GADZ

What GADZ does

GADZ SA is a privately held Swiss geotechnical, hydrogeological, and environmental engineering consultancy headquartered in Petit-Lancy (Geneva) with a second office in Le Mont-sur-Lausanne (Vaud), tracing its origins to 1960 and operating under its current legal name since 2016. The firm runs an integrated practice combining in-situ site investigation, an in-house laboratory with XRF heavy-metal analysis, and numerical modeling (Plaxis 2D/3D for soil-structure interaction, Feflow for groundwater flow and thermal plume simulation, and Dénébola for retaining-wall design), supported by a proprietary archive of more than 10,000 studies and 120 km of borehole data across the Geneva basin.

Its service portfolio spans geotechnical consulting (foundation design, deep excavations, tunneling, micro-tunneling, instrumentation, and monitoring), hydrogeology (aquifer characterization, dewatering, piezometric monitoring, geothermal and stormwater infiltration studies), and environmental engineering (pollution diagnosis, contaminated-site investigation and remediation oversight, soil management, and natural-hazard mapping) under Swiss federal and cantonal ordinances (OLED, OSol, OSites). Named mandates include CERN LHC tunnel extensions, the Canton of Geneva infrastructure program, Rolex Plan-les-Ouates production facility, HUG hospital expansion, WIPO headquarters, HSBC Quai des Bergues climate-control intake, and the Canton of Vaud Gros-de-Vaud natural-hazard cartography across 159 km².

The firm employs approximately 22 staff — 17 specialized engineers, 2 technicians, 2 administrative, and 1 long-term intern — and generates revenue through project-based professional services fees scoped individually per engagement. Customers span cantonal and communal governments, international organizations, civil engineering firms, and private developers; acquisition is driven by 60+ years of regional reputation, direct engineering relationships, public procurement participation, and selective RFP engagement rather than broad marketing, with no public pricing or revenue disclosure.

Name

GADZ

Legal name

GADZ SA

Website

https://gadz.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GADZ SA is a Swiss geotechnical, hydrogeological, and environmental engineering consultancy founded in 1960, serving construction, infrastructure, and public-sector clients across the Geneva and Vaud cantons with site investigation, foundation design, groundwater studies, and contaminated-site services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Geotechnical Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360)

SIC

Services-Engineering Services (8711), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB), Geotechnical Site Investigation & Engineering Geology (Borings, Lab Testing) (EUAHAFAE), Hydrogeologic Characterization & Aquifer Testing (Pumping/Slug Tests) (EUAHAFAB), Groundwater Monitoring Networks (Well Design, Installation & Sampling Programs) (EUAHAFAC)

Keywords

• Geotechnical engineering services
• Hydrogeological consulting
• Environmental site assessment
• Foundation engineering
• Subsurface investigations

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Mont-sur-lausanne

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Geotechnical Consulting Services: Fees for geotechnical site investigations, laboratory testing, expert reports, and construction supervision on infrastructure and building projects.
2. Hydrogeological Studies: Fees for groundwater studies, aquifer characterization, dewatering design, and hydrological monitoring for construction and environmental compliance projects.
3. Environmental Consulting Services: Fees for pollution diagnosis, soil remediation studies, environmental monitoring, and regulatory compliance reporting under OLED, OSol, and OSites ordinances.
4. Geothermal Feasibility Studies: Fees for hydrogeological assessments and thermal plume modeling for ground-source heat pump installations and geothermal energy projects.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GADZ SA provides geotechnical and hydrogeological engineering consulting combined with environmental site assessment for construction and infrastructure projects. Services include soil investigation campaigns, laboratory testing, foundation design, excavation support, groundwater management, contaminated site investigation, and natural hazard mapping, delivered by a specialist team of engineers and hydrogeologists across Geneva and Vaud.

