What KERN Tunneltechnik does

KERN Tunneltechnik SA is a Swiss-headquartered engineering firm founded in 2010 in Lugano-Paradiso that designs, manufactures, and operates specialized machinery for tunnel construction. It is a wholly-owned member of the PERI Group and operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries KERN Tunneltechnik Ltd (UK) and KTS Kern d.o.o. (Slovenia, manufacturing), with an engineering facility in Morbio Inferiore. The company delivers four core product lines — Tunnel Formworks, Special Machines, Tunnel Logistic, and Tunnel Renovation — plus service sub-brands (K-Lab for digitalization/process simulation, K-Edu for training, K-Power for on-site technical services, K-Dynamic for PLC-based automation). Proprietary platforms include the K-ONE automated concrete casting system, the MSG-01 Multi Service Gantry with optional eBoost 100% battery power, K-Dynamic PLC control systems, K-Turntable platforms, and customizable Straddle Gantries for segment transport.

The business sells custom-engineered solutions on a project-specific, quote-based basis with multi-year contract cadences, generating revenue through hardware sales (bespoke formwork and machinery), professional services (on-site installation, supervision, training), and a 20-unit rental fleet of specialist equipment with operators. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise engagement with engineering teams on major tenders and channel distribution via the PERI Group globally and Maxon Industries in North America. End customers are large infrastructure contractors and JVs — including ARGE Secondo Tubo (Implenia–Frutiger) on Gotthard, SCS JV (Skanska/Costain/STRABAG) on HS2, the BAM Nuttall/Morgan Sindall/Balfour Beatty JV on Thames Tideway, PERI Create on Australia's T2D, Dura Vermeer, and BeMo Tunnelling — with 80+ projects completed across 15+ countries in Europe, the UK, the US, Australia, and South Africa. The firm holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and complies with the EU Machinery Directive and DIN 18218 concrete pressure standards, and has won industry recognition including BCI Product Innovation of the Year (2024), NCE Innovation Award (2019), and British Construction Industry Awards (2017).

Name

KERN Tunneltechnik

Legal name

KERN Tunneltechnik SA

Website

https://kern-tunneltechnik.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

KERN Tunneltechnik SA is a Swiss-based member of the PERI Group that designs, manufactures, and services specialized formwork, automation, and tunnel-logistics machinery for large infrastructure contractors on major rail, highway, and hydropower tunnel projects worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tunnel Construction Machinery and Formwork Systems

NAICS

Construction Machinery Manufacturing (33312), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Utility System Construction (2371)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Tunnel Construction (Road, Rail, Utility) (IMAFAEAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tunnels & Underground Rail Civil Construction (IMAFAFAE), Concrete Equipment (Mixers, Pumps, Batching) (IMAHAAAK), Specialized Trailer & Heavy Transport Equipment Providers (SPMT, Lowboy, Multi-Axle) (TLADAGAM)

Keywords

• Tunnel formwork systems
• Tunnel construction machinery
• Tunnel logistics equipment
• Automated concrete casting
• Tunnel renovation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Lugano

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tunnel Formwork Systems Sales: Design, engineering, manufacturing, and supply of bespoke tunnel formwork systems including fullround shutters, invert formworks, curing gantries, reinforcement gantries, and specialized machinery. Products are custom-engineered for specific tunnel projects.
2. Specialized Technical Services: On-site installation, pre-assembly, testing, machine transformations, removal services, and supervision. The company provides complete working teams including leading personnel, specialized technicians, fitters, and hydraulic specialists. Also includes training services through KERN EDU.
3. Equipment Rental: Rental fleet comprising 20 items of specialist equipment including telescopic cranes, mini cranes, cherry pickers, underground assembly systems, concrete pumps, and ancillary equipment with experienced operators.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KERN Tunneltechnik designs, engineers, manufactures, and installs bespoke tunnel construction machinery and formwork systems, including fullround shutters, invert and crown formworks, multi-service gantries, automated concrete casting devices (K-ONE), PLC-controlled equipment (K-Dynamic), and specialized machines for material logistics and tunnel renovation. The company delivers end-to-end project support covering custom engineering, on-site installation, supervision, training, and equipment rental for major railway, highway, metro, and hydroelectric tunnel projects.

