Kingo Karlsen

What Kingo Karlsen does

Kingo Karlsen A/S is a privately held, third-generation family-owned Danish demolition and environmental remediation contractor headquartered in Silkeborg, Denmark, founded in 1955. The company delivers total demolition, selective demolition, interior clearance and renovation, environmental remediation, decommissioning, and scrap handling for housing associations, municipalities and government entities (including Region Hovedstaden), general contractors, private building owners, and the Government of Greenland. Kingo operates from five regional offices (Silkeborg HQ, Gadstrup, Aalborg, Esbjerg, Odense) split East/West of the Storebælt, plus a 50/50 joint venture (Kingo Grønland ApS with Permagreen Grønland A/S) covering Greenland.

The company's distinguishing capability set is environmental remediation paired with circular-demolition methodology. Proprietary hardware includes a self-developed mobile steel shot blasting system (stålkugleblæseanlæg) that cuts waste volume ~10x versus conventional sandblasting, a thermal PCB stripping method (with activated-carbon filtration) that drives PCB concentrations below the Danish Health Authority's 300 ng/m3 action limit, and ProSeal sealing for PCB source containment. On-site concrete and brick crushing produces aggregate for new concrete, and approximately 95–97% of handled materials are retained in the construction value chain across Kingo's ~250 annual projects and ~230,000 tons of annual throughput. Digital waste traceability is delivered through the Inspectly platform (collaboratively configured for demolition work) integrated with Exigo's digital weighing slips. Compliance is anchored in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and DS/ISO 45001 certifications, plus membership in the Danish Demolition Industry Environmental Control Scheme and the Danish Asbestos Association control scheme.

Commercially, Kingo generates revenue predominantly through project-based demolition and remediation contracts awarded via competitive tenders, supplemented by material resale through Kingo Auctions (run with Campen Auktioner A/S), the Kingo Unika online marketplace (kingounika.biz), Kingo Recycling treatment facilities, and wholly-owned subsidiaries Brandt Diamant A/S (acquired October 2020) and JM Dansk Betonboring A/S (acquired June 2019) for diamond drilling and cutting. The company employs more than 150 people (workforce has doubled since 2013), is family-owned under Thomas Kingo Karlsen (third generation), and underwent a CEO succession to John Funch on February 1, 2025 after reporting a DKK 34M group loss in 2024 attributed to specific renovation contracts, returning to a DKK 1.1M group profit in 2025 with 2026 guidance of DKK 10–15M.

Name

Kingo Karlsen

Legal name

Kingo Karlsen A/S

Website

https://kingo.biz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1955

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Kingo Karlsen A/S is a Denmark-based demolition and environmental remediation contractor serving housing associations, municipalities, government, contractors, and private clients across Denmark and Greenland with total demolition, hazardous material remediation, and circular material reuse services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Demolition and Environmental Remediation Services

NAICS

Remediation Services (562910), Waste Management and Remediation Services (562), Waste Collection (56211)

SIC

Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700), Operative Builders (1531)

akta.pro primary industry

Demolition (Structural, Selective/Interior) (IMAFAKAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Deconstruction & Salvage (Building Material Reuse) (EUAIAHAJ), Construction & Demolition (C&D) Debris Recycling (IMAIAFAG), Commercial Junk Removal & Hauling (HSAKALAB)

Keywords

• Demolition services
• Environmental remediation
• Asbestos PCB removal
• Selective demolition
• Circular construction materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Silkeborg

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Demolition and environmental remediation services: Kingo generates revenue through project-based contracts for total demolition, selective demolition, interior clearance/renovation, decommissioning, and environmental remediation (asbestos, PCB, lead, mold). Projects range from small residential to large-scale infrastructure and high-rise demolition across Denmark and Greenland.
2. Material sales (Kingo Auctions, Kingo Unika): Kingo sells reusable building materials and fixtures through Kingo Auctions (online auctions via third-party auction houses) and the Kingo Unika online marketplace. Materials include bricks, timber, windows, doors, and fixtures from demolition projects.
3. Kingo Recycling (subsidiary): Kingo Recycling operates treatment facilities handling construction and demolition waste, including soil remediation (jordrensning) and material processing, generating revenue from waste treatment and material sales.
4. Diamond drilling and cutting (Brandt Diamant / Diamantgruppen): Subsidiary companies Brandt Diamant and Diamantgruppen (acquired in 2019 and 2020) provide diamond drilling and cutting services, contributing separate revenue streams within the Kingo Group.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Kingo Karlsen A/S is a Danish demolition and environmental remediation contractor offering selective demolition, total demolition, interior clearance and renovation, decommissioning and scrapping of industrial facilities, and hazardous-substance removal (asbestos, PCB, lead, mold). The company operates a circular demolition model, recovering reusable building materials through pre-demolition auctions (Kingo Auctions), an online reuse marketplace (Kingo Unika), and a recycling subsidiary (Kingo Recycling), with related diamond drilling and cutting services delivered via subsidiaries Brandt Diamant and Diamantgruppen.

