reducing construction duration compared to traditional formwork
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Fermacell (James Hardie Europe): European fiber-gypsum and cement-board panel brand now part of James Hardie. Comparable to MAKO as a fiber-based board manufacturer serving German construction, with overlapping applications in fire-rated wall and ceiling assemblies.
• Knauf Gips KG: Major German building materials manufacturer with a portfolio that includes gypsum, drywall, and fiber-cement-based panels (e.g., Knauf Aquapanel). Comparable to MAKO in serving German construction via fiber-based boards, though much broader in scope.
• Peri Group: One of the world's largest formwork and scaffolding manufacturers headquartered in Germany. While Peri primarily serves large-scale commercial concrete construction with reusable formwork, its scale, contractor relationships, and German manufacturing footprint make it a benchmark for the formwork category MAKO competes in.
• Doka Group: Austrian-based global formwork manufacturer with a broad portfolio of wall, slab, and climbing formwork systems plus services. Operates in similar German-speaking construction markets as MAKO and competes for specifier attention on concrete forming details.
• Hünnebeck (Brand Industrial Services): German formwork and scaffolding brand within Brand Industrial Services, offering wall, slab, and climbing formwork. Comparable to MAKO as a German-speaking-market formwork incumbent with broader category reach.
• ULMA Construction: Spanish/DACH formwork and scaffolding manufacturer with a strong presence in German-speaking construction markets. Competes with MAKO for the same German construction contractors and offers comparable wall, slab, and column formwork systems.

Direct peers

• MEVA Schalungs-Systeme: German mid-market formwork manufacturer producing wall and slab formwork systems. MEVA is a direct comparable in the German formwork market with similar SME-to-mid-market positioning, distribution via direct sales to contractors, and engineering-led product development.
• Paschal-Werk G. Maier GmbH: German formwork specialist producing wall formwork, column formwork, and circular formwork systems. Paschal is comparable to MAKO as a Germany-based, privately-held formwork manufacturer serving construction contractors through direct specification channels.
• NOE-Schaltechnik: German formwork manufacturer producing NOEform and other concrete forming systems for building construction. Directly competes in the German formwork specification market with comparable product breadth in permanent and reusable forming solutions.

Emerging players

• Reckli GmbH: German manufacturer of architectural concrete formliners and structured formwork surfaces. Comparable as a niche German concrete-formwork specialist with a similar SME profile, though focused on decorative rather than structural formwork applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Mako