ROBOR

What ROBOR does

ROBOR AG is a privately held Swiss mechanical engineering company founded in Bern in 1848 (relocated to Wünnewil in 1999) that manufactures rack-and-pinion winches (Zahnstangenwinden) and related mechanical lifting equipment. Its core product line spans 11 standardized winch series (Series 10 through 160) covering lifting capacities from sub-2 tonnes to over 70 tonnes in partnership with Feugier Environnement, addressing construction, railway, hydraulic engineering (sluice/gate drives), cable drum handling, mast extraction, wall-mounted lifting, and semi-trailer support applications. Beyond winches, ROBOR produced the MNZ hydraulic door damper line (production discontinued early 2026), Gatic manhole-cover lifting keys, and a pipe-inspection string injection device, while also representing Lock GmbH manual drives and Wittler GmbH's patented DS safety crank in Switzerland.

The business is operated as a Kleinunternehmen with 11–50 qualified employees delivering the full value chain in-house — design (Solid Edge CAD), fabrication in a broad machine-tool workshop, assembly, and on-site installation — which enables short lead times and bespoke Sonderanwendungen for enterprise customers (e.g., a custom 700+ kg switch-cabinet lifting frame for Elektrizitätswerk der Stadt Zürich built in two weeks). Revenue is generated through quote-based one-time hardware sales, project-based custom solutions, and recurring spare parts and maintenance services for an installed base that includes water-infrastructure operators. Commercial reach is direct from the Swiss headquarters supplemented by named representatives in Germany (Hubert Nowack), France (Feugier Environnement), Austria, Canada and the USA (Rigging Specialties / Franz Spichtig). The portfolio has been expanded via succession-driven acquisitions of Mechanik-Norm Heil AG (2013/2015 merger) and CHACO AG (2018), and via a 2016 strategic partnership with Feugier Environnement that materially extends the company's hydro-engineering product range.

Name

ROBOR

Legal name

ROBOR AG

Website

https://robor.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1848

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ROBOR AG is a privately held Swiss manufacturer of rack-and-pinion winches and mechanical lifting systems, serving water-infrastructure, railway, construction, and industrial customers across 13 product series via direct sales and international representatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mechanical Lifting Equipment

NAICS

Mechanical Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (333613), Machine Shops; Turned Product; and Screw, Nut, and Bolt Manufacturing (3327)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Cutlery, Handtools & General Hardware (3420)

akta.pro primary industry

Winches & Capstans (IMAHAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Lifting Systems (Hydraulic Gantries, Strand Jacks, Jacking Systems) (IMAHAJAO), Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ), Conveying, Hoisting & Materials Handling Systems (Conveyors, Stackers/Reclaimers, Winches) (IMAKANAE)

Keywords

• Rack-and-pinion winches
• Mechanical lifting equipment
• Hydraulic door dampers
• Manhole cover keys
• Custom lifting solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Wünnewil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Standard Product Sales: ROBOR manufactures and sells standardized rack-and-pinion winches across 13 series (S10 through S160), door dampers, manhole cover keys, and string-blowing devices. Products are sold directly and through international representatives. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales with long-term spare parts and maintenance service support.
2. Custom/Special Applications: Design, fabrication, and on-site installation of custom solutions for specific customer requirements. Projects include complete gate replacements, multi-functional lifting frames, and bespoke mechanical systems. These represent project-based one-time revenue.
3. Spare Parts and Maintenance Service: Long-term spare parts supply and maintenance/revision services for ROBOR products. Safety testing services provided. Large stock of spare parts maintained even for older models.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ROBOR AG designs, manufactures, and installs rack-and-pinion winches (Zahnstangenwinden) and related mechanical lifting equipment in Switzerland, with over 175 years of heritage. The portfolio spans 11 standard winch series for construction, railway, hydraulic engineering, and industrial applications, alongside hydraulic door dampers (MNZ line), Gatic manhole cover lifting tools, and string injection devices for pipe inspection. The company also provides custom design, fabrication, and on-site installation services for special applications, complemented by long-term spare parts and maintenance support.

Product overview

ROBOR AG is a Swiss mechanical engineering company with over 175 years of history (founded ~1850) that manufactures rack-and-pinion winches (Zahnstangenwinden) as its core product. The portfolio includes 11 series of winches (Series 10, 20, 30, 50, 60, 80, 110, 68, 120, 150, 160) covering applications from general construction to railway, hydraulic engineering, and industrial uses. The product range also includes door dampers (MNZ line, production discontinued early 2026), manhole cover lifting keys (Gatic line), string injection devices for pipe inspection, and custom special applications. ROBOR additionally represents Lock GmbH (manual rack drives) and Wittler GmbH (DS cranks) in Switzerland, and distributes Feugier Environnement hydro products in German-speaking markets through a partnership established in 2016.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• MNZ: Door dampers (Türdämpfer) product line originally from Mechanik-Norm Heil AG, acquired by ROBOR in 2013. Includes embedded models for elevator doors and surface-mounted models for interior use. Production discontinued in early 2026.

