What Calag Carrosserie Langenthal does

Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG is a privately held Swiss industrial manufacturer founded in 1888 and headquartered in Langenthal, Switzerland, with a branch service center in Oensingen. The company operates two principal divisions — Fahrzeugbau (vehicle construction) and Kabinenbau (cabin construction) — alongside bodywork repair, painting, and lettering/signage services. In vehicle construction, Calag produces custom commercial vehicle bodies including bulk goods bodies (where it is the Swiss market leader), refrigerated vehicles (under the Chéreau agency), crane and hydraulic installations, silo and tank bodies, containers, roll-on/roll-off and skip loaders, box bodies, beverage vehicles, defense/protection/rescue vehicles, and special bodies; since October 2025 it is also the official Swiss importer for Knapen moving floor trailers. In cabin construction, Calag designs and builds funicular railway carriages, aerial tramway cabins (including the North Star cruise-ship observation cabin for Royal Caribbean via Bartholet), and special cabins for tourism, amusement rides, and industrial applications such as PT Freeport Indonesia's mining service tram, drawing on the inherited Gangloff engineering archive of more than 200 aerial tram cabins, 60 funicular carriages, and 75 gondola sets spanning 50+ years.

The company serves a diversified B2B and B2C customer base: logistics and transport companies, federal and cantonal government and defence buyers, international ropeway operators (Pilatus-Bahnen, Garaventa, Niederhornbahn AG, St. Luc/Chandolin), insurance companies, and private individuals requiring accident repair and painting. Operations run from a 12,610 m² Langenthal headquarters with a 630.24 kWp rooftop photovoltaic installation (commissioned 2015) and a 742 m² Oensingen service center near the A1/A2 motorway intersection, employing approximately 200 staff as of 2020-2026.

Calag's revenue model is project-based bespoke manufacturing combined with recurring service and repair work. B2B enterprise sales are driven by direct regional sales representatives covering Swiss Mittelland, Central, and Eastern Switzerland, dedicated cabin construction sales contacts, and participation in international industry events (Cable Car World, Mountain Planet, Interalpin). The company holds ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, EUROGARANT, REPANET SUISSE, EnAW CO2/kWh reduction, and CARROSSERIE SUISSE certifications. Ownership has been concentrated under managing director and sole shareholder Kurt Späti since 2004, with executive leadership spanning second-generation family members (Michael Späti) and technical specialists (Thomas Hüglin for vehicle/cabin construction; the former Gangloff owner Marc Pfister on the board for cabin sales).

Name

Calag Carrosserie Langenthal

Legal name

Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG

Website

https://calag.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1888

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG is a Swiss industrial manufacturer, active since 1888, that designs custom commercial vehicle bodies, funicular carriages, and aerial tramway cabins for logistics firms, government/defence buyers, ropeway operators, and private customers from its Langenthal headquarters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Vehicle Body Manufacturing

NAICS

Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (3362), Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Motor Vehicle Supplies and New Parts Merchant Wholesalers (42312)

SIC

Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Wholesale-Motor Vehicles & Motor Vehicle Parts & Supplies (5010)

akta.pro primary industry

Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Truck Body & Upfitting Manufacturing (Box Bodies/Service Bodies/Cranes/Liftgates) (IMACABAI), Specialty Vehicle Body Manufacturing (Emergency/Military/Mobile Clinics) (IMACAGAD), Specialty Utility & Maintenance Vehicle Manufacturing (Street Sweepers/Vacuum Trucks) (IMACAFAI)

Keywords

• Commercial vehicle body manufacturing
• Ropeway cabin construction
• Vehicle bodywork repair
• Industrial vehicle painting
• Vehicle lettering signage

