Tentech

What Tentech does

Tentech BV is a privately held Dutch design and engineering consultancy founded in 1997 as a spin-off of the Faculty of Civil Engineering at Delft University of Technology. The firm is headquartered in Utrecht, the Netherlands, with an international representation office in Cape Town, South Africa, and operates a wholly-owned subsidiary, Tentech International BV. It employs between 11 and 50 staff and is led by founders Rogier Houtman (director/owner) and Harmen Werkman (architect/owner). Its core business is providing specialist design and engineering services for lightweight membrane and textile structures across three segments: textile architecture (permanent membrane installations), festivals and events (temporary and demountable structures), and industrial applications (membrane-integrated products).

The company's technical differentiation rests on advanced expertise in membrane construction technology, including ETFE air cushion systems (engineering of inflated foil cushions for roof applications such as the 10,000m2 Islazul shopping mall and the MDNA World Tour stage), Tensairity (a method using air pressure to stabilize compression elements in membrane structures), complex membrane geometry modeling, and 3D-to-2D pattern generation for production. Notable products and service modules include SUNTEX (an R&D-stage technical textile integrating thin-film organic solar cells for energy-generating building envelopes), ETFE air cushion systems, work tents, custom sail/tarpaulin roofing, "tent books" for regulatory compliance with current Eurocodes, and bespoke structural design for festival, museum, public sector, and industrial clients.

Tentech operates a sales-led, project-based professional services model with no publicly disclosed pricing; engagements are quote-based and acquired through direct relationships with architects, contractors, municipalities, and end clients. Distribution is global in scope but concentrated in Western Europe and selected international markets. The firm reinforces its positioning through Associate Partner status in the Tensinet European membrane network and active participation in Eurocode technical committees (TC254 membrane structures, TC152 tent structures, TC152 fairground/amusement parks). Revenue is not publicly disclosed and the company has no external institutional investors, with founder ownership intact.

Name

Tentech

Legal name

Tentech BV

Website

https://www.tentech.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Tentech BV is a Utrecht-based design and engineering consultancy founded in 1997 as a TU Delft spin-off, specializing in lightweight membrane and textile structures for architectural, festival, and industrial clients worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Engineering Services for Lightweight Membrane Structures

NAICS

Textile Bag and Canvas Mills (31491)

SIC

Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Coated & Laminated Industrial Fabrics (Tarpaulins/Awnings/Inflatables/Architectural Membranes) (IMAOADAI)

Keywords

• Membrane structure design
• Lightweight architectural engineering
• Tensile membrane construction
• ETFE air cushion systems
• Temporary event structures

Headquarters

HQ city

Utrecht

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Design and Engineering Consultancy Services: Professional consultancy services providing architectural design, structural engineering, and technical design for membrane structures, temporary constructions, and lightweight building projects

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Tentech BV is a design and engineering consultancy that develops lightweight membrane and textile structures for temporary and permanent architectural projects. The company provides architectural design, structural engineering, formfinding, pattern generation, and project supervision for tensile membrane structures, ETFE air cushion roofing systems, Tensairity-based lightweight constructions, and custom textile architecture across festivals, buildings, and industrial applications.

Product overview

Tentech is a design and engineering consultancy specializing in lightweight construction with membrane structures. The company operates across three main service areas: Textile Architecture (permanent membrane structures for buildings), Festivals and Events (temporary demountable structures), and Industrial Applications (membrane integration in products). Key products include SUNTEX (energy-harvesting technical textile with organic solar cells), ETFE air cushion systems, work tents, and tent books for regulatory compliance. Services span from architectural design and structural engineering to project management and R&D, with specialized expertise in modeling complex membrane geometries and generating 2D cutting patterns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• SUNTEX A technical textile incorporating thin-film organic solar cells (OPV) intended as a lightweight, energy-harvesting building material for facade cladding, second-skin facades, or membrane structures. Targeted at architects, developers, and building owners pursuing CO2-free energy-generating building envelopes.
• ETFE Air Cushion Systems Inflatable ETFE cushion systems engineered for roof constructions and stage covers, providing lightweight, transparent covering with structural stability through air pressure. Used in shopping malls, stadiums, and touring stage roofs.
• Work Tents (Doorwerktenten) Temporary tent constructions used as work shelters for construction projects on roads, bridges, or other structures, allowing work under extreme weather conditions with built-in elasticity for safety. Targeted at construction contractors and infrastructure maintenance crews.
• Tent Books (Tentboek) Construction or tent books containing all necessary information about tent structures required by municipal authorities for permits and safety plans, aligned with current Eurocodes (TC152). Targeted at event organizers, tent hirers, and municipalities needing permit documentation.
• Sail/Tarpaulin for Roofing (Zeildoek voor Overkappingen) Custom designed sails and tarpaulins for canopy and roofing applications in festivals, events, and industrial sectors. Targeted at event organizers and industrial clients requiring tailored textile covering solutions.
• Textile Architecture Services Design and engineering services for membrane structures in architecture including atriums, canopies, stadiums, and building facades, with services spanning architectural design, structural design, engineering, project management, and R&D. Targeted at architects, developers, and contractors commissioning permanent textile architecture.
• Festival and Event Structure Design Design services for temporary and demountable pavilions, tents, and canopy structures for events worldwide, with focus on structural safety and aesthetic quality. Targeted at festival organizers, event producers, and touring production companies.
• Industrial Membrane Applications Design and engineering services for the application of membrane technology in industrial products and production processes, including product development, optimization, and innovation from biogas installations to consumer products. Targeted at industrial clients in energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors.