Product overview

KERN Tunneltechnik SA is a Swiss-based international company and member of the PERI Group, providing high-tech solutions for tunnel construction. The portfolio consists of core product lines (Tunnel Formworks, Special Machines, Tunnel Logistic, Tunnel Renovation) and specialized service sub-brands (K-Lab for digitalization and process simulation, K-Edu for training, K-Power for technical services, K-Dynamic for PLC control systems). Key products include K-ONE automated concrete casting system, MSG-01 Multi Service Gantry with eBoost battery technology, customizable Straddle Gantries, K-Turntable platforms, and the Formkret automated filling system (partnered with Putzmeister). The company also develops specialized equipment like drilling gantries and automated manipulators, supported by comprehensive on-site installation, training, and technical personnel services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• K-ONE: Automated concrete casting device designed to be installed on formwork skin, combining flexibility and efficiency for complex concrete mixes including steel and plastic fibers.
• MSG-01 Multi Service Gantry
• K-Lab
• K-Edu
• K-Power
• K-Dynamic

Products and services

• Tunnel Formworks Specialized formwork systems for tunnel lining construction, including fullround shutters, invert formworks, crown formworks, and modular formwork systems engineered for various tunnel geometries and project-specific dimensions.
• Special Machines Custom-designed machinery for tunnel construction, including drilling gantries, automated manipulators, straddle gantries, and specialized equipment developed for unique project requirements.
• Tunnel Logistic Systems Logistics systems for tunnel construction covering material and segment handling, including multi-service gantries, turntable platforms, rail bogies, and transport equipment for materials within tunnel environments.
• Tunnel Renovation Systems Systems and equipment for tunnel rehabilitation and repair, including specialized formwork and machinery for refurbishing existing underground infrastructure.
• K-ONE Automated Casting System Automated concrete casting device installed on formwork skin, enabling rapid, safe, and clean concrete pouring. Compatible with complex mixes including steel and plastic fibers, operated via remote control or PLC.
• MSG-01 Multi Service Gantry Heavy load material transportation and handling machine with 4WD drive, maximum unloaded speed of 7 m/s (3 m/s loaded), 17% maximum slope capacity, single or double-axis movement, and parallel steering. Available with 100% battery-powered eBoost option. Modular design for bespoke solutions.
• Straddle Gantry Customizable gantry designed for segment transport in tunnel environments, with lifting capacity up to 30 tons, wheel adjustability, and PLC-controlled operations for safe, flexible handling in constrained spaces.
• K-Turntable Platform Custom turntable platform equipped with crawler tracks, fully operated by digital remote control, with integrated load cells for monitoring vehicle load during rotation. Folds for transport between sites.
• Formkret Automated Formwork Filling System Automated formwork filling system developed with Putzmeister, regulated by two-way valves integrated into formwork structure for sequential concrete delivery. Designed to enhance safety and reduce workforce-related costs by up to 60%.
• Automated Manipulator Automated manipulator for positioning tunnel reinforcement ribs, featuring PLC control, 14 interpolated servo-hydraulic axes, and 13 selectable trajectories, developed with KERN-Lab process simulation.
• K-Power Specialized Technical Services and Equipment Rental Specialized on-site technical services delivered by 90+ personnel including site managers, supervisors, specialized technicians, concrete and reinforcement operatives, fitters, and hydraulic specialists. Includes a rental fleet of 20 specialist equipment items (cranes, cherry pickers, concrete pumps, mini cranes, telescopic cranes, underground assembly systems) with experienced operators.
• K-Edu Training Services Advanced training concept using interactive digital methodology with virtual replication of operation sequences and work method statements, delivered through the Digital Hub simulator that replicates engineering solutions with physical control devices matching on-machine controls.
• KERN SYSTEM SOLUTION (KSS) Engineered formwork solutions for tunnel construction combining project-specific design, flexible rental concepts, and reliable on-site installation under the KERN SYSTEM SOLUTION brand.