Product overview

Kingo Karlsen operates as a demolition and environmental services company offering a comprehensive suite of services centered on circular demolition principles. The core offering includes demolition services (totalnedrivning), environmental remediation (miljøsanering), environmental mapping, interior clearance/renovation, and decommissioning/scrapping. Supporting services include Kingo Auctions for selling materials from demolition sites, Kingo Unika online marketplace for reused building materials, and Kingo Genbrug recycling operations. The company also operates Kingo Greenland as a joint venture for Greenland operations. Approximately 95% of all building materials handled are recycled, with increasing focus on direct reuse. The company is certified in Quality (ISO 9001), Environment (ISO 14001), and Occupational Health and Safety (DS/ISO 45001).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kingo Recycling: Recycling and material handling operations for construction waste and demolition materials
• Kingo Auctions
• Kingo Genbrug
• Kingo Unika
• Kingo Greenland (Kingo Grønland)

Products and services

• Kingo Demolition Services (Selective and Total Demolition) Full-service demolition contracting for residential, commercial, industrial, and infrastructure projects across Denmark and Greenland, including selective demolition, total demolition, interior clearance, and controlled blasting for high-rise and stadium structures.
• Environmental Remediation (Miljøsanering) Specialized removal of hazardous substances (asbestos, PCB, lead, mold) from buildings prior to or during demolition, including proprietary thermal PCB stripping, ProSeal PCB source sealing, and a self-developed mobile steel shot blasting system for environmental remediation of painted concrete surfaces (80% less waste than conventional sandblasting).
• Environmental Mapping (Miljøkortlægning) Pre-demolition identification and documentation of environmentally hazardous substances in buildings, including sampling for asbestos, PCB, chlorinated paraffins, PAH, and heavy metals, with mapping reports delivered via the Inspectly digital system.
• Decommissioning and Scrapping (Demontering og skrotning) Dismantling of industrial facilities, including factories, port facilities, boilers, power plants, steel chimneys, transport facilities, tank facilities, and steel halls, with metals recycled into the value chain (e.g., Ørsted H.C. Ørstedsværket — ~4,300 tons of steel removed).
• Kingo Auctions (Kingoauktioner) Auction service selling reusable building materials and fixtures (bricks, timber, windows, doors, fixtures) salvaged from demolition projects, conducted through partner auction houses before demolition begins to maximize circular-economy outcomes.
• Kingo Unika Online Marketplace Online marketplace selling authentic reused building materials and fixtures (bricks, timber, windows, doors) sourced directly from Kingo demolition projects, supporting circular construction and DGNB documentation.
• Kingo Greenland Services (Kingo Grønland) Demolition, environmental remediation, decommissioning, and scrapping services in Greenland delivered via Kingo Grønland ApS, a 50/50 joint venture with Permagreen Grønland A/S for housing associations, municipalities, contractors, and the Government of Greenland.
• Brandt Diamant Diamond Drilling and Cutting Specialized concrete drilling and cutting services delivered through wholly-owned subsidiaries Brandt Diamant A/S (acquired October 2020) and Diamantgruppen / JM Dansk Betonboring A/S (acquired June 2019), including a patented vibration-free balcony removal method exclusively available in Denmark.
• Kingo Recycling (Kingo Genbrug / Kingo Recycling) Treatment facilities handling construction and demolition waste including soil remediation (jordrensning) and material processing, processing approximately 230,000 tons of materials annually at a 97% recycling rate and saving 30,000 tons of CO2 per year.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of all handled materials recycled (230,000 tons/year), saving 30,000 tons of CO2
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brandt Diamant A/S (Balcony removal collaboration)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2025Kingo and Brandt Diamant offer a combined package for balcony removal projects, where Brandt Diamant uses a patented vibration-free method (exclusively available in Denmark) to remove balconies from outside without entering apartments, followed by Kingo's demolition and remediation work. The collaboration provides a single integrated solution for property developers, reducing coordination complexity and disruption for residents.