Named customers10 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• TensinetcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network for companies active in membrane structures. Tentech is an Associate Partner and participates in the working group on ETFE structures. Also participates in standards committees including Eurocode Membrane structures (TC254), Eurocode Tent structures (TC152), and Eurocode Fairground and Amusement Parks (TC152).
• StageCominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStageCo Staging Group engaged Tentech for the Madonna MDNA world tour 2012 to develop inflated cushions in the stage roof using ETFE technology.
• Veldeman Structure SolutionsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on projects such as Carré des Arts patio cover for Academy of Arts in Mons, Belgium.
• OctatubeminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTentech supported Octatube with formfinding and static analysis for the Yellow Wings mobile art installation in Amsterdam.
• IASOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ETFE air cushion roofing projects including Islazul shopping mall Madrid (10,000m2) and Arena Multi-Espacio Valencia.
• Buitink TechnologyminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProduction partner for membrane structures on various projects including Loading Tent for TAQA Bergermeer and APPP Church Maassluis.
• NIO ArchitectsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on ZEP Leisure Park Middelburg with amorphous membrane canopies connecting various buildings.
• Jeanne Dekkers ArchitectenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Wehrung Architecten on Krommerijn swimming pool demountable roof system for Gemeente Utrecht.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Buro Happold: Global engineering consultancy with a dedicated tensile and membrane structures practice (via acquisition of Form TL). Directly comparable on complex membrane design and engineering for architecture and events, but operates as a broad multi-disciplinary firm rather than a membrane specialist.
• Arup: Major global engineering consultancy with established expertise in tensile membrane and lightweight structures for sports, cultural and event venues. Comparable on technical capability and customer tier (enterprise and government), but with vastly broader service portfolio.
• Schlaich Bergermann Partner: German structural engineering firm renowned for lightweight and tensile structures including membrane roofs for stadiums and public buildings. Comparable on technical excellence in lightweight/membrane construction but operates as a broader structural engineering practice.
• Birdair: US-based designer, manufacturer and installer of tensile membrane and ETFE structures. Comparable product/category overlap (architectural membranes, ETFE cushions, fabric facades) but combines manufacturing with design — a broader value chain position than Tentech.

Direct peers

• Tensys: UK-based specialist consultancy in tensile membrane engineering, formfinding and computational analysis. Closely comparable niche positioning and service scope to Tentech, with similar focus on complex geometry and pattern generation for membrane structures.
• Structurflex: Specialist contractor in tensile fabric and membrane structures for architectural and event applications. Comparable on ETFE and PTFE membrane technology and similar client base in sports, events and architectural facades.
• Veldeman Structure Solutions: Belgian manufacturer and designer of tent and membrane structures for events, sports and industrial applications. Already a documented Tentech collaboration partner; comparable on demountable festival/event tent structures.
• Octatube: Dutch specialist in complex ETFE and membrane facade engineering. Already a documented Tentech partner; comparable niche on high-end ETFE and tensile membrane architecture in the Benelux market.
• IASO: Spanish specialist in ETFE and tensile membrane structures including large-scale roofing (Islazul, Arena Multi-Espacio). Documented Tentech partner; comparable on ETFE air cushion technology and architectural membrane projects.

Regional players

• MakMax (Taiyo Birdair): Asia-Pacific leader in tensile membrane and ETFE structures, serving stadiums, airports and event venues. Comparable technology and project types but primarily regional focus in Japan/Asia rather than competing directly in Europe.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tentech-bv
• Instagraminstagram.com/tentech_bv

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Tentech