Dornseiff

What Dornseiff does

Dornseiff Autokrane & Schwertransporte GmbH is a German heavy-lift logistics company founded in 1952 and headquartered in Burbach, operating from five regional branches (Burbach, Olpe, Netphen/Siegen, Haiger, Wetzlar) with nationwide service delivery. The company rents mobile cranes (capacities 40–450 tonnes, boom lengths up to 85 meters), crawler cranes, truck-mounted cranes, mini cranes, and aerial work platforms/telehandlers; performs special heavy and oversized transports with permits and escort vehicles; and delivers turnkey machine relocations including disassembly, transport, and millimeter-accurate reassembly for industrial customers.

The technology base is physical-asset intensive: a diversified fleet across Liebherr, Tadano, Terex/Grove, Sennebogen, JMG (electric), and Genie/Terex platforms, augmented by the trademarked HALLENMEISTER® indoor crane system for confined-space and below-runway lifting. Revenue is generated through quote-based, project-specific B2B pricing — typically usage-based or per-project fees covering crane rental with or without operators, special transport fees, and professional services fees for machine relocations. The customer base spans construction, industrial manufacturing, renewable energy (notably wind turbine installation), logistics/freight, and trades (Handwerk), with named enterprise customers including Krombacher Brauerei, Max Bögl, Deutsche Bahn, and pharma/industrial machinery clients. Following the 2024 transfer of ownership to the DID Group and a new managing-director team installed in January 2025, Dornseiff is pursuing measured expansion including a new Haiger branch and energy-transition-aligned electric crane deployment.

Name

Dornseiff

Legal name

Dornseiff Autokrane & Schwertransporte GmbH

Website

https://dornseiff.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Dornseiff is a German heavy-lift logistics company founded in 1952 that rents mobile cranes (up to 450 tonnes), performs special heavy transports, and executes industrial machine relocations for construction, manufacturing, and renewable-energy clients from five regional branches.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Lift Logistics and Crane Rental Services

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924), Specialized Freight (except Used Goods) Trucking, Long-Distance (484230), Specialized Freight Trucking (4842)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Equipment Rental & Leasing (7350), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731), Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cranes, Hoists & Overhead Material Handling (Industrial) (IMAHABAE), Mobile & Crawler Cranes (IMAHAJAA), Truck-Mounted & Loader Cranes (IMAHAJAF), Heavy Machinery & Oversized Equipment (Cranes, Excavators, Presses) (TLACAIAH)

Keywords

• Crane rental services
• Heavy transport logistics
• Machine relocation
• Aerial work platforms
• Industrial lifting solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Burbach

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Kranvermietung (Crane Rental): Rental of mobile cranes, crawler cranes, truck-mounted cranes, and compact cranes with or without operators for construction, industrial, and infrastructure projects. Pricing based on crane type, duration, and project complexity.
2. Spezialtransporte (Special Heavy Transport): Specialized heavy cargo transport including oversized, overweight, and complex route transport services with necessary permits and escort vehicles.
3. Maschinenumzüge (Machine Relocations): Industrial machinery disassembly, transport, and reassembly services including complete factory relocations.
4. Arbeitsbühnen & Teleskopstapler (Work Platforms & Telehandlers): Rental of trailer-mounted work platforms, truck-mounted work platforms, scissor lifts, boom lifts, telehandlers, and mini cranes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Dornseiff rents and operates a fleet of mobile cranes (capacities 40–450 tonnes, boom lengths up to 85 metres), provides special heavy and oversized transport services with escort vehicles, performs industrial machine relocations and assembly, and rents aerial work platforms and telescopic forklifts. Services are delivered nationwide in Germany from five regional branches using the company's own qualified operators, dispatchers and service workshops.

