Seforb

What Seforb does

Seforb is a Swiss structural engineering firm (legal name: SEFORB s.à r.l.) headquartered in Uster, Switzerland, founded in 2017. The firm operates as an Ingenieurbüro für Hochbauten — an engineering office specializing in the structural design of buildings — and delivers services across the full SIA phase spectrum (phases 1–5), from architectural competition support through construction documentation. The firm is co-led by Alexandre Fauchère (Dipl. Bau-Ing. ETH) and Jörg Habenberger (Dr. Ing., TU Weimar), supported by a team of approximately 11–13 engineers, draftsmen, and administrative staff.

Core technical competencies span structural engineering in concrete, steel, timber, masonry, and earthen/clay (Lehmbau) construction, with particular specialization in load-bearing clay construction — including rammed earth walls, clay brick masonry, and pre-stressed clay wall systems — enabled by proprietary nonlinear FEM analysis methods adapted from geotechnical engineering. Additional specialties include high-rise structural engineering with vibration analysis, geotechnical engineering, self-supporting brick facade engineering, hybrid wood-concrete composite deck systems, and circular construction practices. The firm contributes to the Innosuisse Flagship 'Think Earth' research program and has collaborated with Gramazio Kohler Research at ETH Zürich on robotic clay cylinder placement.

Seforb generates revenue through project-based professional services fees, serving a diversified client base that includes Swiss municipalities (Gemeinde Kilchberg, Gemeinde Frick, Gemeinde Scuol), railway and energy infrastructure operators (SBB Infrastruktur, Matterhorn Gotthard Bahn), real estate developers and institutional investors (Artisa Group, Credit Suisse Asset Management), and architectural firms (Conen Sigl, Boltshauser, Schmid Schärer, boa architektur). Project sizes range from CHF 0.2M specialized mandates to CHF 333M major infrastructure engagements, with primary client acquisition through architectural competition wins, long-term architectural partnerships, and public tenders. The firm operates within the Network 42 consortium alongside terraqua engineering AG and Ryffel Engineering, enabling capacity pooling and broader market reach across German-speaking Switzerland and selected international projects.

Name

Seforb

Legal name

SEFORB s.à r.l.

Website

https://seforb.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Seforb is a Swiss structural engineering firm in Uster specializing in structural design for high-rise buildings, load-bearing clay construction, geotechnical engineering, and circular construction, serving Swiss municipalities, railway operators, real estate developers, and architectural firms through project-based mandates and competition support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Structural Engineering Services

NAICS

Architectural Services (54131)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711)

akta.pro primary industry

Systems Engineering & Technical Program Management (BPAHAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Structural & Seismic Retrofit Services (EDAEABAF), Engineering design services (line design, substation design, civil/structural) (EUADAKAG)

Keywords

• Structural engineering services
• High-rise engineering
• Load-bearing clay construction
• Geotechnical engineering
• Facade engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Uster

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel

Revenue model

1. Structural Engineering Services: SEFORB generates revenue through project-based engineering mandates covering full SIA phases (phases 1-5) for structural design of high-rise, residential, commercial, and infrastructure projects. Fees are calculated based on project scope, complexity, and construction costs.
2. Competition Support and Design Services: Providing structural engineering and competition support to architectural firms during architectural competitions, often leading to subsequent full-mandate engineering engagements upon project award.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SEFORB is a structural and civil engineering firm (Ingenieurbüro für Hochbauten) that delivers comprehensive Tragwerksplanung (structural engineering) services across the full SIA phases 1–5 for development, realization, and preservation of buildings. Core offerings span high-rise engineering, geotechnical engineering, facade engineering, timber/holzbau, mass concrete, steel construction, load-bearing clay construction (Lehmbau), circular construction, and competition support for architectural firms. Projects range from CHF 0.2M specialized mandates to CHF 333M major infrastructure and high-rise developments across Switzerland.

Product overview

Seforb is a civil and structural engineering firm (Ingenieurbüro für Hochbauten) providing comprehensive engineering services for building construction. The company operates as a unified service offering centered around Tragwerksplanung (structural engineering) as the core competency, supported by specialized services including Geotechnik, Fassadeningenieur, and Anlagenbau. Construction materials expertise spans Massivbau (concrete), Holzbau (timber), Stahlbau (steel), and Lehmbau (clay/earthen construction). The firm also specializes in Hochhaus (high-rise engineering) and Zirkuläres Bauen (circular construction). SEFORB does not offer software products but provides integrated engineering consulting services from concept through construction.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Structural Engineering (Tragwerksplanung)
• Geotechnical Engineering (Geotechnik)
• Facade Engineering (Fassadeningenieur)
• Clay/Earth Construction Engineering (Lehmbau)
• High-Rise Engineering (Hochhaus)
• Circular Construction (Zirkuläres Bauen)
• Industrial Plant Construction (Anlagenbau)
• Architectural Competition Support (Wettbewerb)

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% reduction in deck self-weight and ~80% reduction in ecological footprint for hybrid wood-concrete deck systems versus conventional concrete
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 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

