Bohrtec

What Bohrtec does

Bohrtec Gesellschaft für Bohrtechnologie mbH is a privately held German manufacturer of guided auger boring machines for trenchless (no-dig) underground pipe installation, founded around 1989 and headquartered in Alsdorf near Aachen. The company designs and builds a portfolio organized into three machine families — Compact Machines (BM 150 D/DT, BM 200 D, BM 400 S/SX, BM 500 S) with jacking forces ranging from 156 kN to 2,000 kN for inner-city work; Long-Frame Machines (BM 400 LS, BM 600 LS, BM 800 L/LS) enabling economic drives up to 120 m length and 1.6 m outer diameter using steel pipes up to 18 m; and LSC modular machines (BM 400 LSC, BM 600 LSC) engineered for setup in small circular launch shafts. The core enabling technologies are the Front Steer guided boring system — combining theodolite and LED-target navigation for ±25 mm accuracy in soft rock (up to 40 MPa) and hard rock (up to 250 MPa) — and the Pulling Pipe Method, an unguided DTH-hammer drilling technique that eliminates the need for backwalls or thrust blocks. The company also sells supporting equipment including drilling heads, augers, reamers, casings, centralizers, hole openers, and conveyor systems.

The business model is project-based hardware sales complemented by recurring drilling equipment and accessories revenue. Bohrtec does not publish pricing; each machine is configured against project-specific requirements (drive length, ground conditions, pipe diameter) through direct technical consultation. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales executed primarily through a strategic distribution partnership with Herrenknecht AG — in place for nearly 20 years — which provides global reach via Herrenknecht entities in Germany, the UK, Russia, Asia Pacific, Brazil, and the USA/Canada. A parallel layer of regional representatives handles Southeast Asia (Dr. Heinz Plum), Italy (Timeco S.r.l.), and direct US/Canadian accounts. The company markets through international trenchless trade exhibitions (e.g., Trenchless Asia 2025) and a project case-study library covering installations in more than a dozen countries.

The customer base is concentrated in municipal utilities, government infrastructure agencies, transit authorities, and energy pipeline operators worldwide, with documented reference projects including the Metrolinx twin tunnel under Highways 401/409 in Toronto, the SOCAR South Caucasus Pipeline Expansion, Singapore Power cable installation, SABESP's Tietê River pollution reduction program, the Munich City drainage upgrade, Mahanagar Gas supply line crossings, and the Hong Kong SAR pipe roof project. Cumulative installed base exceeds one million meters of auger-bored trenchless pipe. Ownership sits with Managing Directors Dr. Gregor Nieder and Dr. Heinz Plum, with no disclosed external investors, funding rounds, or holding-company structure.

Name

Bohrtec

Legal name

Bohrtec Gesellschaft für Bohrtechnologie mbH

Website

https://bohrtec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Bohrtec is a privately held German manufacturer of guided auger boring machines for trenchless underground pipe installation. It serves municipal utilities, transit authorities, energy pipeline operators, and trenchless construction contractors globally, distributing primarily through Herrenknecht AG's international sales network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Alsdorf

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Boring Machine Sales: Sale of trenchless construction machines including compact machines, long frame machines, and LSC machines with various jacking force capacities. Machines are sold with optional equipment like drilling heads, Front Steer systems, and Hole Openers.
2. Drilling Equipment and Accessories: Sale of supporting equipment including drilling heads, augers, reamers, casings, centralizers, and conveyor systems for trenchless drilling operations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Bohrtec develops, manufactures, and sells trenchless construction machines and supporting equipment for the underground installation of sewers, pipe roof canopies, house connections, crossings, ground freezing projects, drainage systems, and other infrastructure lines. The product range spans compact boring machines (BM 150–500 series), long-frame machines (BM 400 LS through BM 800 L/LS), and LSC modular machines (BM 400/600 LSC), sold together with Front Steer guided boring technology, the Pulling Pipe Method, and accessory drilling equipment (hole openers, augers, centralizers, conveyors, casings).