Product overview

Dornseiff is a crane rental and heavy logistics company offering a comprehensive fleet of mobile cranes, telescopic cranes, and specialized lifting equipment. The product portfolio includes Autokrane (mobile cranes) ranging from 40 to 450 tons capacity, Teleskopkrane, Spezial-Mobilkran AC 45 City, Raupenkrane, Mobile Faltkrane, LKW-Ladekrane, HALLENMEISTER® indoor cranes, and Elektromobilkrane. Beyond crane rental, services include Maschinenumzüge (machine moves), Spezialtransporte (special transports), and Arbeitsbühnen & Teleskopstapler (work platforms and telescopic forklifts). The company operates from multiple locations in Germany (Burbach, Olpe, Siegen, Haiger, Wetzlar) and serves customers across construction, industry, and infrastructure sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HALLENMEISTER®: Special indoor crane system for confined spaces and below crane runway installations

Products and services

• Mobile Crane Rental (Autokrane)
• Machine Relocations and Industrial Assembly (Maschinenumzüge)
• Special Heavy Transport (Spezialtransporte)
• Aerial Work Platforms and Telehandler Rental
• HALLENMEISTER® Indoor Crane Service

Quantifiable outcome

• Lifting capacities from 40 to 450 tonnes; boom lengths up to 85 meters; up to 450-tonne tandem lifts performed
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• DID GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company group. Dornseiff operates within the DID Group network alongside other companies including Marcus Transport, Ferdinand Scheurer, and Schmidt-Falbe. The group provides comprehensive heavy logistics services across Germany.
• Schares (Schares Krandienst)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative crane operation with Schares on large infrastructure projects. Joint lifting operation for Wupperbrücke Hammesberg using LTM 1650-8.1 and LTM 1450-8.1.
• Bundesfachgruppe Schwertransporte und Kranarbeiten (BSK)minorOthersIndustry association representing crane and heavy transport companies in Germany. Wolfgang Dornseiff (former managing shareholder) was elected to the BSK board.
• Verband der Bergungs- und Abschleppunternehmen e.V. (VBA)minorOthersIndustry association for recovery and towing companies. Dornseiff honored for 50 years of membership in August 2024.
• System Lift Partner (Genie / Terex)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDornseiff is a System Lift partner, offering Genie (Terex) aerial work platforms for rental, including the Genie SX-180 telescopic work platform with 57m working height.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Felbermayr Transport- und Hebetechnik GmbH: Austrian-headquartered heavy-lift and transport group with a substantial German footprint offering mobile and crawler crane rental, heavy haulage, and civil engineering services directly comparable to Dornseiff's full-service portfolio.
• Wiesbauer GmbH & Co. KG: German crane rental and heavy-haul specialist operating a large fleet of mobile and crawler cranes nationwide; competes head-to-head with Dornseiff on construction, industrial, and infrastructure projects across Germany.
• Universal Transport GmbH: German and European heavy-goods transport and crane company focused on oversized and overweight cargo; competes with Dornseiff on Spezialtransporte and escort-vehicle services.
• Hüffermann Transportsysteme GmbH: German provider of heavy transport and crane services, including low-loader and modular trailer solutions, overlapping directly with Dornseiff's Spezialtransporte and Schwertransport offering.
• Riga Mainz GmbH & Co. KG: Mid-sized German heavy-haul and crane service provider in the Mainz/Rhine-Main region, comparable to Dornseiff in scope and customer segments (industrial, construction, infrastructure).
• Scholpp GmbH: Stuttgart-based heavy-lift crane rental company with a similar mix of mobile cranes, large all-terrain units, and project cargo services aimed at industrial and infrastructure customers in Germany.

Broad incumbents

• Sarens NV: Global heavy-lift and crane rental incumbent with a much larger fleet and international reach; competes with Dornseiff on large-scale wind, industrial, and infrastructure projects across Europe.
• Mammoet Holding B.V. World-leading heavy lifting and transport company with a broad global portfolio of crawler cranes, modular trailers, and engineered heavy-lift services; sets the competitive ceiling for German regional players like Dornseiff.

Emerging players

• Böcker Maschinenwerke GmbH: German manufacturer and rental company specializing in truck-mounted cranes, elevators, and work platforms; overlaps with Dornseiff's LKW-Ladekrane and Arbeitsbuehnen product lines, particularly as Böcker expands its rental footprint.

Regional players

• Kranservice Steiger GmbH: Smaller German regional crane rental company focused on construction and industrial customers; shares Dornseiff's project-based rental and operator business model, though with a narrower geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dornseiffautokraneundschwertransporte
• Instagraminstagram.com/dornseiff_unternehmensgruppe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Dornseiff