Headquarters

HQ city

Langenthal

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Vehicle Body Manufacturing: Custom vehicle body construction including bulk goods transport bodies (market leader), refrigeration vehicles, crane installations, silo and tank bodies, container systems, bridge structures, roll-on/off and skip loaders, cone-setting vehicles, box bodies, and beverage vehicles. Revenue from project-based manufacturing contracts.
2. Cabin Construction: Funicular railway carriages, aerial tramway cabins, special cabins for tourism, amusement parks, and urban transport. Revenue from bespoke manufacturing contracts for international cable car projects.
3. Bodywork Repair Services: Accident damage repair, dent and scratch repair for passenger cars and commercial vehicles up to 3.5t, glass replacement, hail damage, rust treatment, and comprehensive damage management.
4. Repair & Service: Service and repair work for truck bodies, trailers, hydraulic systems, electrical systems, chassis straightening, brakes, crane and hydraulic work, MFK inspection.
5. Painting Services: Industrial painting for cabins, railway vehicles, defence equipment, passenger vehicles, commercial vehicles, sandblasting, and Rhino Linings protective coating.
6. Lettering/Signage: Vehicle lettering, building signage, window films (sun protection, design, safety, bird protection), fleet lettering, body protection film.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG manufactures custom commercial vehicle bodies (bulk goods transport, refrigerated, crane, silo/tank, box, beverage, defense, bridge, container, and special bodies) and bespoke ropeway cabins (funicular carriages, aerial tramway cabins, and special cabins for tourism, mining, and cruise ship applications). The company additionally provides vehicle bodywork repair and accident damage management, industrial and vehicle painting, MFK inspection, vehicle and building lettering/signage, and window films. Operations span two Swiss facilities with approximately 200 employees serving enterprise customers across Switzerland and international ropeway projects.

Product overview

Calag Carrosserie Langenthal AG operates as a comprehensive vehicle construction and bodywork company with two core divisions: Vehicle Construction (Fahrzeugbau) and Cabin Construction (Kabinenbau). The Vehicle Construction division offers 14 product categories including bulk goods bodies (market leader in Switzerland), refrigerated vehicles (CHEREAU agency), crane bodies, moving floor trailers (Knapen Swiss importer), tank/silo bodies, containers, and special bodies. The Cabin Construction division produces custom carriages for funicular railways (including the Pilatus Railway), aerial tramway cabins with climate control systems, and special cabins for industrial and amusement applications. Supporting services include commercial and passenger vehicle bodywork repair, classic car restoration, painting (industrial, vehicle, cabin/railway), vehicle and building signage/lettering, window films, and comprehensive repair & service including Swiss MFK vehicle inspection. The company employs approximately 200 staff across its Langenthal headquarters and Oensingen service center, serving logistics companies, public authorities (defense, civil protection), transport companies, and private customers throughout Switzerland.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Calag Gangloff: Cabin construction division specializing in aerial cableway cabins, funicular cars, and special cabins for tourism and industrial applications.

Products and services

• Bulk Goods Vehicle Bodies (Losegutaufbauten) Custom vehicle bodies for bulk goods transport. Calag is the market leader in this segment in Switzerland, serving logistics companies and transport operators.
• Refrigerated Vehicles (Kühlfahrzeuge) Refrigerated and isothermal vehicle bodies acquired through the Gangloff takeover. Calag holds the CHEREAU cold vehicle agency for Switzerland.
• Crane Bodies (Kranaufbauten) Custom crane installations and hydraulic crane setups for commercial vehicles, using Palfinger crane systems.
• Moving Floor Trailers (Schubbodenauflieger) Knapen moving floor trailers for bulk goods transport. Calag serves as the official Swiss importer for Knapen bulk goods transport trailers since October 2025.
• Silo and Tank Bodies (Silo- und Tankaufbauten)
• Container Bodies
• Roll-on/Roll-off and Skip Loaders (Abroll- und Absetzkipper)
• Box Bodies (Kofferaufbauten)
• Beverage Vehicles (Getränkefahrzeuge)
• Defense / Protection / Rescue Vehicle Bodies
• Bridge Construction Bodies (Brückenaufbauten)
• Cone Setting Vehicles (Kegelsetzfahrzeuge)
• Special Vehicle Bodies (Spezialaufbauten)
• Funicular Railway Carriages (Standseilbahn-Wagen) Custom-designed carriages for funicular railways, including the Pilatus Railway project (world's steepest cogwheel railway). Produced with lightweight metal construction techniques.
• Aerial Tramway Cabins (Pendelbahn-Kabinen) Cabins for cable cars and aerial tramways, including special observation cabins like North Star for cruise ships. Features climate control panels and custom LED lighting systems.
• Special Cabins (Spezialkabinen) Custom-designed cabins for amusement rides, service trams (e.g., PT Freeport Indonesia mining application), and unique transport requirements.
• Commercial Vehicle Bodywork (Carrosserie Nutzfahrzeuge)
• Passenger Car Bodywork (Carrosserie Personenwagen)
• Classic Car Restoration (Oldtimerrestauration)
• Repair & Service (Reparatur & Service)
• Painting (Lackierung)
• Vehicle Lettering (Fahrzeugbeschriftung)
• Building Signage (Gebäudebeschriftung)
• Window Films (Fensterfolien)
• Prototype Construction (Prototypenbau)
• Development, Production & Project Management

