KIFA

What KIFA does

KIFA AG is a privately held Swiss family-owned industrial company founded in 1923, headquartered in Aadorf, Switzerland, with 51–100 employees and over a century of continuous operation. The company operates two core divisions: KIFA|PACK, which designs and manufactures customized and standardized industrial wooden packaging (crates, boxes, pallets, SBB-compatible frames, collapsing boxes, pressed-wood pallets, and accessories such as VCI films, desiccants, and shock indicators) for premium European industrial customers across aviation, mechanical engineering, automotive, space, defence, rail, logistics, pharmaceutical, and construction; and KIFA|MODUL, a sustainable modular wood construction business that has delivered reference projects including the House of Switzerland at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics and is currently executing the Herzog & de Meuron-designed Children's Hospital in Zurich. A supporting KIFA DIGITAL sub-brand houses the company's software infrastructure.

The company's central technology is a fully digitalized order-to-production system accessible via the browser-based KIFA SHOP portal: customers configure packaging using a 3D CAD tool, download STEP files, receive a binding quotation with guaranteed delivery time within roughly three minutes, and trigger automated production that delivers to the factory gate in as little as four hours. Major customers exceeding 500 crates per month are served via the KIFA Dashboard with direct SAP/Abacus ERP integration and just-in-sequence delivery. Configurations are stored in a per-customer portfolio enabling one-click reordering, and the company holds a broad compliance stack (ISO SQS, ISPM 15/IPPC, PEFC-FSC, REACH, RoHS, ChemRRV, Halal, Kosher) supporting cross-border shipments.

Revenue is generated through one-time sales of customized packaging, standardized pallet/frame/box products, and accessories; professional services for custom packaging development; and transaction-based cut-to-size wood and panel material services, supplemented by episodic high-value revenue from modular construction projects. Go-to-market is dual-channel: self-service e-commerce via KIFA SHOP for mid-market and smaller industrial buyers, and direct field sales plus dedicated dashboard access for enterprise accounts. Pricing is transparent and listed in Swiss Francs (e.g., EPAL Type 1 pallet at CHF 16.30, VCI Fiber Plate at CHF 19.50), with multi-year volume contracts for major accounts. KIFA is described as the Swiss market leader and a European leader in fully digitalized industrial wooden packaging, with no disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or executive turnover.

Name

KIFA

Legal name

KIFA AG

Website

https://kifa.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1923

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KIFA AG is a 100-year-old Swiss family-owned manufacturer of customized and standardized industrial wooden packaging — crates, pallets, frames, and accessories — serving premium European industrial customers in aviation, mechanical engineering, automotive, space, defence, rail, logistics, pharmaceutical, and construction, and also executing modular wood construction projects through its KIFA|MODUL division.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Wooden Packaging

NAICS

Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing (321920), Wood Product Manufacturing (321)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400), Wholesale-Lumber & Other Construction Materials (5030)

akta.pro primary industry

Wood Pallets, Crates & Industrial Wood Packaging (IMADADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wood Drying & Kiln Operations (IMAMABAD)

Keywords

• Industrial wooden packaging
• Custom wooden crates
• Modular wood construction
• Pallets and containers
• CAD packaging configurator

Headquarters

HQ city

Aadorf

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Customised Industrial Packaging Sales: Sale of made-to-measure industrial wooden packaging (crates, boxes, pallets) with individual configuration via 3D CAD configurator. Production time of just 4 hours enables premium positioning.
2. Standard Packaging Products: Sale of standardized packaging products including pallets (EPAL, one-way, chemical, pressed wood), frames, lids, collapsing boxes, and accessories.
3. Packaging Accessories: Sale of accessories including VCI products (fiber plates, films, emitter plates), desiccants, foam, films, felt, screws, and labels.
4. Custom Development Services: Customised solution development service for unique packaging requirements from a few centimeters to over 20 meters, with subsequent portfolio storage for one-click reordering.
5. Custom Wood Cutting Services: Cut-to-size services for solid wood, panel materials (OSB, MFP, 3-ply boards, plywood), with various dimensions and materials available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KIFA AG manufactures and sells industrial wooden packaging products, including customised crates, boxes, frames, lids, pallets, and accessories, ordered through a browser-based 3D CAD portal (KIFA | SHOP) with ERP integration and record-breaking 4-hour production turnaround. The company also delivers sustainable modular wood construction projects through its KIFA | MODUL division.

Product overview

KIFA AG is a market-leading Swiss family business with over 100 years of history in industrial packaging from wood and sustainable modular wood construction. The company operates three main business divisions: KIFA | PACK offers industrial wooden packaging through the KIFA | SHOP online portal and KIFA Dashboard for enterprise customers; KIFA | MODUL delivers sustainable modular wood construction projects; and KIFA DIGITAL provides the digital infrastructure. The KIFA | SHOP platform enables browser-based 24/7 ordering of customized packaging including wooden crates (Types E, 22, 44, 55, 66, H, D), pallets (EPAL, one-way, chemical, pressed wood), frames, collapsing boxes, and accessories (VCI products, shock/tilt indicators, desiccants, films, foams). All products follow KIFA Standard quality with record-breaking 4-hour production times and full digital integration with customer ERP systems. The company serves premium industries including aviation, mechanical engineering, automotive, space, defense, rail, logistics, pharmaceutical, and construction sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KIFA|PACK: Industrial wooden packaging solutions - market-leading division with fully digitalized order processing and production for customized packaging.
• KIFA|MODUL
• KIFA DIGITAL

