Habegger cables

What Habegger cables does

Habegger cables is a Swiss manufacturer of manual and motorized wire rope hoists, operating as a product line within Jakob AG (Jakob Rope Systems). Founded in 1951 by Willy Habegger with the invention of the hand wire rope hoist (Handseilzug), the company produces the HIT series of hand-operated hoists (HIT-06, HIT-16, HIT-32) and the motorized HIT-Trac line. The core technology relies on a wire rope fed linearly through two pairs of clamping jaws, with forward and backward lever movement displacing the rope without jolt or slippage. Motorized variants use a patented triebrad (drive wheel) system with a three-point rocker for force transmission. All manufacturing has been consolidated in Trubschachen, Switzerland since 2022.

The company serves industrial and construction, infrastructure, and emergency services customers across Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, and Oceania through a global distribution partner network. Revenue is generated through three streams: hardware sales of rope hoist equipment and accessories, usage-based rental services (Mietservice) available for pickup at the Trubschachen facility, and professional consulting and support services for rope and lifting technology applications. Notable customers include Feuerwehr Olten for emergency lifting operations and infrastructure projects such as cable-supported utility bridges in Bern.

Habegger was acquired by Jakob AG in 2016 and fully integrated by 2021. The company holds ISO 9001 certification (Jakob Switzerland and Jakob Saigon) and ISO 14001 certification (Jakob Saigon). The "Swiss Quality" brand designation, built over 70+ years, represents a key intangible asset. No external investment, venture backing, or public market participation is disclosed.

Name

Habegger cables

Legal name

Jakob AG

Website

https://habegger-hit.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1951

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Habegger cables is a Swiss manufacturer of manual and motorized wire rope hoists serving industrial, construction, infrastructure, and emergency services customers globally through a distribution partner network, operating as a product line of Jakob AG since 2016.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lifting Equipment

NAICS

Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923)

akta.pro primary industry

Hoists (Electric, Manual & Pneumatic) (IMAHAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Crane & Hoist Components (Wire Rope, Chain, Drums, Sheaves, Motors, Controls) (IMAHAJAK), Lifting Attachments & Material Handling Accessories (Fork Attachments, Slings, Rigging) (IMAHABAJ)

Keywords

• Wire rope hoists
• Manual cable pulls
• Motorized rope lifts
• Industrial lifting equipment
• Construction rigging tools

Headquarters

HQ city

Trubschachen

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Rope Hoist Equipment Sales: Sale of Habegger brand rope hoists including manual (HIT series) and motorized versions (HIT-Trac series) along with accessories for lifting and hoisting applications.
2. Rental Services: Flexible rental of Habegger rope hoists for specific time periods without large investments. Rental equipment can be picked up at Jakob Rope Systems in Trubschachen, with transport arranged upon request.
3. Consulting and Support Services: Comprehensive consulting and services for the use of Habegger HIT rope hoist devices and all other areas of rope and lifting technology.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Habegger Cables manufactures manual and motorized wire rope hoists and accessories under the Jakob Rope Systems brand. The product line includes HIT-series hand hoists (HIT-06, HIT-16, HIT-32) with pulling forces ranging from compact to over 3 tons, HIT-Trac motorized hoists based on a patented drive wheel system, tested accessories, and a flexible rental service. All products operate on the original 1951 Willi Habegger invention in which wire rope is fed linearly through two pairs of clamping jaws.

Product overview

Habegger cables is a product line of rope hoists and lifting equipment manufactured by Jakob Rope Systems. The product portfolio consists of hand-operated wire rope hoists (HIT-06, HIT-16, HIT-32) offering pulling forces ranging from compact to over 3 tons, and motorized wire rope hoists (HIT-Trac series) featuring a patented chain wheel system. All products operate on the same functional principle invented by Willi Habegger in 1951: a wire rope of any length is fed linearly through two pairs of clamping jaws, and the rope is displaced without jolt or slippage by moving the drive lever back and forth. The product line is complemented by tested accessories and a rental service, all manufactured in Trubschachen, Switzerland since 2022.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HIT (Handseilzug): Original hand-operated wire rope hoists including HIT-06, HIT-16, and HIT-32 models with pulling forces exceeding 3 tons
• HIT-Trac