Quantifiable outcome

• 300 meters per week advancement rate achieved at Lee Tunnel project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• PERI CreatemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2026Close collaboration with PERI Create in Weissenhorn for the T2D Project Australia drilling gantries. Joint development of specialized tunnel bottom drilling systems.
• Maxon Industries, Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2025North American partnership for KERN technologies, combining advanced engineering with local support and service. Maxon exhibits alongside KERN at major conferences including NAT 2026 and WTC 2026.
• PutzmeistermajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2017Partnership for Formkret automated formwork filling system. Combined offering: KERN secondary lining systems + Formkret + Putzmeister concrete pumps. Reduces workforce costs by up to 60%.
• PERI GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKERN Tunneltechnik is a member of the PERI Group, benefiting from global distribution, sales support, and access to PERI's infrastructure project network worldwide.
• PERI USAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPERI USA collaborates with KERN on North American market projects and participates in industry conferences such as NAT 2026.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Doka Group: Doka is a global formwork and scaffolding manufacturer competing with PERI across civil and tunneling projects. While KERN's specialty is tunnel-only, Doka's broader portfolio and customer relationships with the same Tier-1 contractors make it a relevant competitor for formwork selection on major tunnel bids.
• Atlas Copco (Power Technique): Atlas Copco's Power Technique and Mining & Rock Excavation divisions supply compressors, drilling rigs, loaders, and material handlers used in tunnel and underground construction. The product portfolio overlaps KERN's logistics/material-handling equipment for the same underground infrastructure contractors.
• PERI Group: PERI is KERN's parent and the world's largest formwork and scaffolding manufacturer with a portfolio spanning buildings, civil, and tunneling. KERN operates as PERI's tunneling-focused subsidiary, leveraging PERI's global distribution while addressing a specialized subsegment of the broader formwork market.
• Liebherr: Liebherr manufactures tower cranes, heavy-duty mobile cranes, and concrete machinery serving construction and infrastructure projects worldwide. Although broader in scope, Liebherr competes for inclusion on large infrastructure equipment packages that include tunnel logistics and concrete placement — overlapping with KERN's gantry and formwork offerings.
• CIFA S.p.A. CIFA is an Italian manufacturer of concrete mixing, batching, pumping, and placing equipment (truck mixers, concrete pumps, shotcrete machines). CIFA overlaps with KERN's concrete placement systems and serves adjacent end markets in heavy civil and infrastructure construction.

Direct peers

• Normet Group: Normet provides underground construction equipment, including concrete spraying manipulators, scaling machines, and logistics equipment for tunnels and mines. Normet overlaps directly with KERN's tunnel logistics and concrete placement product lines, particularly spraying and material handling for underground infrastructure.
• Herrenknecht AG: Herrenknecht is the global leader in tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and a dominant supplier of mechanized tunneling equipment. While KERN focuses on formwork/logistics downstream of excavation, both companies serve the same Tier-1 tunnel contractors and compete for inclusion on the same megaproject equipment packages.

Emerging players

• VMT GmbH: VMT provides measurement, navigation, and positioning systems for tunneling — including secondary lining positioning solutions integrated with KERN's formwork. As a technology partner in KERN's offering, VMT represents an adjacent, niche player in tunnel construction technology with partial overlap.

Others

• Maxon Industries, Inc. Maxon Industries is KERN's designated North American distribution and service partner for tunnel machinery and material handling equipment. As a channel partner rather than a direct competitor, Maxon is comparable in product focus (specialized trucks and equipment for construction) but operates in an arm's-length commercial relationship.
• Putzmeister Holding GmbH: Putzmeister is a global leader in concrete pumps and shotcrete equipment and is KERN's partner for the Formkret automated filling system. While not a direct competitor on formwork/casting, Putzmeister's pumps are integrated into KERN's concrete placement offering, making it an adjacent ecosystem partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kerntunneltechnik

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 KERN Tunneltechnik