Girsberger

What Girsberger does

Girsberger Elektronik AG is a privately held Swiss family-owned company founded in 1966 in Flaach, Switzerland, specializing in professional avalanche prevention, LVS (avalanche victim search) training, and mountain rescue technology. The company develops and manufactures a complete product ecosystem including the ATC Avalanche Training Center (a stationary LVS training facility supporting up to 16 transmitters for simulating single and multiple burials), the RTX457 mobile training system (2–6 remote-controlled transmitters with automatic probe-hit detection), the HAS457-2 helicopter-mounted 457 kHz omnidirectional antenna system for aerial search, and a range of LVS checkpoints, educational tools, and intercom adapter cables. By deliberate strategic choice in 2017, the helicopter system remains analog to preserve range and avoid certification complexity.

Girsberger operates an enterprise field-sales model with personalized consultation, combined with a network of regional channel partners covering Austria (PREFACT), Italy (Outback 97), France (Innov'Pro Avalanche), and Australia/Asia-Pacific (Rolf Schönfeld). Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of small-batch Swiss-made equipment, complemented by warranty and maintenance services (including Mammut Barryvox LVS servicing) and LVS training workshops delivered at customer sites and ATC locations. Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed, with a 2-year factory warranty on all Girsberger products.

The customer base spans ski resorts and tourism regions (Laax/Weisse Arena, Zermatt Bergbahnen, Bergbahnen Braunwald, Aletsch Arena), alpine rescue organizations (Alpine Rettung Schweiz, Bergrettung Tirol/Vorarlberg/Liechtenstein/Südtirol, CNSAS Italy), helicopter rescue operators (Air Zermatt, Air Glacier, REGA, Flugrettung Südtirol/Weisses Kreuz, Wanaka Alpine Cliff Rescue), military mountain services (Schweizer Armee), equipment manufacturers (Mammut, Ortovox), and mountain guide schools. The company also co-developed the Alpinlog digital accident documentation app with PREFACT and INFLEX, integrating it with the Leitstelle Tirol dispatch center.

Name

Girsberger

Legal name

Girsberger Elektronik AG

Website

https://girsberger-elektronik.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1966

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Girsberger Elektronik AG is a Swiss family-owned manufacturer of professional avalanche rescue and LVS training equipment, serving ski resorts, mountain rescue organizations, helicopter rescue operators, and mountain guides across Europe, Oceania, and North America.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mountain Rescue Technology

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

Mountain Safety & Patrol Services (Avalanche Training, Rescue, Medical) (THAAAJAI)

Keywords

• Avalanche rescue equipment
• Mountain rescue technology
• LVS training systems
• Helicopter antenna systems
• Avalanche victim search

Headquarters

HQ city

Flaach

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales: Sale of professional avalanche rescue and training equipment including ATC systems, RTX457 mobile training systems, LVS checkpoints, helicopter antenna systems, and accessories. Products are manufactured in small batches using high-quality sustainable materials in Switzerland.
2. Service & Maintenance: Warranty services, maintenance, and functional testing for Girsberger products. Also includes Mammut Barryvox LVS service for rescue organizations, ski resorts, and schools. Repairs performed exclusively in Switzerland.
3. Training Services: LVS workshops conducted at ATC locations including training sessions for ski resorts, mountain guides, and rescue organizations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Girsberger Elektronik AG manufactures and supplies professional avalanche prevention, LVS (avalanche victim search) training, and mountain rescue technology. Its core offerings include the stationary ATC Avalanche Training Center, the mobile RTX457 training system, LVS Checkpoints (CP2011/CP2022) for transmit verification, and the HAS457-2 helicopter-mounted antenna system for aerial LVS search. All products are developed and manufactured in small batches at the company's facility in Flaach, Switzerland.

