Holliger Group

What Holliger Group does

Holliger Group is a Swiss family-owned pallet and wood packaging manufacturer founded in 1917, headquartered in Boniswil, Switzerland. The company manufactures EPAL Euro pallets, CP chemical pallets, one-way and pressboard pallets, pallet frames, lids, folding crates, and the Altuna line of security packaging for high-value goods. It operates six production and service sites across Switzerland and Germany (Boniswil, Villmergen, Weinfelden, Donaueschingen, Wolterdingen, Olten referenced in management) with approximately 85-100 employees, processing 60,000 m³ of wood annually and producing one new pallet every four seconds.

The company's core technology centers on automated pallet lifecycle management. Its service centers deploy 500 sensors, 800 meters of conveyor lines, 172 motors, and 5 robots, including what is described as the world's first saw robot for pallet repair. The proprietary Palettenportal.ch platform provides real-time pallet inventory tracking, credit management, and automated billing for rail transport. Holliger participates in the iPal project with Fraunhofer IML to develop QR-code-equipped EPAL pallets for digital identification.

Holliger generates revenue through a diversified model: pallet sales (new and used), rental subscriptions, repair and sorting services (2.5 million pallets annually), buyback and disposal, storage/inventory management, and custom packaging consulting. Its go-to-market combines enterprise field sales with dedicated account managers for key accounts (Migros, La Poste Suisse, Model AG, SBB), inside sales, on-site service centers at customer facilities, and self-service ordering through the Palettenportal. The company is an EPAL license holder and co-founder of the European Pallet Association, with CEO Pascal Holliger representing the fourth generation of family leadership. The company is family-owned, has never raised external equity, and operates through wholly-owned subsidiaries including Holliger Paletten Logistik AG, Holliger Imballegno AG, and Bregwerk Paletten GmbH.

Name

Holliger Group

Legal name

Walter Holliger Söhne AG

Website

https://holliger.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Holliger Group is a Swiss family-owned pallet and wood packaging manufacturer producing EPAL Euro pallets, chemical pallets, and custom packaging. It serves logistics, retail, and industrial customers across Switzerland and Germany through automated service centers and a proprietary pallet management platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wooden Pallets & Industrial Packaging

NAICS

Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing (32192)

akta.pro primary industry

Pallets (Wood, Plastic, Metal, Presswood) (IMALAFAF)

Keywords

• Wooden pallet manufacturing
• EPAL exchange pallets
• Pallet repair services
• Industrial packaging solutions
• Pallet pooling logistics

Headquarters

HQ city

Boniswil

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Pallet Sales: Sale of new and used EPAL pallets, chemical pallets (CP), one-way pallets, pressed board pallets, and cardboard pallets. Both new and used (refurbished) options available.
2. Pallet Rental: Rental of pallets, frames, and lids for one-time needs or to compensate seasonal fluctuations. Keeps customer capital available.
3. Pallet Repair Services: Sorting, inspection, and repair of pallets according to EPAL quality standards. Automated sorting and robotic repair systems process up to 2.5 million pallets annually.
4. Pallet Buyback and Disposal: Purchase of surplus pallets from customers with transparent accounting. Disposal of defective and old pallets with environmental recovery.
5. Storage/Inventory Management: Warehouse capacity utilization services allowing customers to store pallets and retrieve them via the pallet portal as needed.
6. Packaging Solutions: Sale of wooden crates, folding boxes (Altuna boxes), pallet frames, lids, and Palox containers for agriculture and storage.
7. Consulting Services: Expert consultation on new pallet and packaging unit design, internal process review, drawings, load capacity calculation, and sample production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Holliger Group manufactures, sells, rents, and repairs EPAL-standard wooden pallets (Euro Type 1 and Types 2-7), CP chemical pallets, one-way, pressboard, and cardboard pallets, along with pallet frames, lids, folding frames, Altuna folding crates, custom wooden crates, and Palox fruit/vegetable boxes. The group also operates automated service centers that sort, inspect, and repair pallets, supported by the proprietary Palettenportal.ch online platform for digital pallet management, and offers buyback, disposal, warehousing, and consulting services.