• Brandt Diamant A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020Kingo acquired 100% of the shares of the Sjælland-based diamond drilling and cutting company Brandt Diamant A/S effective October 1, 2020. Brandt Diamant continues as an independent company from its facilities in Hedehusene, offering full diamond cutting and drilling services. The acquisition was driven by strategic synergies and shared values around work environment, environment, quality, and development. The company has ~25 employees and 40 years of experience.
• JM Dansk Betonboring A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2019Kingo acquired the Aarhus-based drilling and cutting company JM Dansk Betonboring A/S in June 2019. The company continues to operate as an independent, successful entity under Kingo's ownership.
• Permagreen Grønland A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Kingo Grønland ApS was established in 2015 as a 50/50 joint venture between Kingo Karlsen A/S and Permagreen Grønland A/S (Nuuk). The companies had jointly undertaken major projects in Greenland since 2005 before formalizing the collaboration. Permagreen contributes local knowledge and regulatory expertise in Greenland, while Kingo contributes specialized demolition and environmental remediation capabilities. Kingo Grønland handles environmental remediation, demolition, and decommissioning for housing associations, municipalities, contractors, and the Government of Greenland.
• Campen Auktioner A/SminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerKingo collaborates with Campen Auktioner A/S for conducting auctions over fixtures and materials from demolition projects. Campen Auktioner runs the actual auction process while Kingo coordinates the logistics and timing before demolition begins.
• Lendager GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLendager Group, specializing in sustainable construction, sourced bricks from Kingo's demolition of Jydsk Pædagog Seminarium in Risskov. The bricks were cut from the facade and later used in Lendager's circular building project, Ressourcerækkerne in Ørestad, Copenhagen — Denmark's first residential area built entirely from materials from demolished buildings.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Skanska AB: Global construction and development group with significant Nordic demolition and remediation activity. Comparable on complex urban demolition and ESG-driven circular construction; competes more broadly across construction value chain.
• Peab AB: Swedish construction and civil engineering group that performs demolition and recycling as part of its Nordic operations. Comparable on Nordic public-sector exposure and materials reuse focus.
• Veidekke ASA: Nordic construction and civil engineering contractor with demolition and rehabilitation operations, particularly in Norway and Sweden. Comparable on Nordic public-sector infrastructure customers and project scale.
• NCC AB: Major Nordic construction group with demolition and remediation operations across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. Comparable on circular construction/sustainability positioning and Nordic public-sector customer base; not a pure-play demolition specialist.
• AF Gruppen ASA: Norwegian contracting group with demolition, environmental remediation, and recycling business units. Comparable on Nordic demolition/remediation services and on circular construction theme.
• Per Aarsleff Holding A/S: Large Danish infrastructure and foundation contractor that also performs demolition and environmental remediation as part of broader construction projects. Comparable on customer base (Danish public sector) and large-project execution capability, though demolition is not Aarsleff's sole focus.
• Züblin AG (Strabag): German demolition and special civil engineering arm of Strabag, one of Europe's largest demolition contractors. Comparable on selective demolition and industrial decommissioning expertise.

Direct peers

• Lansen Förvaltning AB: Swedish demolition and environmental remediation specialist with circular demolition and materials recovery operations. Comparable on selective demolition, environmental remediation, and reuse of building materials.
• G. Tscherning A/S: One of Denmark's largest demolition and environmental remediation contractors, operating nationwide with similar selective demolition, environmental remediation (asbestos, PCB), and recycling offerings. Directly comparable to Kingo on services, customers, and Danish market footprint.

Regional players

• M.J. Eriksson A/S: Danish civil engineering and infrastructure contractor active in earthworks and demolition. Comparable on Danish infrastructure customer base and project-based contracting model, though demolition is a smaller part of its portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nedbrydning
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kingo-karlsen-a-s

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Kingo Karlsen