Premel

What Premel does

Premel SA is a Swiss electromechanical engineering firm founded in 1947 in Bellinzona, Canton Ticino, that designs, builds, and maintains critical-infrastructure systems across small-scale hydropower, emergency power generation, tunnel ventilation, water treatment, and industrial automation. Its product portfolio covers hydroelectric plants from 20 kVA to 10 MVA (Pelton, Francis, Kaplan, cross-flow, and Archimedean screw turbines), diesel emergency generators from 10 kVA to 3 MVA in stationary and mobile configurations, ventilation systems for highway tunnels (smoke extraction dampers, jet fans, control systems), wastewater treatment plants, PLC-based electrical panels and medium-voltage transformers, and traffic-management equipment including fixed and mobile traffic lights and road signage. Two pending patents — Greenvalve (water flow regulation with energy recovery) and Intelliphore (image-recognition traffic-signal control) — developed with Politecnico di Milano and SUPSI indicate an emerging R&D pipeline beyond traditional engineering.

The business operates on a turnkey engineering model: feasibility study, design, software development, site management, commissioning, and 24/7 maintenance are delivered as a single contract, with revenue split between one-time project sales (hydro plants, generators, ventilation installations) and recurring maintenance/service contracts. Customers span the Swiss Federal Administration, cantonal governments (notably Canton Ticino), hospitals (Regionalspital Bellinzona, Spitalzentrum Biel), telecoms (Swisscom), data centers, retailers, and a long tail of small hydropower operators served through the Swiss Small Hydro association. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales via direct consultation, supported by a multi-language website (Italian, German, French), technical blog content, and distribution partnerships with Klemmfix, Horizont, Triopan, and Polyma in Ticino. The company operates two legal entities — Premel SA in Bellinzona and Premel AG in Dübendorf — and held ISO 9001 certification since 2008, transitioning to ISO 9001:2015 in 2017; in January 2026, Premel was certified as ABB Motion's first authorized partner in Ticino.

Name

Premel

Legal name

Premel SA

Website

https://premel.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1947

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Premel SA is a Swiss electromechanical engineering firm founded in 1947 that designs, builds, and maintains small hydroelectric plants, emergency generators, tunnel ventilation systems, and traffic infrastructure for Swiss public-sector and enterprise clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electromechanical Engineering and Industrial Automation Services

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336), Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation (DCS/PLC/SCADA, SIS, Metering) (EUAEAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Protection, Control & SCADA/Automation Installation (Relay Panels, RTUs) (IMAFAHAF), Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK), Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE), System & Subsystem Commissioning (Mechanical/Electrical/I&C) (EUAEAJAB)

Keywords

• Electromechanical engineering services
• Small hydroelectric power plants
• Emergency generator systems
• Tunnel ventilation systems
• Industrial automation panels

Headquarters

HQ city

Bellinzona

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hydroelectric Plant Systems: Design, construction, and maintenance of small hydroelectric power plants including turbines, generators, penstocks, control systems, and automation. Revenue generated from project-based engineering and installation contracts.
2. Emergency Generator Equipment and Rental: Sale and rental of emergency power generator systems. Rental fleet includes mobile generators (50 kVA, 150 kVA) and stationary units (660 kVA). Revenue from equipment sales, rental fees, and installation services.
3. Tunnel Ventilation Systems: Supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of tunnel ventilation systems including smoke extraction dampers, jet fans, ventilation control systems with soft starters or frequency converters.
4. Maintenance and Service Contracts: Preventive and corrective maintenance services with 24/7 availability. Customized service contracts tailored to client needs, including regular maintenance, revision and repair work across all specialized areas.
5. Traffic Signal Systems and Road Signage: Supply and installation of road signs for cantonal roads and highways, traffic signal equipment, and construction site safety materials including concrete and steel safety barriers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Premel SA is an electromechanical engineering and industrial automation systems provider that designs, constructs, commissions, and maintains critical infrastructure for Swiss customers. Its core offerings span small hydroelectric power plants (20 kVA–10 MVA) with turbines, generators, penstocks and automation, diesel emergency generator systems (10 kVA–3 MVA) for stationary and mobile deployment, highway tunnel ventilation and safety systems, custom electrical panels and PLC-based automation, water treatment plants, and traffic signal/road signage infrastructure. The company delivers each project end-to-end — from feasibility study and design through software development, panel manufacturing, installation, and commissioning — backed by 24/7 preventive and corrective maintenance service contracts.

