Skaks

What Skaks does

SKAKS A/S is a privately held, family-owned Danish crane and specialized transport company founded in 1973 by Magnus Skak Jensen on the island of Rømø, now headquartered in Rødekro, Southern Jutland. The company operates one of Denmark's and Europe's largest specialized fleets, comprising more than 80 vehicles across 5 Danish depots, with a wholly-owned German subsidiary (SKAKS GmbH) based in Flensburg and a branch office in Køge. Its core equipment spans mobile cranes (70 to 750 tons), truck-mounted cranes (22 to 455 ton-meters — including what the company describes as the world's largest truck-mounted crane), custom low-height crawler cranes (max 2.20m height for 2.60m internal spaces), SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter) modules up to 500 tons, reversing/jacking equipment up to 500 tons, and heavy goods transporters up to 300 tons, primarily sourced from LIEBHERR, Grove, Erkin, HIAB, Palfinger, and EFFER.

The company serves four primary end markets — building and construction, wind energy (assembly, disassembly, and component transport), industrial machine relocation and jacking/skidding, and maritime (boat launching/retrieval and vessel restoration) — alongside a long tail of general crane work. Named enterprise engagements include European Energy's PTX plant at Kassø, Robbe & Berking Classics Yard's Cambria restoration, and joint heavy-lift operations with Mammoet at Hvide Sande Port, alongside ongoing service to Denmark's largest contracting and construction groups and local boat clubs.

SKAKS generates revenue through project-based, custom-quoted B2B contracts for crane rental and operation, specialized heavy transport (including route surveys, permits, and accompanying vehicles), jacking and skidding, and building/machine relocation. All pricing is quote-based with no public tiers or self-serve ordering. The company is led by second-generation CEO Lars Skak Jensen, with third-generation family member Simon Skak now active as a conductor/supervisor, and recognized as a Børsen Gazelle company in both 2017 and 2018.

Name

Skaks

Legal name

SKAKS A/S

Website

https://skaks.dk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SKAKS A/S is a Danish family-owned crane and specialized transport company operating one of Europe's largest fleets, serving construction, industrial, wind energy, and maritime clients across Denmark, the Nordics, and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Crane and Specialized Transport Services

NAICS

Specialized Freight Trucking (4842), Support Activities for Transportation (488)

SIC

Services-Equipment Rental & Leasing, Nec (7359), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Cranes & Heavy Lifting Equipment Rental/Leasing (TLABAFAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Port/Terminal Heavy Cargo Handling & Stevedoring (Heavy Crane Ops) (TLAIAKAD), Specialized Trailer & Heavy Transport Equipment Providers (SPMT, Lowboy, Multi-Axle) (TLADAGAM)

Keywords

• Crane services
• Heavy transport
• Specialized logistics
• Mobile crane rental
• Heavy lifting

Headquarters

HQ city

Rødekro

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Crane Services: SKAKS generates revenue by providing crane rental and operation services for lifting tasks across construction, industrial, wind turbine, and maritime sectors. Revenue is project-based, with jobs ranging from small lifting tasks to major infrastructure projects requiring 750-ton capacity cranes. The company offers crane services across Denmark, the Nordic countries, and Europe.
2. Specialized Transport Services: Revenue is earned through specialized heavy transport services, including route surveys, permits, and accompanying vehicles. Services cover wind turbine towers, transformers, industrial machinery, and oversized loads. The company handles the full transportation task for customers, with over 40-50 years of experience in the sector.
3. Jacking & Skidding / Reversing Services: Revenue generated from jacking, skidding, and reversing/moving heavy machinery and large elements internally and externally, utilizing SPMT equipment, block trailers, and heavy goods vehicles.
4. Moving Services: SKAKS Flytteforretning (Moving Business) handles relocation of buildings, summer houses, and other structures as part of its service offerings, providing integrated moving solutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SKAKS A/S provides crane rental and operation services (mobile cranes from 70 to 750 tons, truck-mounted cranes from 22 to 455 TM, crawler cranes, and Spiering tower cranes) alongside specialized heavy transport (oversized loads, wind turbine components, transformers, machinery) and jacking/skidding services using SPMT modules and reversing equipment. The company serves construction, industrial, wind energy, and maritime customers across Denmark, the Nordic countries, and Europe from five Danish depots and its German subsidiary.

Product overview

SKAKS A/S is a crane and specialized transport company operating as one of Denmark's and Europe's largest providers in the field. The company offers a unified portfolio of services centered around four core offerings: Mobile Cranes (70T to 750T capacity, LIEBHERR and Grove models), Truck Mounted Cranes (22TM to 455TM, including the world's largest truck-mounted crane), Specialized Transport (wide fleet of trailers for wide, high, and heavy loads), and Jacking & Skidding Services (SPMT equipment, reversing equipment up to 500T). The company also provides industry-specific services for building & construction, wind turbine industry, boat removals, and machine relocation. With over 80 vehicles and 70 employees across 5 depots in Denmark, the company provides crane work, special transport, machine relocation, and backing/reversing of the largest elements since 1973.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Cranes Heavy-duty mobile crane services covering lifting tasks from 70 tons to 750 tons using primarily LIEBHERR and Grove equipment, positioned across 5 Danish depots for short delivery times across Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Germany. Used by construction, industrial, and wind energy clients.
• Truck-Mounted Cranes