Product overview

Girsberger is a Swiss company specializing in professional avalanche prevention, LVS (avalanche victim search) training, and mountain rescue technology, manufacturing all products in Switzerland since 1966. Its product portfolio centers on stationary and mobile LVS training systems — the ATC Avalanche Training Center (stationary, up to 16 transmitters) and RTX457 mobile training system (2–6 transmitters) — supported by a range of accessories including checkpoints (CP2011/Cp2022) for transmit verification, the HAS457-2 helicopter antenna system for aerial rescue, educational tools (TT2022, LVS-Suchstrategie-Lernblache), the Alpinlog accident documentation app, safety children's books, and intercom adapter cables. Together these products form a complete avalanche safety ecosystem covering prevention, training, and rescue for ski resorts, mountain rescue teams, mountain guides, and individual winter sports enthusiasts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATC Avalanche Training Center A stationary LVS (avalanche victim search) training facility installed at ski resorts, mountain huts, and training centers, enabling realistic avalanche rescue exercises with up to 16 transmitters for single and multiple burial scenarios. Battery-powered, no grid connection required.
• RTX457 Mobile LVS Training System A portable, rugged mobile LVS training system supporting 2, 4, 5, or 6 remote-controlled transmitters for realistic avalanche rescue training scenarios including multiple burials, with automatic probe-hit detection via optical and acoustic signals.
• LVS Checkpoint CP2011 An LVS transmit-function verification checkpoint positioned at freeride and ski-touring route trailheads, featuring anonymous passage counting to monitor route usage and optimize safety management.
• LVS Checkpoint CP2022 An LVS transmit-function verification checkpoint installed at parking areas and lift entrances, combining reliable transmit testing with a modern information display for safety communications and advertising.
• HAS457-2 Helicopter Antenna System A helicopter-mounted omnidirectional 457 kHz antenna system for rapid aerial LVS search during large avalanches, post-avalanche hazards, or impassable terrain; temporarily deployed without permanent helicopter installation.
• LVS Trainingstool TT2022 A compact educational tool for instructors demonstrating LVS field lines, signal direction, and coupling positions at 1:10 scale, simulating receiver distance for theoretical avalanche rescue training.
• Alpinlog App A mobile application for standardized digital accident documentation in alpine environments, enabling structured data capture with GPS location, incident type selection, and interface to Leitstelle Tirol emergency dispatch.
• Service & Maintenance Warranty services, maintenance, and functional testing for Girsberger products, including Mammut Barryvox LVS service for rescue organizations, ski resorts, and schools. Repairs performed exclusively in Switzerland.
• LVS Training Workshops LVS workshops conducted at ATC locations including training sessions for ski resorts, mountain guides, and rescue organizations, providing professional avalanche rescue training programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 140 alpine partners worldwide trust Girsberger systems
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PREFACTcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial representative and service partner for Austria. Handles product sales, service, and repairs for Austrian customers. Also developed the Alpinlog digital accident documentation app together with INFLEX.
• Outback 97 ProfessionalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner and installer for Italy. Based in Bergamo, provides sales and support for Italian customers.
• Innov'Pro AvalanchecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOfficial partner for sales and distribution in France. Located in France, supports French market customers.
• Rolf SchönfeldcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorImporter and installer for Australia and Asia-Pacific region. Based in Smoko, Harrietville, Victoria, Australia.
• PREFACT & INFLEXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJointly developed the Alpinlog mobile application for standardized alpine accident documentation. Girsberger distributes this complementary product.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• ABS Avalanche Protection: German maker of avalanche airbag systems (ABS TwinBag) integrated into backpacks and used by ski tourers and guides. Adjacent player in the same backcountry avalanche safety category, addressing a different mitigation approach (pre-deploy) than Girsberger's training and rescue systems.

Direct peers

• Mammut: Swiss-based mountain safety brand producing Barryvox LVS transceivers (the devices Girsberger's ATC and RTX457 systems train on). Girsberger runs authorized Barryvox service for Mammut and the relationship is co-developmental, making Mammut both a service partner and the closest direct peer in the alpine-LVS ecosystem.
• ARVA: French avalanche transceiver manufacturer producing Neo+ and Pro W LVS devices for the French/European market. Direct product overlap in the 457 kHz LVS training and search space and serves the same alpine rescue and ski touring customer base.
• Ortovox: German manufacturer of consumer and professional avalanche safety equipment including the Diract Voice LVS transceiver. Serves the same end customer base of ski tourers, mountain guides and rescue organizations, and is both a Girsberger channel partner and overlapping product-category peer.
• Backcountry Access (BCA): North American avalanche safety equipment maker producing the Tracker LVS, Float avalanche airbag packs and training tools. Closest US-market peer targeting ski patrollers, guides and backcountry recreationists with comparable training-and-rescue categories.
• RECCO: Swedish company making professional helicopter-mounted and handheld avalanche rescue detectors (RECCO R8/R9). Directly comparable in serving helicopter rescue organizations with detection electronics and integrating with rescue operator workflows, including intercom adapters used by Girsberger's customers.

Regional players

• Wyssen Avalanche Control: Swiss manufacturer of remote avalanche control systems including the Wyssen Tower used by ski resorts and government programs. Comparable as a Swiss-headquartered specialist serving avalanche risk mitigation at ski resorts, with complementary (prevention) rather than overlapping training/rescue product lines.

Broad incumbents

• Black Diamond Equipment (Pieps): Acquired Pieps in 2012 and now distributes the Pieps BT Voice and Pro BT transceivers alongside a broad climbing, skiing and mountain safety product catalog. A larger incumbent with overlapping LVS technology but a much wider product portfolio than Girsberger's specialized focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/GirsbergerElektronikAG
• Instagraminstagram.com/girsberger

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Girsberger