Derap

What Derap does

Derap AG is a privately held Swiss planning and engineering office founded in 1969 and headquartered in Münsingen, Switzerland, serving industrial and infrastructure clients with custom engineering solutions for demanding projects. The firm operates across three core areas: transport systems (monorails, cable cars, and special transport vehicles including the SRT 3.0 multi-articulated vehicles over 30 meters long that fuse tram and bus concepts), systems and mechanical engineering (test benches, system engineering studies and consulting, and robotic system installations), and product development and prototypes. Its delivery model is project-specific rather than productized, combining in-house engineers, designers, and apprentices with a partner network used to flex capacity for large projects and absorb demand fluctuations.

The company's revenue model is professional services based, with quote-based project pricing rather than publicly disclosed rates; its go-to-market is enterprise field sales targeted at industrial customers requiring specialized engineering, such as the Schilthorn Cable Car (automated cargo logistics system for under-cabin load transport) and ski-resort operators (Chuenisbärgli start wall for amateur skiers). Geographic reach spans Europe and Asia, evidenced by the deployment of SRT 3.0 vehicles in China. Customer segments are horizontal within industrial/infrastructure, with a primary focus on transportation, mechanical engineering, and robotic applications. The firm continuously trains employees and renews its equipment, and operates with 11-50 employees per its firmographic data, making it a small specialist engineering boutique rather than a scaled platform.

Name

Derap

Legal name

Derap AG

Website

https://derap-ag.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1969

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Derap AG is a Swiss engineering and planning office, founded in 1969 and based in Münsingen, that delivers custom transport, mechanical, and robotic system solutions for industrial and infrastructure clients across Europe and Asia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Heimberg

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Planning Services: Custom engineering and planning services for challenging customer projects, turning ideas into project-specific solutions across transport systems, mechanical engineering, and robotic systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Derap AG is a Swiss planning and engineering office that designs and delivers custom engineering solutions for demanding customer projects. The company converts client ideas into project-specific solutions across transport systems (monorails, cable cars, special transport), mechanical and systems engineering, robotic systems, and product/prototype development, with cost-conscious design as a stated priority.

Product overview

Derap AG is a Swiss planning and engineering office offering custom engineering services and solutions for challenging customer projects. The company operates across three main areas: Transport Systems (including monorails, cable cars, and special transport vehicles like the SRT 3.0 multi-articulated vehicles), Systems and Mechanical Engineering (comprising test benches, robotic systems, and systems engineering services), and Development/Prototypes (product and systems development). Rather than a unified software platform, Derap provides project-specific engineering solutions tailored to customer requirements, delivered through collaborative partnerships.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Monorails Custom monorail transport systems designed for specific customer requirements, provided to industrial and infrastructure clients needing specialized transport solutions.
• Cable Cars Cable car systems engineering including passenger transport and cargo logistics applications, designed for cable car operators and infrastructure clients.
• SRT 3.0 Multi-Articulated Vehicles Third-generation multi-articulated vehicles over 30 meters in length that fuse tram and bus concepts into a single efficient transport system, built for public transport and large-scale mobility clients.
• Cargo Logistics System (Schilthorn) Automated cargo logistics system engineered for the Schilthorn Cable Car that transports luggage and materials safely and efficiently beneath passenger cabins, delivered for cable car operators.
• Chuenisbärgli Start Wall Start wall installation on the Chuenisbärgli ski slope that enables amateur skiers to use a professional-style race start gate, delivered for ski resort operators.
• Test Benches Custom-designed test bench systems for various testing applications, delivered to industrial clients needing specialized testing infrastructure.
• Robotic Systems Robotic system installations for industrial automation and manufacturing applications, designed for industrial clients seeking automation of production and logistics processes.
• Systems Engineering Studies and Consulting Systems engineering studies and consulting services from concept through implementation, delivered to industrial clients with complex engineering requirements.
• Product Development Custom product development services from concept through prototype, delivered to industrial clients needing bespoke physical products and systems.
• Systems Development Complete systems development including engineering and prototyping, delivered to industrial clients requiring integrated system solutions.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Schilthorn Cable CarnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerDerap AG developed a cargo logistics system for the Schilthorn cable car, enabling automated transport of luggage and materials beneath cabin systems.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EDAG Engineering: Independent engineering services provider specializing in vehicle development, prototyping, and production solutions. Comparable to Derap AG in business model (custom engineering services), capability areas (product development, prototypes, systems engineering), and target customers (industrial clients with complex projects).
• Bertrandt: Independent engineering services provider with focus on mobility, mechanical engineering, and product development. Comparable to Derap AG's service-based engineering model and multi-disciplinary capability areas, though Bertrandt operates at significantly larger scale across European markets.
• IAV: Engineering services firm providing development solutions across automotive, transport, and industrial sectors. Comparable to Derap AG in service-based engineering model and multi-disciplinary capability areas, though IAV operates at much larger scale with a stronger automotive focus.
• Helbling Group: Swiss engineering services firm offering custom engineering, product development, and systems engineering across multiple industries. Directly comparable to Derap AG in business model (project-based engineering services), geographic base (Switzerland), and capability mix (mechanical engineering, prototyping, systems development).

Regional players

• Bartholet Maschinenbau: Swiss manufacturer specializing in cable cars, amusement rides, and custom mechanical systems. Comparable to Derap AG's cable car and special transport engineering, with similar Swiss base and niche specialization, though Bartholet is also a manufacturer rather than pure engineering services.
• Stadler Rail: Swiss manufacturer of rail vehicles including custom and specialty trains, with capabilities in articulated vehicle design. Comparable to Derap AG's special transport system work (e.g., SRT 3.0 multi-articulated vehicles), though Stadler operates at significantly larger scale and is primarily a manufacturer rather than a pure engineering services provider.
• Frey AG Stans: Swiss precision engineering firm specializing in complex mechanical components, assemblies, and system solutions. Comparable to Derap AG's mechanical and systems engineering work and Swiss base, though Frey focuses more on precision manufacturing while Derap emphasizes engineering and prototyping.

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global technology leader with engineering and services across robotics, automation, and transport systems. Comparable to Derap AG's robotic systems and systems engineering capabilities, though ABB is a broad incumbent operating at massive scale across many verticals.
• Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group: World-leading manufacturer of cable cars, ropeways, and aerial tramways. Highly comparable to Derap AG's cable car engineering work (Schilthorn cargo logistics), though Doppelmayr is a much larger global incumbent with broader product portfolios including complete cable car systems.
• Leitner-Poma: Major manufacturer of cable cars, ropeways, and surface transport systems with strong European presence. Comparable to Derap AG's cable car and special transport systems engineering, though Leitner-Poma focuses on full system delivery rather than engineering services.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/derap-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Derap