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-40 inspection orders per year for cabin maintenance, with trend rising
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gangloff Cabins AG (Acquired Division)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 March 2018Calag acquired the cabin construction division from Gangloff Cabins AG (BMF Group) in March 2018. This included the entire spare parts service, conversion and overhaul work, services and special constructions. The acquisition made Calag an independent manufacturer of aerial ropeways, funiculars, and special cabins.
• Bartholet Maschinenbau AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for cruise ship North Star observation cabin projects. Calag manufactures specialized cabins as contract manufacturer for Bartholet.
• Stadler RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pilatus Railway modernization project. Stadler is responsible for project coordination and drive unit construction on the substructure, while Calag builds the railcar cabins.
• Küchler DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss industrial designer responsible for Pilatus Railway railcar design. Calag implements the design in cabin construction.
• Seilbahnen SchweizminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss cable car industry association partnership for industry representation and networking.
• Palfinger AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCrane systems partner for hydraulic crane installations on vehicle bodies.
• Jean Chéreau SASminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCHEREAU refrigerated vehicle brand representation in Switzerland acquired with Bernische Carrosserie Gangloff AG in 2015.
• FFB Feldbinder Spezialfahrzeugwerke GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepair and service partner for Feldbinder special vehicle products.
• Knapen TrailersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMoving floor trailer importer for Switzerland since October 2025.
• CARROSSERIE SUISSEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss body shop association membership with certification meeting Carrosserie Suisse standards.
• REPANETminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of excellent bodywork and vehicle paint shops. Calag is a certified Repanet Partner.
• Energie-Agentur der Wirtschaft (EnAW)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy management partnership for CO2 and energy consumption reduction, meeting federal and cantonal requirements.
• Kurt Dinkel Karosserie-Fahrzeugbau GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRepair and service partner for special vehicle body work.
• Walser Schweiz AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle equipment and accessories partner.
• Kraker Trailers Axel B.V.minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrailer systems partner for special transport solutions.
• Carvolution AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCar subscription service partner for vehicle body work.
• ClearcarrepminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClear car repair network partner for standardized repair services.
• Green Car RepairminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSustainable repair services network partner.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Ernst Meier Carrosserie AG: Swiss vehicle bodywork and commercial vehicle body builder. Comparable in scope to Calag's bodywork and commercial vehicle construction divisions, with overlapping customer base.
• Bartholet Maschinenbau AG: Swiss ropeway and amusement ride manufacturer and Calag's contract partner for North Star cruise ship cabins. Direct peer in the funicular, cable car, and special-cabin niche Calag serves through the inherited Gangloff division.
• Carrosserie Hess AG: Swiss manufacturer of bus bodies and commercial vehicle bodies. Closest direct peer for Calag's vehicle body and bus bodywork operations, sharing Swiss market focus and similar customer base (transit authorities, fleet operators).
• Witzig AG Fahrzeugbau: Swiss commercial vehicle body and trailer manufacturer. Direct peer for Calag's bulk goods, silo, tank, and special body construction lines, serving the same logistics and freight customers in Switzerland.
• Carrosserie Erni AG: Swiss commercial vehicle bodywork and repair shop. Direct peer for Calag's carrosserie (bodywork) and repair services in the Swiss domestic market.
• CWA SA (Constructions Câblées et Wagonnets Aériens): Swiss ropeway cabin manufacturer (part of Doppelmayr group). Direct peer in Calag's cabin construction division, competing for the same cable car and aerial tramway cabin contracts internationally.

Emerging players

• CHEREAU (Jean Chéreau SAS): French refrigerated vehicle body manufacturer represented in Switzerland by Calag. Adjacent partner/peer in the refrigerated body niche where Calag holds the Swiss agency.
• Knapen Trailers (Axel B.V.): Dutch moving-floor trailer manufacturer for which Calag became official Swiss importer in October 2025. Adjacent partner and reference peer for Calag's bulk goods and special trailer business.

Broad incumbents

• Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group: Global ropeway systems incumbent owning CWA. Broader incumbent in cable car systems, often specifying cabin suppliers — sometimes a customer of Calag (via Garaventa AG) and sometimes a competitor through CWA.
• Leitner Group: Italian-based global ropeway and rope-assisted transit manufacturer. Broader incumbent competing for international aerial tramway and funicular projects where Calag's cabin division also bids.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmcFZqVj7yr-C3S8Kl7Fguw
• Facebookfacebook.com/calag.carrosserie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/calag-carrosserie-langenthal
• Instagraminstagram.com/calag_beschriftung

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Calag Carrosserie Langenthal