Products and services

• KIFA | PACK Industrial wooden packaging division offering customised crates, boxes, pallets, and accessories configured via 3D CAD preview with real-time quotation and record-breaking 4-hour production turnaround for premium industrial customers.
• KIFA | SHOP Browser-based online portal (portal.kifa.ch) for configuring and ordering industrial wooden packaging 24/7, featuring 3D CAD configurator with STEP file download, real-time pricing with guaranteed delivery times, ERP integration, and portfolio management for repeat orders.
• KIFA Dashboard Enterprise connection platform for major customers with requirements exceeding 500 crates per month, enabling direct integration to KIFA production systems and enhanced supply chain management capabilities via ERP/SAP connections.
• KIFA | MODUL Sustainable modular wood construction division realising innovative building projects including school buildings, asylum accommodations, the House of Switzerland at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics, and the Children's Hospital in Zurich designed by Herzog & de Meuron.
• EPAL Palette Typ 1 Standard European pallet made of spruce/fir with minimum 22% drying, 1200x800mm dimension, 22kg weight, 1500kg load capacity, ISPM-15 certified.
• Faltkiste (Collapsing Box) Collapsible crates made of birch/eucalyptus plywood in various dimensions (280x280x180mm up to 2580x280x280mm), weighing 1.5-21kg, featuring sides as frame, bottom with wood runner or pallet.
• Kiste Typ E Heavy-duty wooden crate with maximum dimensions of 3500x2000x2000mm when equipped with pallet bottom, 4-sided accessibility.
• Kiste Typ H Heavy version crate with large dimensions (up to 6000x2400x3500mm), hood and base made of solid wood with internal battens, longitudinal and transverse floor beams.
• Pressholzpalette (INKA) Pressed wood pallets available in various dimensions (1200x800, 800x600, 600x400), weighing 3-11kg with load capacities of 250-900kg, ISPM-15 compliant.
• SBB Rahmen Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) compatible exchangeable frames made of spruce/fir with 20-22% drying. Available in interchangeable, non-interchangeable, and KIFA logo variants.
• Massivholz Zuschnitt Custom-cut solid wood (spruce/fir raw) in various dimensions (24x48mm to 120x160mm), ISPM 15 compliant, Quality II/III with optional IPPC marking.
• Plattenmaterial Zuschnitt Cut panel materials including OSB 3, MFP, 3-layer panels, plywood (spruce, meranti, sea pine), available in various thicknesses from 6mm to 32mm.
• VCI Faser Platte (Chip) Cellulose plate impregnated with VCI (Vapor Corrosion Inhibitor), active on both sides, providing protection of 1 plate per m3 volume.
• Trockenmittel (Desiccant) Bentonite-based natural desiccant available in various units (4/8/16/32), compliant with DIN/MIL/AFNOR specifications, suitable for long-term conservation with fleece fabric.
• Drop-N-Tell Stossindikator Shock indicator (25g sensitivity) made of plastic (50x20x3mm), non-resettable, self-adhesive with 105x130mm information label.
• Tip-n-Tell Kippindikator Tip-over indicator at 60 degrees, plastic (70x100x3mm), non-resettable, self-adhesive with A5 warning label.
• Custom Development Services Bespoke packaging solution development for unique requirements ranging from a few centimeters to over 20 meters, with subsequent portfolio storage for one-click reordering and just-in-sequence delivery for high-volume customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Production time reduced to just 4 hours from order to factory gate delivery
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nefab: Swedish-headquartered global industrial packaging specialist offering engineered wooden crates, boxes, and packaging services to OEMs in aerospace, defense, telecom, and industrial equipment — directly comparable to KIFA|PACK in customer base, materials, and customised industrial offering.
• Spreewald Packaging GmbH: German specialised manufacturer of custom industrial wooden packaging for machinery, plant engineering, and heavy equipment — directly comparable in custom crates, dimensional range, and European industrial customer base.
• Boxon: Northern European industrial packaging provider supplying customised wooden packaging, pallets, and protective packaging solutions to industrial customers — closely comparable in product mix, customisation model, and target verticals.
• Falkenhahn AG: German manufacturer of industrial wooden packaging (crates, pallets, containers) serving mechanical engineering, automotive, and heavy-industry customers across DACH — directly comparable to KIFA in geography, product category, and customer profile.
• LEO System GmbH: German provider of industrial packaging and returnable transport systems including wooden containers and customised crates — comparable offering mix and focus on DACH industrial customers.
• Zufall Logistics Group: German logistics and industrial packaging company offering custom wooden packaging solutions alongside transport services to industrial OEMs — comparable as a DACH-based integrated packaging/logistics provider for industrial customers.

Broad incumbents

• Smurfit Kappa: Global paper-based packaging leader with industrial packaging and pallet-box solutions across Europe — a broad incumbent serving the same end customers through mostly paper-based rather than wood-based packaging.
• Mosca GmbH: German industrial strapping and end-of-line packaging machinery and consumables supplier serving the same industrial end customers — adjacent rather than directly competing, but operating in the same DACH industrial packaging procurement environment.
• Mondi Group: Global packaging and paper group offering corrugated, paper-based, and wooden industrial packaging at scale — a broad incumbent that competes for the same industrial packaging spend but with a much larger, paper-centric portfolio rather than KIFA's wooden specialism.

Emerging players

• Pallite Group: UK-based manufacturer of paper-based protective packaging and pallet alternatives targeting sustainable industrial packaging buyers — an emerging player addressing the same sustainability-driven substitution dynamic that KIFA navigates with wood.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kifa-ag

Compliance12 records

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 KIFA