Product overview

GADZ is a Swiss geotechnical and environmental engineering consultancy offering integrated services across geotechnical engineering, hydrogeology, and environmental consulting. The firm provides a comprehensive suite of services including soil investigation campaigns with laboratory analysis, foundation and infrastructure design, groundwater studies, geothermal feasibility assessments, stormwater infiltration solutions, contaminated sites investigation, and natural hazard mapping. The company operates two offices (Geneva and Lausanne) and serves construction clients throughout the region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geotechnical Studies and Services Expert geotechnical consulting including soil investigation campaigns, laboratory analysis, foundation design, infrastructure works (foundations, excavations, pilings), underground works (tunnels, micro-tunnels), instrumentation and monitoring, and natural hazard assessment for construction and infrastructure projects.
• Foundation Engineering Design and project management for shallow foundations (footings, rafts), deep foundations (barrettes, piles, micro-piles, brush rafts), deep excavations, excavations with deformation control, special consolidation and sealing works, and underpinning for building and infrastructure projects.
• Environmental Studies Environmental consulting for construction projects including pollution diagnosis, soil pedology studies, contaminated sites investigation (historical, technical, and detailed), environmental monitoring of earthworks, and administrative procedures for waste management under Swiss environmental ordinances.
• Hydrogeological Studies Groundwater studies including aquifer monitoring, piezometric measurements, construction site hydrogeological monitoring, water sampling and analysis, groundwater table control, and dewatering studies for construction and environmental compliance projects.
• Geothermal Studies Hydrogeological studies for geothermal systems including feasibility assessment and sizing of groundwater heat pump systems, with pumping tests and thermal plume modeling using Feflow for district energy applications.
• Stormwater Infiltration Services Hydrogeological services for rainwater infiltration including feasibility studies, infiltration testing, pre-dimensioning of infiltration structures, and hydrogeological reporting for authorities.
• Geophysical Investigations and Monitoring Field investigation including borehole drilling, mechanical pitting, penetration testing, scissometer testing (Farnell probe), piezometer installation for groundwater monitoring, deformation monitoring, inclinometer measurements, and vibration monitoring.
• Soil Management Consulting Soil management services including pedological studies, soil management concepts, earthwork monitoring, and administrative support for construction projects according to Swiss soil protection ordinances (OSol, OLED, OSites).
• Natural Hazard Mapping Natural hazard mapping services including slope stability assessment, landslide mapping, flood hazard mapping, and hydrogeological monitoring for cantonal risk assessment projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 10,000 geotechnical and hydrogeological studies conducted since 1960
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• AFRY (formerly Pöyry): International engineering consultancy with significant Swiss operations spanning infrastructure, environment, and energy advisory; overlaps with GADZ on large infrastructure and environmental mandates where global reach is required.
• BG Ingénieurs Conseils SA: Major Swiss multi-disciplinary engineering firm (now part of Gruner) offering geotechnical and environmental services alongside broader infrastructure, water, and energy capabilities; competes with GADZ on large Swiss cantonal infrastructure mandates as a broader one-stop incumbent.
• CSD Ingénieurs SA: Swiss multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy with significant environmental, geotechnical, and infrastructure advisory capabilities across Romandie; a broader incumbent that bundles site investigation with environmental and engineering services on large mandates.
• Lombardi SA: Swiss engineering firm with strong tunneling, underground works, and geotechnical credentials; competes with GADZ on flagship civil infrastructure mandates where deep foundation and excavation expertise is required.

Direct peers

• Karakas & Français SA: Swiss geotechnical engineering firm with nearly identical service offering to GADZ, covering foundation engineering, excavation support, and groundwater control for infrastructure and building projects in French-speaking Switzerland.
• Géotest SA: Mid-sized Swiss engineering consultancy specializing in geotechnical, hydrogeological, and environmental investigation across Romandie and broader Switzerland; comparable scope and customer mix to GADZ with slightly broader geographic reach.
• Résonnance Ingénieurs-Conseils SA: Geneva-based environmental and water resources engineering consultancy serving construction developers and public authorities in the same Lake Geneva catchment; overlaps with GADZ on environmental and hydrogeological mandates.
• De Cérenville Géotechnique SA: Lausanne-based Swiss geotechnical and hydrogeological engineering consultancy with comparable mid-size scale and an analogous focus on foundation design, excavation support, and groundwater management. Closest comparable peer given matching technical focus and overlapping regional catchment.
• Tétraèd'Ingenierie SA: French-Swiss geotechnical and structural engineering firm operating in the Geneva/Vaud border region with overlapping site investigation and foundation design service lines.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 GADZ