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• terraqua engineering AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerterraqua engineering AG (Zollikerberg) is a close geotechnical engineering partner of SEFORB. The two firms collaborate on geotechnical aspects of joint construction projects. SEFORB explicitly identifies terraqua as a key partner in its Network 42 initiative for bundling competencies.
• Ryffel EngineeringcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRyffel Engineering (Stäfa) collaborates closely with SEFORB on structural engineering projects. Ryffel is explicitly named as a close partner in SEFORB's Network 42 initiative.
• HTB Ingenieure AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHTB Ingenieure AG (Zürich) partnered with SEFORB as an engineering consortium (Ingenieurgemeinschaft) for the Artisa Tower high-rise project in Oerlikon, Zürich. SEFORB provided structural optimization and vibration analysis.
• schlaich bergermann partner sbp gmbHflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partnerschlaich bergermann partner (Stuttgart, Germany) partnered with SEFORB for the Dock A competition at Zürich Airport (CHF 333M project). SEFORB supported the Grimshaw/Itten+Brechbühl architecture team as structural engineering partner.
• Conen Sigl Architekt:innenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerConen Sigl Architekt:innen (Zürich) is SEFORB's longest-standing architectural partnership, with three consecutive competition wins together (Deutweg housing development, Wache Süd rescue station, and Salle de spectacle Renens). The collaboration combines architecture and structural engineering in an ongoing dialogue.
• Boltshauser ArchitektenflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoltshauser Architekten (Zürich) has collaborated with SEFORB on multiple pioneering clay construction projects including Ofenturm Ziegelei-Museum Cham, Mehrfamilienhaus Winterthurerstrasse (5-story load-bearing clay), and the Ofenturm project with SEFORB's clay construction research contributions.
• Schmid Schärer ArchitektencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchmid Schärer Architekten (Zürich) partnered with SEFORB on multiple competition wins including Rehaklinik Wald (4th rank), Schulanlage Frick (1st rank), Alterszentrum Neuhausen Burgunwiese (1st rank), and Kindergartengebäude Kilchberg.
• boa architekturcoreStrategic or Co-development Partnerboa architektur (Zürich) collaborated with SEFORB on multiple residential projects including Alterszentrum Thurgauerstrasse (1st rank), Goldacker housing development (circular construction), Mehrfamilienhaus Riedhaldenstrasse (1st rank), and Gesewo Haus (1st rank).
• ENOTRAC AGcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerENOTRAC AG (Thun, Energy Department) engaged SEFORB for client support on SBB frequency converter construction in Rupperswil, representing a rare case where SEFORB acts as a client-side consultant rather than the primary engineering firm.
• Basler & Hofmann AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBasler & Hofmann AG (Zürich) collaborated with SEFORB on the Mobimo Tower (2010-2012) where SEFORB staff worked under Basler & Hofmann as structural engineers. Also collaborated on Polizeistützpunkt Chur for sustainability planning.
• Gramazio Kohler Research, ETH ZürichcoreTechnology or IntegrationGramazio Kohler Research at ETH Zürich provided robotic placement technology for the SE MusicLab thin-walled clay rotunda project. The research group controlled robot placement of clay cylinders for the single-shell wall construction.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Conzett Bronzini Partner AG: Swiss structural engineering firm with strong expertise in timber, concrete, and innovative materials; comparable in size and project types (residential, public buildings, bridges), making it a direct peer in the same niche.
• Dr. Lüchinger+Meyer Bauingenieure AG: Zurich structural engineering consultancy specializing in Hochbau, BIM-based design, and complex geometries; competes for the same pool of Swiss architectural competition mandates and major developer projects.
• Henz & Partner AG: Swiss engineering office with material-diverse structural expertise (concrete, steel, timber, masonry) and a comparable project portfolio of Schulhaus, Wohnbau, and Wettbewerb engagements.
• Schnetzler Engineering AG: Swiss structural engineering firm with similar scope across residential, commercial, and public-sector projects, competing for the same architectural competition wins and municipal clients.
• Dr. Deuring + Oehninger AG: Winterthur-based Swiss structural engineering firm with comparable portfolio of Wohnbau, Schulhaus, and Wettbewerb engagements, particularly in the German-speaking Swiss market.
• WaltGalmarini AG: Zurich-based structural and civil engineering firm with a comparable focus on complex Hochbau, high-rise, and seismic engineering across Switzerland. Closest direct competitor to SEFORB in the German-speaking Swiss structural engineering market.

Broad incumbents

• Bollinger + Grohmann Ingenieure: Frankfurt-headquartered structural engineering firm with strong international footprint; competes for complex timber, clay, and hybrid-material projects and works with many of the same architectural partners as SEFORB.
• Basler & Hofmann AG: Much larger Swiss engineering group offering structural, infrastructure, and environmental services; former collaborator on Mobimo Tower. Competes for the same large Swiss mandates with a broader, multi-disciplinary portfolio.
• schlaich bergermann partner (sbp): Internationally renowned German structural engineering firm; partnered with SEFORB on the Dock A airport terminal competition and competes globally for the same high-profile complex-structure and high-rise projects.
• WGG Schnetzler (AFRY Schweiz): Swiss structural engineering office now part of AFRY, operating at significantly larger scale across buildings and infrastructure; competes for mid- to large-scale Swiss mandates including railway infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/seforb

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Seforb