Products and services

• Rack-and-Pinion Winches (Zahnstangenwinden) Manually operated mechanical lifting devices using rack-and-pinion gear systems, sold to industrial and infrastructure operators for construction, railway, hydraulic engineering, and industrial applications. Available with multiple claw configurations, safety cranks, and drive options.
• Türdämpfer MNZ (Hydraulic Door Dampers) Hydraulic cylinder-based door dampers for elevator doors and interior/exterior doors with adjustable closing speed. Includes built-in models (SD, L, G) and surface-mounted models (Z, H) with stainless steel options for humid or outdoor environments. Originally from Mechanik-Norm Heil AG.
• Schachtöffner Gatic (Manhole Cover Lifting Keys) Ergonomic tools for lifting heavy manhole covers, sold to utility, water management, and infrastructure operators. The Gatic Plus variant prevents unintentional release of the cam mechanism during mechanized lifting.
• Schnureinblasgerät (String Injection Device) Construction-site pipe inspection device for injecting string into newly laid pipes, used by construction and infrastructure contractors for pipe verification.
• Sonderanwendungen (Custom/Special Applications) Bespoke design, manufacturing, and on-site installation services for specialized mechanical lifting and positioning requirements. Includes complete gate replacements, multi-functional lifting frames, and bespoke mechanical systems.
• Hydro Products (Feugier Environnement Partnership Line) Rack-and-pinion winches specifically designed for hydraulic engineering applications such as hydroelectric plants, sluice gates, and fish ladders. Distributed by ROBOR in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria in partnership with Feugier Environnement (France).
• Lock Handzahnstangenwinden (HZW Series) Manual rack-and-pinion drives from Lock GmbH represented by ROBOR in Switzerland, complementing the lower power range of ROBOR's own winches. Features self-locking worm gear with optional lateral drive for paired operation.
• Wittler DS-Kurbel (Pressure Roller Safety Crank) Patented Wittler DS crank offered as optional equipment for ROBOR rack-and-pinion winches, sold to industrial customers requiring safe manual operation with automatic braking and bi-directional continuous operation.

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Feugier EnvironnementcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016In 2016, ROBOR AG and Feugier Environnement combined expertise in design and manufacturing of rack-and-pinion winches for water engineering applications. With 200 years of combined experience and thousands of installations, Feugier Environnement is a market leader in France and the French-speaking world. The collaboration enables ROBOR to extend its product range. Together, the companies offer solutions for lifting forces from 0.25 to 70 tonnes per coupling point. ROBOR represents Feugier's hydro products in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria; Feugier represents ROBOR products in France.
• Hubert NowackcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHubert Nowack, a qualified master carpenter (Zimmermeister) founded in 1991, represents ROBOR products in Germany. Specializes in restoration and renovation of historic wooden constructions.
• Rigging Specialties (Franz Spichtig)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFranz Spichtig represents ROBOR through Rigging Specialties in Canada and the United States.
• Lock GmbHminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorROBOR has represented Lock Antriebstechnik products in Switzerland for many years. Lock, located in southern Germany and family-owned for over 180 years (fifth generation), is the market leader in drive technology for controlled ventilation and shading in greenhouses. Lock's high-quality HZW manual drives (1,000–12,000N) complement ROBOR's lower power range. Models HZW45, HZW53, and HZW55 are generally available from stock in Wünnewil.
• CHACO AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHACO AG from Dübendorf ZH was acquired in early 2018 as part of a succession arrangement. Despite operational integration, CHACO remains a legally independent company.
• Mechanik-Norm Heil AGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMechanik-Norm Heil AG from Bonstetten ZH was integrated into ROBOR in 2013 as part of a succession arrangement. The merger into ROBOR AG took place in mid-2015, combining operational, administrative, and legal processes. MNZ hydraulic door dampers (over 60 years of production) were included in the acquisition.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• David Round & Son: US manufacturer of hoists, winches, and material-handling equipment. Overlaps with ROBOR in chain hoists and winch product categories and serves similar industrial buyers, though with a North American footprint.
• Kito Group: Japanese-headquartered manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and chain blocks with global operations. Competes broadly in the lifting equipment category, including manual winch solutions similar to ROBOR's catalog.
• Columbus McKinnon: Global leader in lifting solutions including hoists, winches, cranes, and rigging products. Overlaps with ROBOR in winches and material-handling equipment but operates at vastly larger scale and broader portfolio.

Direct peers

• Tractel (Tirfor): Tractel's Tirfor brand manufactures mechanical and pneumatic cable pullers, Tirfor winches, and lifting devices. Closely comparable product category (manual/mechanical lifting equipment) for construction, rail, and industrial buyers, with broader global reach.
• Petz GmbH: German maker of mechanical winches, hoists, and lifting tools. Directly comparable to ROBOR in product type, customer base (German-speaking industrial buyers), and small-to-mid specialist positioning.
• Maasland-Ropaflex: Netherlands-based manufacturer of mechanical lifting and pulling devices, including rope and rack-and-pinion-style winches. Closely comparable product offering for industrial, maritime, and construction lifting use cases.
• Habegger AG: Swiss-based manufacturer of mechanical and hydraulic lifting and pulling equipment, including Tirfor-type and rack-and-pinion devices. Highly comparable niche mechanical-lifting specialist with similar Swiss/German-speaking market focus.

Regional players

• Certex Lifting: European distributor and manufacturer of lifting equipment and rigging gear. Comparable in product category (winches, hoists, lifting tools) but focused on wholesale/distribution rather than niche rack-and-pinion specialty manufacturing.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/robor-swissquality

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 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 ROBOR