Products and services

• HIT-06 Hand Wire Rope Hoist A small and lightweight hand-operated wire rope hoist based on the original Habegger invention from 1951, intended for versatile lifting applications in industrial and construction settings.
• HIT-16 Hand Wire Rope Hoist A strong and compact all-rounder hand wire rope hoist suitable for a wide range of lifting applications with robust performance capabilities.
• HIT-32 Hand Wire Rope Hoist A powerful hand wire rope hoist with a pulling force of over 3 tons, representing the high-capacity end of the Habegger hand hoist line for demanding lifting tasks.
• HIT-Trac Motorized Wire Rope Hoist A motorized wire rope hoist based on the same functional principle as the original Habegger hand wire rope hoist, using the patented triebrad (drive wheel) system with rope guided over pressure and guide rollers and force transmitted via a three-point rocker on the drive wheel flanks.
• Habegger Hoisting Accessories (Zubehör) A complete range of tested accessories designed for safe use with Habegger wire rope hoists, enabling users to maximize the potential of their Habegger devices.
• Habegger Rope Hoist Rental Service (Mietservice) A flexible rental service for Habegger wire rope hoists offered for specific time periods, allowing customers to use the equipment without large capital investment. Rental equipment can be picked up at Jakob Rope Systems in Trubschachen, with transport arranged on request.

Quantifiable outcome

• HIT-32 model provides pulling force of over 3 tons

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Tractel: Tractel is a French-headquartered manufacturer of tirak, tirfor, and other manual/wire rope hoists used in lifting, load handling, and access. It is the most direct competing rope hoist brand to Habegger, with overlapping product categories and similar target customers across industrial, construction, and rescue applications.
• Kito Group: Kito is a Japanese manufacturer of electric chain hoists, wire rope hoists, and crane components serving industrial and construction customers worldwide. It directly overlaps with Habegger in the wire rope hoist category while operating at significantly larger scale and offering a broader standard product range.
• The Crosby Group: The Crosby Group is a global manufacturer of rigging, lifting, and material handling hardware, including chain, shackles, and related accessories often used alongside wire rope hoists. It is a comparable competitor in the lifting accessories segment that complements Habegger's hoist offering and serves the same distribution and end-customer base.
• Verlinde: Verlinde is a European manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and components for material handling, including electric wire rope hoists and jib cranes. It is a direct competitor in the wire rope hoist category with comparable industrial customer bases and similar applications to Habegger's HIT-Trac motorized line.
• Yale Lifting Solutions (Columbus McKinnon): Yale Lifting is a well-known brand of manual and electric hoists, chain blocks, and lifting equipment within the Columbus McKinnon portfolio. It directly competes with Habegger in hand-operated chain and wire rope hoists for industrial, construction, and trade applications.

Broad incumbents

• Columbus McKinnon: Columbus McKinnon is a leading global designer and manufacturer of hoists, cranes, and rigging products, with widely recognized brands including Yale, Shaw-Box, and Coffing. As a broad incumbent in the lifting equipment market, it competes with Habegger in hand and motorized hoists while offering a much wider portfolio across industrial and material handling customers.
• DEMAG Cranes & Components: DEMAG is a global manufacturer of industrial cranes, hoists, and crane components for material handling applications. It competes with Habegger in wire rope and chain hoists, but typically operates at the larger overhead crane system level with a much broader portfolio and engineering footprint.
• Ingersoll Rand: Ingersoll Rand is a diversified industrial manufacturer that produces hoists, winches, and lifting equipment among its broader compressed air and fluid handling portfolio. Its hoist and lifting technologies compete with Habegger in industrial and construction use cases, though lifting is one of many businesses inside the company.

Regional players

• Pfeifer Seil- und Hebetechnik: Pfeifer is a German rope and lifting technology manufacturer with a portfolio similar to Jakob AG, including wire ropes, slings, and lifting equipment. It is a comparable European rope systems specialist that operates in the same regional market as Habegger and competes for similar industrial and architectural customers.

Emerging players

• Liftket / Stafford (European hoists): Liftket (now part of the Stafford group) is a German manufacturer of electric chain hoists and rope hoists serving industrial and stage rigging customers. It is a more focused European competitor that overlaps with Habegger in motorized wire rope hoists for industrial and specialized lifting applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCcbIAcT7FZMkGUjN-5nZnMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/HabeggerSeilzuege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/habegger-maschinenfabrik-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/jakobropesystems
• Pinterestpinterest.ch/jakobropesystems

Compliance3 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 Habegger cables