What Wüst Metallbau does

Wüst Metallbau AG is a Swiss specialty construction firm headquartered in Altstätten (canton of St. Gallen) that has delivered steel, metal, light-metal/aluminum, and facade construction services since its founding in 1975 by Karl Wüst. The company operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the family-owned Wüst Holding AG, alongside Fairtec AG (exhibition/trade-show construction, founded 2002), F. Hasler AG (staircase construction, acquired 2019), and Theler + Partner AG (maintenance and repair, acquired 2020). With 51-100 employees and a Zürich project office opened in 2019, Wüst serves general contractors, architects, property developers, industrial and commercial property owners, luxury-brand exhibitors (Rolex, Swarovski, Patek Philippe, Victorinox, Nissan Europe), and residential clients across Switzerland, with select international projects in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean.

The company's offering spans the full project lifecycle: cost calculation and CAD-based technical planning in-house, fabrication in its own production halls using CNC machinery and 3D scanning, and professional on-site installation by its own assembly teams. Core competencies include Stahlbau (steel construction), Metallbau (general metal work), Leichtmetallbau (light-metal/aluminum and glass facades), Fassadenbau (facade construction), Messebau (trade-show construction via Fairtec), and Kundendienst (maintenance and statutory fire-protection inspections). Notable technical differentiators are early adoption of circular-construction methodology (Neues Zirkuläres Bauen), demonstrated on the Müllerstrasse 16/20 Zürich office building for Swiss Prime Site where over 20,000 individual components and 41 tonnes of metal were fabricated with 60% material reuse, and 3D scanning for sub-millimetre precision on projects such as Schule Eglisau 2026+ (approximately 400 linear metres of railing). Certifications include EN 1090 and EN ISO 3834 for welding.

Revenue is generated through project-specific custom quotations; each engagement is individually scoped and bid, with no published price list. Go-to-market is sales-led and reputation-driven, with the founder explicitly citing "Mund-zu-Mund-Werbung" (word-of-mouth referrals) as the primary demand engine. Marketing channels combine a project-rich website, an interactive 360° digital experience (launched 2026 at the Rhema trade show), trade-show presence, and vocational-training outreach via three formal apprenticeship programmes. Pricing follows a multi-year contract cadence typical of Swiss construction tenders. The firm is privately held, does not disclose revenue or valuation, and in 2024 transitioned to a new Geschäftsleitung while Walter Wüst remained as Verwaltungsratspräsident, marking a generational handover ahead of the company's 50th anniversary in 2025.

Name

Wüst Metallbau

Legal name

Wüst Metallbau AG

Website

https://wuest-metallbau.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Wüst Metallbau AG is a Swiss specialty construction firm founded in 1975 that delivers steel, metal, aluminum, and facade construction services to contractors, architects, developers, luxury-brand exhibitors, and industrial clients across Switzerland and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Steel and Metal Construction Services

NAICS

Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323), Metal Window and Door Manufacturing (332321), Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322), All Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing (33299)

SIC

Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Prefabricated Metal Buildings & Components (3448), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490), Sheet Metal Work (3444), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal Roofing & Wall Panels (Architectural/Structural) (IMADACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders) (IMADACAE), Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM), Metal Roofing Systems (IMADAFAB), Cold-Formed Steel Framing & Studs (IMADACAF)

Keywords

• Steel construction services
• Metal fabrication
• Facade construction
• Trade show construction
• Architectural metalwork

Headquarters

HQ city

Altstätten

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction Project Revenue: The company generates revenue through the sale of custom-designed, fabricated, and installed steel, metal, and facade construction projects. Services span the full project lifecycle from cost calculation and planning in the technical office through fabrication in own production workshops to on-site installation and assembly. Projects range from small repairs and maintenance to large-scale new constructions and full renovations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Wüst Metallbau AG designs, fabricates, and installs steel, light metal/aluminum, and facade constructions for commercial, industrial, and luxury-brand projects. Operating from workshops in Altstätten, the firm delivers full project-lifecycle services — from CAD planning and engineering through in-house fabrication to on-site assembly and after-sales maintenance.

Product overview

Wüst Metallbau AG is a national and international metal construction company offering a comprehensive portfolio of physical construction services. The core offerings include Metallbau (metal construction), Stahlbau (steel construction), Leichtmetallbau (light metal/aluminum construction), Fassadenbau (facade construction), Messebau (trade show construction), and Kundendienst (customer service). The company provides complete solutions from planning through fabrication in their own production workshops to final installation and maintenance. Related companies under Wüst Holding AG include Fairtec AG (trade show construction), F. Hasler AG (stair construction), and Theler + Partner AG (maintenance services). The company also launched Wüst 360°, a digital experience initiative for virtual project viewing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stahl- und Metallbau (Steel and Metal Construction) Design, fabrication, and installation of load-bearing steel and metal structures for buildings and infrastructure projects in Switzerland and internationally. Delivered as turnkey construction projects for general contractors, architects, and developers.
• Leichtmetallbau (Light Metal / Aluminum Construction) Fabrication and installation of lightweight aluminum and light-metal components, including windows, doors, and curtain-wall elements, for architectural and building-envelope applications.
• Fassadenbau (Facade Construction) Engineering, fabrication, and assembly of building envelopes and architectural facades, including cold/heat-bent glass facades and complex envelope systems for commercial and high-end projects.
• Messebau (Trade Show / Exhibition Construction) Design and build of custom exhibition stands and brand pavilions, including work for luxury-brand clients at international trade fairs.
• Treppenbau (Stair Construction) Custom design, fabrication, and installation of architectural steel and metal staircases for commercial and residential buildings.
• Kundendienst und Servicearbeiten (Customer Service and Repairs) After-sales maintenance, repair, and refurbishment services for installed metal, steel, and facade structures.