Product overview

Bohrtec is a German industrial machinery manufacturer specializing in guided auger boring machines for trenchless construction of sewers and infrastructure. The company offers a portfolio of drilling machines organized into product families: Compact Machines (BM 150 D/DT, BM 200 D, BM 400 S/SX, BM 500 S) for inner-city projects with jacking forces ranging from 156 kN to 2,000 kN; Long Frame Machines (BM 400 LS, BM 600 LS, BM 800 L/LS) enabling drillings up to 120 m length and 1.6 m outer diameter using steel pipes up to 18 m; and LSC Machines (BM 400 LSC, BM 600 LSC) with modular frame design for small circular launch shafts. Complementary technologies include Front Steer guided boring systems for hard grounds, soft rock (up to 40 MPa), and hard rock (up to 250 MPa), as well as the Pulling Pipe Method with DTH Hammer for unguided rock drilling. The machines can be equipped with various drilling heads, hole openers, and other accessories. Bohrtec's equipment is used globally for sewer installation, crossings, pipe roofs, house connections, drainage systems, and ground freezing projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Compact Machines (BM Series up to 500 kN and from 1000 kN) Compact boring machines (BM 150 D, BM 150 DT, BM 200 D, BM 400 S, BM 400 SX, BM 500 S) for trenchless construction of connecting sewers up to ID 800, including steel pipe jacking and drilling out of jacking pipes/tunnels ≥ 1200 mm. Used by municipal utilities, construction contractors, and trenchless contractors for inner-city projects.
• Long Frame Machines (BM 400 LS, BM 600 LS, BM 800 L/LS) Extended-frame boring machines enabling economic drillings up to 120 m length and up to 1.6 m OD using steel pipes up to 18 m length. Used for long-distance sewer installations, utility crossings, and large-diameter infrastructure projects by municipal utilities and trenchless contractors.
• LSC Machines (BM 400 LSC, BM 600 LSC) Modular-frame boring machines (BM 400 LSC, BM 600 LSC) designed to be set up inside small circular launch shafts where space is limited. Used for sewer, utility, and drainage installation projects in constrained urban sites.
• Drilling Equipment and Accessories Supplementary drilling equipment and accessories - active and passive hole openers, extension units, active reamers, double wall pilot systems, speed drives, augers, conveyors, groundwater augers, reusable casings, and centralizers - sold alongside Bohrtec boring machines for trenchless construction operations.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 1 million meters of trenchless pipe installation completed with Bohrtec machines

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and regional.

• Herrenknecht AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorStrategic cooperation for nearly 20 years. Herrenknecht serves as primary global distribution partner through its international network covering Germany, UK, Russia, Asia Pacific, Brazil, USA and Canada markets.
• Herrenknecht (Asia) Ltd.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional distribution partner for Australia, Korea, New Zealand, and Thailand markets. Located at 12/621 Moo 15, Soi Sornhirun, Bangna Trad Road, Bangplee, Samutprakarn, Thailand.
• Herrenknecht do BrasilcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBrazil distribution partner for Bohrtec products. Located in São Paulo at Rua Alexandre Dumas, 2220.
• Timeco S.r.l.regionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorItalian regional representative for sales in Italy. Contact: Riccardo Bagnagatti and Silvio Schmalzbauer, Via Monza 87, 20060 Gessate (MI).

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Prime Drilling GmbH: Prime Drilling is a German manufacturer of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rigs and trenchless equipment for utility and pipeline installation. It competes with Bohrtec in the trenchless underground construction equipment market, particularly for utility crossings.
• Herrenknecht AG: Herrenknecht is the world's leading manufacturer of tunnel boring machines and microtunnelling equipment, headquartered in Germany. It directly competes with Bohrtec in trenchless pipe installation while also serving as Bohrtec's primary global distribution partner, making it the most comparable peer in both technology and commercial relationship.
• Tracto-Technik: Tracto-Technik is a German manufacturer of trenchless technology equipment including pipe bursting, HDD rigs, and guided boring systems. Like Bohrtec, it is a German specialist serving municipal and utility customers with trenchless installation equipment.
• American Augers (The Charles Machine Works): American Augers, part of The Charles Machine Works (Ditch Witch), manufactures large-diameter auger boring machines and trenchless equipment. It competes directly with Bohrtec's long-frame and large-bore machines for major infrastructure crossings.
• Barbco Inc. Barbco manufactures heavy-duty auger boring machines and trenchless tunneling equipment used for utility and pipeline installations. It is a direct competitor to Bohrtec in the auger boring machine market, particularly in North America.
• Akkerman: Akkerman manufactures guided boring systems, microtunnelling equipment, and pipe jacking machinery for trenchless installation, serving municipal and infrastructure customers globally. It is one of the closest direct competitors to Bohrtec in the guided auger boring and trenchless pipe installation space.
• TT Technologies: TT Technologies manufactures trenchless equipment including pipe bursting systems, auger boring machines, and pneumatic tools for underground utility installation. It directly competes with Bohrtec in the auger boring and trenchless pipe replacement markets.

Broad incumbents

• Robbins Company: Robbins is a leading manufacturer of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and underground construction equipment for mining and infrastructure projects. It serves as a broader incumbent in the underground construction equipment market with capabilities that overlap with Bohrtec at the upper end of pipe diameters and drive lengths.
• Vermeer Corporation: Vermeer is a broad industrial equipment manufacturer with significant offerings in trenchless technology including HDD rigs, utility trenchers, and vacuum excavators. While not a specialist in auger boring, it offers overlapping capabilities as part of a much wider equipment portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/bohrtec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bohrtec-gmbh

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Bohrtec