Product overview

Holliger Group operates as a comprehensive pallet and wood packaging solutions provider with a portfolio spanning multiple product lines and services. The core offering includes EPAL exchange pallets (Type 1 Euro pallets and Types 2-7), CP chemical pallets, one-way/disposable pallets, pressboard and cardboard pallets — all supported by complementary pallet frames, lids, and folding frames. Packaging products include Altuna folding boxes/crates, custom wooden crates, and Palox fruit/vegetable crates, with the Altuna security packaging line serving high-value goods. The Palettenportal online platform provides digital pallet inventory management and tracking, while full-service offerings cover buyback, rental, repair, and disposal. Sustainability is integrated through renewable energy and recycling initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Altuna: Security packaging boxes made from MDF fibreboards and plastic profiles, designed for the safe transport of high-value items such as watches, jewellery, medical technology, and precious goods. Available in multiple standard types (AI, AIB, AII, AIIB, AIII, AIIIB, AIV, AIVB) and as custom-made solutions.

Products and services

• EPAL Euro Pallets (Type 1) Standardized EPAL Euro pallet (Type 1, 1200x800x144 mm) governed by the European Pallet Association, available in new or used condition with quality grades (A, B, C) for high-rack storage or exchange. Designed for industrial supply chains across Europe.
• EPAL Pallets Types 2-7 EPAL exchange pallets in non-standard sizes including Type 2 (1200x1000mm), Type 3/industrial (1000x1200mm), and Type 7 (800x600mm), designed for specific industry requirements.
• CP Chemical Pallets Chemical pallets designed for chemical industry standards, available in CP1-CP9 types with varying dimensions and load capacities for transporting chemicals and hazardous materials.
• One-way/Disposable Pallets Cost-effective single-use pallets in various types (Type 0, C3, C4, C5, E1, E2) suitable for export and one-time shipping applications where return logistics are not required.
• Pressboard/Particle Board Pallets Eco-friendly pallets made from recycled wood particles and sawdust, eliminating the need for IPPC certification and ideal for air freight due to their light weight.
• Cardboard Pallets Lightweight pallets made from corrugated cardboard, suitable for single-use applications with load capacities of 200-500kg.
• Pallet Frames Ecological, robust, and stackable pallet frames that increase storage capacity and protect goods, including SBB exchange frames and Type 0/1 frames in various heights.
• Pallet Lids/Covers Pallet lids and covers that protect transport materials from dust, moisture, and external influences, ensuring optimal storage conditions.
• Folding Frames Space-saving folding pallet frames (Type 1-200, Type 1-400) that can be compactly stored when not in use, featuring ISPM15 treatment.
• Altuna Boxes (Folding Crates) Innovative folding boxes made from HDF or plywood with plastic profiles, featuring a click-lock system for quick assembly without tools. Available in 2-way and 4-way entry versions with optional pallet bases, ISPM15 compliant. Includes the Altuna Security line for valuables such as watches, jewelry, and medical devices, which uses MDF and plastic profiles with anti-theft protection requiring special tools to open.
• Wooden Crates Custom-manufactured wooden crates in spruce/fir or plywood, produced to customer specifications with optional product protection and labeling, ISPM15/IPPC compliant.
• Palox (Fruit Crates) Pallet-box combinations ideal for bulk goods like fruits, vegetables, and cereals, available in various sizes (1200x800mm to 1200x1000mm) with ventilation slots and reinforcement corners.
• Palettenportal (Pallet Portal) Proprietary online platform for managing pallet inventories and tracking pallet movements, allowing customers to monitor credit status, track deliveries, view sorting results, and automate billing for rail transport (SBB/CIS-online).
• Pallet Full Service (Lifecycle Management) Comprehensive pallet management services including buyback, exchange, rental, disposal, consulting, on-site sorting/repair, and inventory management to optimize pallet logistics across the supply chain.
• Pallet Rental Service Rental of pallets, frames, and lids for one-time needs or to compensate seasonal fluctuations, preserving customer capital and providing flexible capacity.
• Packaging Consulting Services Expert consultation on new pallet and packaging unit design, internal process review, drawings, load capacity calculation, and sample production for industrial customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 2.5 million pallets inspected, sorted, and repaired annually across service centers
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 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.