Quantifiable outcome

• 60% of material from demolished building was reused in the new Google office building in Zürich (2022/23)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Theler + Partner AGminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Theler + Partner AG, a smaller company specializing in maintenance and repair services primarily for petrol stations (Migrol, Shell, Socar), was acquired in 2020. The company had worked with Wüst for many years, which enabled it to handle larger projects.
• F. Hasler AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019F. Hasler AG, specializing in staircase construction, was acquired in 2019 as part of succession planning. The acquisition brought 16 employees and strong reputation in stair building. Philipp Hasler, son of Simon Hasler, joined Wüst Metallbau's management board as a result of this acquisition.
• Fairtec AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFairtec AG is the company's dedicated trade show construction subsidiary, founded in 2002. It handles the on-site assembly and disassembly of exhibition stands at various trade fair venues, while Wüst Metallbau handles fabrication. Fairtec operates its own modern production and office building (constructed in 2016) and employs its own workforce. In 2024, an extension to Fairtec's production capacity was under construction.
• Ilmer Thies ArchitektenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerIlmer Thies Architekten led the circular construction project at Müllerstrasse 16/20 in Zürich. The architects specifically credited Wüst Metallbau for its willingness to innovate, flexibility, craftsmanship skill, ability to work with reclaimed materials, and willingness to test new connection techniques for reversible building elements.
• Expomobilia AGminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExpomobilia AG of Zürich was Wüst Metallbau's main trade show partner from 1982 onward. The two companies collaborated primarily on the Geneva Motor Show (until 1990) and later on communication trade fairs and the Basel Watch and Jewelry Fair, where Wüst built up to 15 trade show stands with up to 60 people in peak periods.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tuchschmid AG: Swiss metal and steel construction company in Affeltrangen (Thurgau), offering Stahl- und Metallbau, Fassaden and welding services with in-house fabrication. Closely overlaps Wüst in Eastern Switzerland, scope of work, and target customer profile.
• Aepli Stahlbau AG: Swiss steel construction company based in Gossau SG, with in-house Stahlbau, engineering, and assembly for industrial and commercial buildings. Competes with Wüst directly in Eastern Switzerland for steel structure and hall construction bids.
• Sottas SA: Swiss steel and metal construction firm based in Bulle (Fribourg) with a national footprint and full in-house engineering-to-installation capability. Competes with Wüst on commercial, industrial, and infrastructure tenders across French- and German-speaking Switzerland.
• Josef Meyer Stahl und Metall AG: Swiss steel and metal construction firm headquartered in Emmen, offering Stahlbau, Metallbau, and Fassadenbau services across commercial, industrial and infrastructure projects. Direct competitor for Wüst on Swiss building-envelope tenders of comparable scale.
• Ernst Schweizer AG: Swiss metal- and glass-facade specialist based in Hedingen, producing windows, doors, facades, and metal-glass structures for residential and commercial projects. Closely comparable to Wüst's Leichtmetallbau and Fassadenbau lines with similar customer overlap in higher-end residential/commercial.
• Burri Public-Element AG: Swiss facade engineering and prefabricated facade element manufacturer (Glattbrugg). Overlaps with Wüst on commercial facade construction, particularly on architectural, prefabricated, and increasingly modular/sustainable envelope work.

Emerging players

• Frener & Reifer S.r.l. Italian/Swiss facade engineering and construction firm headquartered in Brixen, serving Swiss luxury, museum, and commercial facade projects. Comparable to Wüst in the premium, design-driven facade segment with growing Swiss activity.

Broad incumbents

• Voestalpine AG: Austrian-headquartered steel and metal engineering conglomerate with dedicated steel construction and metal building envelope divisions across Europe. Operates at substantially greater scale than Wüst but competes indirectly on industrial/commercial construction tenders and steel supply.
• Lindner Group: German family-owned building envelope and interior construction group offering facades, steel construction, and fit-out services across Europe. Comparable scope to Wüst's Fassadenbau/Stahlbau/Messebau lines but at materially larger, multi-national scale.
• Gartner AG (formerly Permasteelisa): Global facade engineering and metal construction firm (now Gartner, having absorbed Permasteelisa), with a Swiss operational base in Arbon. Significantly larger and internationally scaled, but directly competes with Wüst on premium architectural facade tenders (e.g., Google-scale tech HQ facades).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries3 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 Wüst Metallbau