GALVABAU AG

What GALVABAU AG does

GALVABAU AG is a privately-held Swiss engineering company founded in 1987 (with industrial roots extending back to 1947) that designs and manufactures customer-specific galvanic and electroplating plants for industrial surface treatment. Its core deliverable is a turnkey electroplating line, each constructed as a one-off configuration tailored to the customer's product geometry, throughput, and process requirements. The company supports these plants with proprietary peripheral devices developed in-house — including Air-Jet dryer systems, plating tank control units, online controllers for electroless copper and nickel, and the SOMONIC online thickness-measuring system — alongside a catalogue of standard plating-industry components (filter pumps, rectifiers, heating/cooling systems, barrels, Hullcell systems, dosing pumps). Customer segments span aerospace (RUAG Aerostructures, Airbus Helicopters), precision electronics and PCB manufacturing (Rohde & Schwarz, Huber+Suhner, Georg Fischer +GF+, Cicorel, Hofstetter, Multiple Dimensions, KSG), tool manufacturing (PB Swiss Tools, DT Swiss), and metal finishing (Collini, Hinterleitner, De Martin, Elektrolyse.ch).

The business model is project-based capital equipment sales complemented by recurring service, modernization, and spare-parts revenue. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and each plant is bid and contracted on a custom basis. Go-to-market is direct enterprise field sales, with a team of approximately 30 specialists operating from the headquarters in Hergiswil, Nidwalden (Switzerland) and supported by sales consultants in Germany and the United States. The company exports approximately 50% of its output and reports an export-driven global footprint, supplemented by event marketing at industry trade fairs such as productronica. Certifications include ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 (2025), SWS Fachbetriebsurkunde, and VLO AFTS Swiss Excellence, with Swiss Made designation. Following a 2009 management buy-out, GALVABAU remains under management ownership with no disclosed external investors, and is led by CEO Markus Gisler, COO Roman Bürgler, CFO Stefan Koller, and CTO Stefan Murer.

Name

GALVABAU AG

Legal name

GALVABAU AG

Website

https://galvabau.swiss

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

GALVABAU AG is a privately-held Swiss engineering firm that designs and builds customer-specific turnkey electroplating and surface-treatment plants for aerospace, electronics, PCB, and metal-finishing customers, supported by in-house peripheral devices, service, and spare parts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electroplating Equipment

akta.pro primary industry

Electroplating & Metal Finishing (Anodizing/Galvanizing/Passivation) (IMAIAKAE)

Keywords

• Custom electroplating systems
• Galvanic plant engineering
• Surface treatment equipment
• Electroplating line manufacturing
• Industrial metal finishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Hergiswil NW

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Custom Electroplating Plant Sales: Design, engineering, manufacturing, and installation of custom galvanic (electroplating) systems. Each plant is a unique, customer-specific construction delivered as a turnkey solution.
2. Spare Parts and Components: Sale of standard components and special peripheral devices including filter pumps, rectifiers, heating/cooling systems, barrels, Hullcell systems, dosing pumps, and GALVABAU-developed specialty products.
3. Service and Maintenance: Professional maintenance and service for existing GALVABAU plants. Customized service agreements for preventive maintenance and care of electroplating lines.
4. Modernization and Upgrades: Modifications and modernizations of existing galvanic plants.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GALVABAU AG designs, engineers, and manufactures custom-built turnkey electroplating (galvanic) plants for industrial surface finishing applications. Each system is engineered to customer-specific requirements and complemented by proprietary peripheral devices, standard components, and ongoing service, maintenance, spare parts, and plant modernization support.