• Fraunhofer IML (Institute for Material Flow and Logistics)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint development of the intelligent pallet (iPal) project. QR codes are being tested on EPAL pallets for digital identification and tracking. The project aims to expand EPAL portfolio to include pallets as information carriers.
• EPAL (European Pallet Association)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1991Robert Holliger was a co-founder of EPAL in 1991 and has served as President since 2010. EPAL is the global quality assurance association for exchange pallets with over 500 million pallets in circulation. Holliger operates as an EPAL-licensed manufacturer and repairer, with quality audited by Bureau Veritas.
• Bureau VeritascoreOthersExternal quality assurance partner for EPAL. Conducts unannounced monthly audits at all licensed facilities worldwide to ensure compliance with EPAL technical specifications and drawings.
• SBB (Swiss Federal Railways)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing partnership for rail transport of exchange equipment. In 2022, SBB transport avoided approximately 683 truck journeys. SBB Historic preserves pallet history and standards.
• GS1 SwitzerlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGS1 (formerly SSRG - Swiss Study Group for Standardization) founded the exchange equipment system in 1952. Holliger participates in the standardized exchange system for load carriers.
• EPAL InternationalcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEPAL International in Düsseldorf manages the global EPAL pallet pool and quality standards. Holliger coordinates pilot projects for QR-coded pallets through EPAL International.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PalletBiz: PalletBiz is a European network of pallet manufacturers, recyclers and distributors providing new, used and recycled pallets plus pallet management services across multiple countries. It is comparable to Holliger as a multi-country EPAL/wood pallet production and service provider competing in similar enterprise customer segments.
• CHEP (Brambles): CHEP, part of Brambles, is the world's largest pallet pooling company operating a global CHEP-branded pallet pool across multiple continents. It is comparable to Holliger as a competing exchange-pool operator and pallet management service provider, though at much greater geographic and capital scale than Holliger's DACH-focused EPAL business.

Regional players

• Paletten-Service AG: Paletten-Service AG is a Swiss pallet pooling and EPAL repair service operator offering pallet rental, exchange, sorting and repair across Switzerland. It is a direct Swiss-market peer to Holliger's pallet service centers and competes for the same enterprise customer base.
• CONTERGA: CONTERGA is a Swiss pallet management and exchange-pool operator providing EPAL pallet services including rental, repair and reverse logistics. It is comparable to Holliger as a fellow Swiss-based EPAL service-center competitor addressing similar retail, postal and logistics customers.

Direct peers

• Falkenhahn AG: Falkenhahn AG is a German manufacturer of wooden pallets, pallet collars/frames, boxes and custom industrial packaging with multiple European production sites. It is comparable to Holliger as a DACH-region wood pallet and packaging manufacturer with repair and custom-packaging service offerings.
• ZAPF GmbH: ZAPF GmbH is a German specialist in wooden pallets, pallet collars and containers, with production and service operations across Germany and Europe. It directly competes with Holliger in EPAL and custom wooden pallet manufacturing for industrial and logistics customers in the DACH region.
• LPR – La Palette Rouge (Euro Pool Group): LPR is a major European pallet pooling operator (part of Euro Pool Group) offering rental, collection, sorting and repair services for pooled pallets across Europe. It directly competes with Holliger's EPAL-based service-center model for pallet pooling customers, particularly in retail and FMCG segments.

Emerging players

• PalettenWerk: PalettenWerk is a German online platform connecting pallet buyers and sellers for new and used EPAL, one-way and custom pallets across Germany and surrounding markets. It is comparable to Holliger's Palettenportal.ch in providing a digital marketplace and pallet-management interface, representing an emerging digital-first competitive vector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/holligergruppe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 Holliger Group