Quantifiable outcome

• Crane lifting capacity ranging from 35 TM to 750 tons, with SPMT equipment up to 500 tons, reversing equipment up to 500 tons, and heavy goods transporters up to 300 tons.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Torben Rafn A/ScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTorben Rafn A/S provided SPMT (Self-Propelled Modular Transporter) equipment for the restoration and water-return of the historic sailing ship 'Cambria' at Robbe & Berking Classics Yard in Flensburg. SKAKS used their 650-ton mobile crane in combination with Torben Rafn's SPMT equipment for this complex maritime lifting operation.
• Robbe & Berking Classics YardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRobbe & Berking Classics Yard in Flensburg, Germany engaged SKAKS to lift the restored 120-ton, 50-meter sailing ship 'Cambria' back into water after an extensive restoration. SKAKS provided the 650-ton mobile crane and operational expertise for this precision maritime lifting task. The project involved SKAKS's 650-ton crane lifting the vessel over the quayside into its element, with a custom-made transport frame.
• MammoetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKAKS collaborated with Mammoet and Hvide Sande Havn to unload a transformer at Hvide Sande Port. SKAKS deployed their 650-ton and 400-ton mobile cranes for this joint heavy-lift operation.
• Hvide Sande HavnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHvide Sande Havn (Hvide Sande Port) served as the host location for a transformer unloading operation, collaborating with SKAKS and Mammoet. SKAKS provided crane capacity for the unloading task.
• European EnergycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSKAKS is contributing to the construction of a new PTX (Power-to-X) plant for European Energy in Kassø. SKAKS team members have performed multiple tasks including placement of 4,800 kg concrete elements, pipe hoisting, excavator retrieval, and hoisting of 6.5-ton tanks onto foundations approximately 15 meters out. The collaboration involves ongoing project support.
• Chr. JohannsenminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerChr. Johannsen served as the construction partner on the PTX plant project in Kassø, working alongside SKAKS's team for the ongoing plant construction. SKAKS provided crane and lifting services as part of the collaboration.
• ITD - Danish Road Freight Transport AssociationminorOthersSKAKS is a member of ITD (Danish Road Freight Transport Association), an industry organization representing Danish road freight transport companies. Membership provides industry networking, advocacy, and standards alignment.
• Dansk Kran Forening (Danish Crane Association)minorOthersSKAKS is a member of Dansk Kran Forening, promoting industry standards and collaboration on safety, technology, and sustainability in the lifting industry. Membership signals industry credibility and enables best-practice sharing.
• BSF - Bundefachgruppe für Schwertransporte und KranarbeitenminorOthersSKAKS is a member of BSF (Bundesfachgruppe für Schwertransporte und Kranarbeiten), the German specialist group for heavy transport and crane work. Membership facilitates cross-border industry collaboration and knowledge sharing between Danish and German operators.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Maxim Crane Works: Maxim Crane Works is a US-based crane rental and lifting services provider operating one of North America's larger crane fleets. Comparable in business model (fleet ownership with operated services, multi-capacity cranes) to SKAKS but operating in a different geography.
• Brødrene Smed A/S: Brødrene Smed is a Danish specialized heavy transport company, operating heavy goods vehicles and trailers for oversized cargo. Comparable to SKAKS in operating environment and segments (Danish/Nordic market) and overlapping on heavy transport services, though with less emphasis on crane operations.

Direct peers

• Allelys: Allelys is a UK-based specialist in heavy transport, crane hire, and abnormal load movement, including transformers and renewable energy components. Comparable to SKAKS in its offering mix of cranes, SPMT, and specialized trailers.
• Mammoet: Mammoet is the world's largest heavy lifting and transport service company, headquartered in the Netherlands. It is explicitly the closest functional peer to SKAKS, providing mobile cranes up to the 4,000-ton class, SPMT, and full project logistics — and is already a documented collaborator on Danish port jobs (Hvide Sande transformer).
• Collett & Sons: Collett & Sons is a UK specialist in heavy haulage, lifting, and project logistics with their own fleet of SPMT, mobile cranes, and modular trailers. Comparable to SKAKS in offering breadth, project-based pricing model, and focus on transformers, wind, and industrial assembly.
• Ainscough Crane Hire: Ainscough is the UK's largest crane hire company, operating a multi-capacity mobile crane fleet (from city cranes up to heavy-lift machines). Comparable in model to SKAKS as a crane-led heavy-lift service provider, though primarily UK-focused rather than Nordic.
• Sarens: Sarens is a Belgian-headquartered global leader in heavy lifting, crane rental, and specialized transport, with a similar full-service model (cranes with operators, SPMT, route planning). Comparable in offering to SKAKS but operating at much larger geographic scale across Europe, North America, and beyond.
• Torben Rafn A/S: Torben Rafn A/S is a Danish specialized transport company focused on heavy and oversized cargo movements, including SPMT operations. It is a direct peer in the Danish heavy transport market and is already a documented collaborator with SKAKS on the 'Cambria' restoration in Flensburg.

Others

• Sennebogen: Sennebogen is a German manufacturer of crawler cranes, port cranes, and material handlers, with associated dealer/rental networks. Relevant as a supplier-adjacent player in the heavy crane category in which SKAKS operates, though primarily an OEM rather than direct service competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Riwal: Riwal is a Dutch aerial work platform and crane rental company operating across Europe. Comparable to SKAKS in fleet-based heavy equipment rental and lifting services, but with a much broader scope (also aerial platforms) and predominantly Western European geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/skaksspecialtransport
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skaks-specialtransport-a-s
• Instagraminstagram.com/skakskraner

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Skaks