Product overview

GALVABAU AG is a Swiss company specializing in custom-built galvanic and electroplating systems. Their core product is the Custom Electroplating Plant — a turnkey, customer-specific galvanic line. Supporting the core plant, they offer Standard Components (filter pumps, rectifiers, heating/cooling systems, barrels, Hullcell systems, anodes, dosing pumps) and Special Peripheral Devices (Air-Jet dryer systems, plating tank control units, vibratory flightbars, online controllers, SOMONIC thickness-measuring systems). Additional offerings include Plant Modifications/Modernizations to upgrade existing equipment, and comprehensive Service/Maintenance with spare parts supply. Each electroplating line is a unique, customized construction delivered as a Swiss Made turnkey solution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Electroplating (Galvanic) Plants Custom-engineered, turnkey electroplating plants designed and manufactured to each customer's specific process, throughput, and footprint requirements for industrial surface treatment.
• Standard Components for Electroplating Plants Standardized components used in the construction and operation of galvanic plants, offered as part of the company's product portfolio.
• Special Peripheral Devices for Electroplating Plants Proprietary peripheral devices developed and integrated into GALVABAU electroplating plants, including Air-Jet Dryers, Control Units for Plating Tanks, SOMONIC Online Thickness Measuring Systems, and TSA Anodizing and Crack Testing Systems.
• Plant Modifications and Modernizations Engineering services to modify, upgrade, and modernize existing electroplating plants, extending equipment life and improving performance.
• Service and Maintenance for Electroplating Plants Ongoing service and maintenance support for installed electroplating plants, ensuring operational continuity and uptime for customers.
• Spare Parts Supply Long-term spare parts supply for GALVABAU electroplating plants and installed equipment, protecting customers' capital investments over the plant lifecycle.

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered regional.

• Sales Partners GermanyregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partners in Germany serving the local market
• Sales Partners USAregionalChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSales partners in the United States serving the local market

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Dürr AG: Global engineering group with a substantial surface treatment and paint shop business via its EcoClean and industrial surface technology units. Overlaps with GALVABAU's custom industrial surface treatment installations but at much larger scale and broader scope.
• Atotech (MKS Instruments): Now part of MKS Instruments, Atotech is a global leader in advanced electroplating chemistry and equipment serving automotive, electronics, and industrial customers. A much larger incumbent with bundled chemistry-plus-equipment offerings that compete with GALVABAU's custom plant business.
• MacDermid Enthone Electronics Solutions (Element Solutions): Element Solutions' electronics division provides integrated plating chemistry, equipment, and process control globally. Competes with GALVABAU in electronics and PCB plating, particularly through bundled equipment-and-chemistry solutions.
• Coventya: European-headquartered specialty chemical supplier for surface finishing with proprietary plating chemistry and process know-how. Competes with GALVABAU in functional and decorative coatings serving automotive, aerospace, and general industry.

Direct peers

• Technic Inc. US-based global supplier of specialty plating chemistry and custom-engineered electroplating equipment. Directly comparable to GALVABAU in serving aerospace, electronics, and industrial customers with engineered surface treatment solutions.
• Uyemura International: Japan-headquartered specialist in precious and base metal electroplating chemistries and equipment. Comparable to GALVABAU in targeting electronics, PCB, and decorative surface finishing with engineered process solutions.
• Dr. Hesse GmbH & Cie. KG: German specialty company offering electroplating chemistry, processes, and engineered plating systems. Closely comparable niche-scale competitor serving similar European industrial surface treatment customers as GALVABAU.

Regional players

• Aalberts Surface Technologies: European surface treatment service provider and equipment integrator with broad finishing capabilities. Overlaps with GALVABAU's customer segments in industrial metal finishing but operates primarily as a job-shop with installed equipment rather than as a custom plant designer.
• KIESOW Oberflächentechnik: German specialist in polishing, buffing, and surface finishing equipment and consumables. Comparable to GALVABAU in DACH region with engineered finishing systems for industrial customers.

Emerging players

• RENA Technologies: German-based equipment manufacturer specializing in wet chemical surface treatment systems for solar, semiconductor, and medical device applications. Adjacent peer with comparable customer-specific engineered plant model, focused on different end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/galvabau-ag

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 GALVABAU AG