Product overview

Premel SA offers a portfolio of electromechanical engineering solutions comprising six main product categories: (1) Hydroelectric power plant systems for small hydro installations (20 kVA–10 MVA) including turbines, generators, penstocks, and automation controls; (2) Emergency generator systems (diesel-powered, 10 kVA–3 MVA) for stationary and mobile applications; (3) Tunnel ventilation systems for highway tunnels including smoke extraction dampers, jet fans, and control systems; (4) Water treatment plants for tunnel construction and wastewater purification; (5) Electrical panels and industrial automation including PLC-controlled systems, medium voltage transformers, and pumping systems; and (6) Traffic management solutions including fixed/mobile traffic lights and road signage. Premel provides engineering, construction, and 24/7 maintenance services for all product lines, operating primarily in Switzerland since 1947.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hydroelectric Power Plant Systems (Impianti di centrali idroelettriche) Turnkey small hydroelectric power plants in the 20 kVA to 10 MVA range, including turbines (Pelton, Francis, Kaplan, Cross-flow, Archimedes screw), generators, penstocks, hydraulic engineering, and electrotechnical control and automation systems, delivered from feasibility through commissioning and maintenance.
• Emergency Generator Systems (Impianti di gruppi elettrogeni di soccorso) Design, construction, sale, rental, and operation of stationary and mobile diesel emergency generators ranging from 10 kVA to 3 MVA for island or grid-parallel operation, used to ensure continuous power supply during outages for hospitals, data centers, telecoms, banks, retailers, and public facilities.
• Tunnel Ventilation Systems (Impianti di ventilazione in gallerie) Supply, installation, commissioning, and maintenance of operational and emergency ventilation systems for highway tunnels, including smoke extraction dampers, jet fans, and control systems with soft starters or frequency converters, deployed across Swiss highway tunnels.
• Water Treatment Systems (Impianti di depurazione) Wastewater treatment plants that purify muddy water through chemical processes, including plants built for the AlpTransit tunnel construction project, delivered with associated automation and electrical panels.
• Electrical Panels and Automation Systems (Quadri elettrici e di automazione) Design, production, installation, and commissioning of highly specialized electrical panels for water supply, automation, drive technology, regulation technology, and medium voltage transformation, including PLC-controlled pumping systems, UV disinfection, and power control panels.
• Traffic Light Systems (Impianti semaforici) Fixed and mobile traffic light systems for road safety, including management of most mobile construction-site traffic lights in Canton Ticino.
• Road Signage (Segnaletica stradale) Supply and installation of signs for cantonal roads and highways, including safety barriers and traffic signals, distributing Klemmfix, Horizont, and Triopan products in Ticino.

Quantifiable outcome

• 62 small hydroelectric plants with 66 MW total capacity producing 578 GWh/year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ABB MotioncoreTechnology or Integration · 30 January 2026Premel SA was officially certified as ABB's first authorized Motion partner in Ticino. This partnership enables Premel to continue offering innovative, reliable, and sustainable solutions at the highest level to their customers.
• KlemmfixcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKlemmfix is Switzerland's leading company in traffic signaling. Premel AG is the distribution partner for all Klemmfix products in Ticino, supporting customers throughout the entire procurement process.
• Swiss Small HydrominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSwiss Small Hydro is the Swiss association for small hydropower, representing interests of Swiss small hydropower. They provide consulting and support to stakeholders in all areas from planning to production and operation of small hydroelectric plants.
• PolymaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPolyma produces electrotechnical systems for mobile power supply. Premel AG is the sales and service partner for Polyma in Switzerland.
• Häny AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Pelton turbines for drinking water applications. Premel provides control and monitoring systems while Häny supplies the compact Pelton counter-pressure turbines. They exhibited together at the International Small Hydro User Forum.
• HorizontminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremel SA is the representative for Horizont products in Ticino, complementing their traffic infrastructure offerings alongside Klemmfix.
• TriopanminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremel SA is the representative for Triopan products in Ticino, completing their road safety signage product portfolio.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• GE Renewable Energy (Hydro): Global hydro turbine and generator manufacturer and EPC contractor serving utility and small-hydro segments, with overlapping automation/SCADA capability. Much larger scale than Premel and broader geographic reach.
• Voith Hydro: German-headquartered global supplier of hydro turbines, generators, and automation systems - directly comparable to Premel's small-hydro turbine/generator offerings but operating at vastly larger scale and serving utility-scale projects.
• ABB: Swiss-Swedish global leader in industrial automation, drives, and motion control. ABB is both a strategic partner (first authorized Motion partner in Ticino) and a broad incumbent offering overlapping PLC, SCADA, and electrical-panel capabilities to Swiss industrial customers.
• Caterpillar Energy Solutions: Global manufacturer of diesel and gas generator sets ranging from small to multi-MVA, competing with Premel on emergency and standby power for hospitals, data centers, and industrial customers in Switzerland.
• Andritz AG: Austrian-headquartered global EPC and equipment supplier for hydropower plants, including turbines, generators, and automation - directly comparable to Premel's small-hydro business but at much larger scale and broader international footprint.

Direct peers

• Atlas Copco Power & Flow: Swedish manufacturer of mobile and stationary generators including the 700 kVA unit Premel integrated into a Swiss data center. Direct competitor in the emergency-generator segment serving Swiss critical-infrastructure customers.
• Aggreko: UK-headquartered global provider of mobile and temporary power solutions, including a generator rental fleet that competes directly with Premel's mobile generator rental offering in the Swiss temporary-power market.
• Howden (Chart Industries): Global supplier of fans, compressors, and ventilation systems for tunnels and industrial applications - directly comparable to Premel's tunnel-ventilation product line including jet fans and smoke-extraction dampers.
• Häny AG: Swiss supplier of compact Pelton counter-pressure turbines for drinking water and small-hydro applications, partnered with Premel for control/monitoring systems. Closely comparable niche player in Swiss small-hydro turbines.

Regional players

• Alpiq: Swiss-headquartered energy services company and electricity generator with a small-hydro portfolio. Comparable as a regional peer in Swiss small-hydro services and broader Swiss energy infrastructure, though Premel serves as EPC/services provider rather than asset owner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Premel