Näf Service und Maschinen AG

What Näf Service und Maschinen AG does

Näf Service und Maschinen AG is a Swiss owner-operated service and distribution company (Inhabergeführte Aktiengesellschaft) founded in 1991 by Herbert Näf and headquartered in Herisau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden, with a branch and warehouse in Biel/Bienne. The company serves the Swiss wood trades ecosystem — Schreiner (joiners), Holzbauer (timber builders), Zimmermann (carpenters), and Fensterbauer (window manufacturers) — across four interconnected pillars: (1) Service & Automation, including field service, repairs, relocations, revisions, and control systems engineering (Steuerungsbau) for woodworking machinery; (2) New and used woodworking machines; (3) Infrastructure installations for dust extraction, dedusting, and compressed air systems; and (4) a consumables online shop distributing HOFFMANN connection technology, TERSA and KANEFUSA cutting tools, ISELI sharpening equipment, VARIOFIT/REHNEN handling equipment, and SUVA safety materials.

The company operates a Switzerland-wide field service network anchored by two physical locations (Herisau and Biel) and a self-service e-commerce shop at naef-ag.ch, with payment via invoice (registered customers) or prepayment, flat-rate CHF 15 shipping via DPD, and a CHF 30 minimum order threshold. Revenue is generated through professional services engagements (billable service jobs and contracts), hardware sales (new and used machines), infrastructure project work (Absaugung, Druckluft), and consumables/accessory e-commerce — all priced in CHF excluding VAT. The website is built on Jimdo with Google Analytics 4 and reCAPTCHA integrations; no AI/ML capabilities, mobile applications, or platform APIs are disclosed.

Growth has been driven primarily by acquisitions: Weiss Metallbau's WEISS gluing stand production (2015), Strebel Lufttechnik and the SCHUKO distribution (2018), Rolltech GmbH (2020), and the extraction technology division of Ruefli AG in Biel/Bienne (2022). A new service hub in Biel was opened in 2021, and the Herisau headquarters was expanded by approximately 1,000 m² with a goods lift in 2024. Operational management has been held since 2015 by a four-person team (Edith Frischknecht, Reto Knöpfel, Markus Senn, Ralph Nessensohn) following the 2013 succession arrangement from founder Herbert Näf. The company employs approximately 35 people and serves a reference base of 70+ wood construction and timber-building customers across Switzerland.

Name

Näf Service und Maschinen AG

Legal name

Näf Service und Maschinen AG

Website

https://naef-ag.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Näf Service und Maschinen AG is a Swiss owner-operated service and distribution company serving the wood trades (joiners, carpenters, timber builders, window manufacturers) across Switzerland with machinery service and repair, new and used woodworking machines, dust extraction and compressed air infrastructure, and a consumables online shop.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Herisau

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Service, Repair & Automation: Service, repairs, relocations, revisions, and control systems engineering (Steuerungsbau) for woodworking machines throughout Switzerland. Revenue generated through billable service engagements billed per job or contract.
2. New & Used Machinery Sales: Sales of new and second-hand wood-processing machines to professional tradespeople.
3. Infrastructure Products: Sales of dust extraction systems (Absauganlagen), dedusting solutions, and compressed air installations.
4. Online Shop (Consumables & Accessories): E-commerce shop selling consumables: saw blades, planer knives (TERSA), Hoffmann hardware, feed rolls, sharpening accessories, lubricants, SUVA safety materials, adhesives, and handling equipment. Prices are listed publicly; orders shipped via DPD with CHF 15 shipping within Switzerland.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Näf Service und Maschinen AG is a Switzerland-wide service and distribution partner for the wood trades, offering service, repairs, relocations, revisions, and automation/control engineering for woodworking machines; new and used woodworking machinery; dust extraction and compressed air infrastructure systems; and an online shop of consumables and accessories (saw blades, planer knives, HOFFMANN connection technology, sharpening equipment, adhesives, handling equipment, SUVA safety materials). Target customers are Schreiner, Holzbauer, Zimmermann, Fensterbauer, and related wood-working businesses across Switzerland.

Product overview

Näf Service und Maschinen AG is a Swiss company (founded 1991) offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for the woodworking industry. The core offering consists of four interconnected pillars: (1) Service & Repair — field service, repairs, relocations, revisions, and control engineering for woodworking machinery; (2) Machines — new and used woodworking machines; (3) Infrastructure — dust extraction, dust removal, and compressed air systems; and (4) a consumables Online Shop selling HOFFMANN connection technology (dovetail machines, swifts, cutters), TERSA and KANEFUSA cutting tools, ISELI sharpening equipment, lubrication/operating materials, handling equipment, and safety/SUVA materials. The company has expanded through acquisitions including Rolltech GmbH (2020), Strebel Lufttechnik with SCHUKO distribution (2018), and the WEISS gluing stand production (2015). The business operates nationwide in Switzerland from headquarters in Herisau AR with a branch in Biel.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Service & Reparaturen (Service and Repairs) Switzerland-wide service, repairs, relocations, revisions, and control systems engineering (Steuerungsbau) for woodworking machines. Includes a dedicated service hotline and online service order form. For Schreiner, Holzbauer, Zimmermann, Fensterbauer and other wood trades.
• Automation Automation solutions for woodworking machinery operations, including control engineering. Targets professional wood-processing businesses across Switzerland.
• Neue Maschinen (New Woodworking Machines) New woodworking machines sold to professional tradespeople (Schreiner, Holzbauer, Zimmermann, Fensterbauer). Marketed as high-quality machines for professionals.
• Gebrauchtmaschinen (Used Woodworking Machines) Second-hand woodworking machines offered for sale to professional wood-working businesses in Switzerland.
• Absaugung (Dust Extraction Systems) Dust extraction and dust removal (Entstaubung) systems for woodworking applications. Includes design, installation, and maintenance of Absauganlagen and Entstaubungsanlagen for the Swiss wood trades.
• Druckluft (Compressed Air Systems) Compressed air systems and installations for woodworking infrastructure, supplied under the SCHUKO brand representation acquired from Strebel Lufttechnik.
• Beratung (Consulting) Consulting services for wood industry infrastructure needs, including planning advice for dust extraction and compressed air installations.
• Online Shop for Woodworking Consumables and Accessories E-commerce shop selling woodworking consumables and accessories: KANEFUSA circular saw blades, TERSA planer knives (chrome steel and HSS), ISELI sharpening machines and grinding/polishing accessories, HEBOR and METEOR/AIGNER tenoning machine accessories, KUPER and JOWATHERM gluing products, HOFFMANN dovetail machines and connection technology (X-Line 20, MU3), feed rollers (Vorschubrollen), operating materials (lubricants, cutting fluids), VARIOFIT and REHNEN handling equipment, and SUVA safety materials. Ships via DPD within Switzerland at CHF 15 per order; minimum order CHF 30.
• WEISS Verleimständer (WEISS Gluing Stands) WEISS gluing stands (Verleimständer) product line, with production and distribution taken over from Weiss Metallbau in Steckborn. Sold to wood trades for gluing operations.

Named customers8 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ruefli AG (Biel/Bienne)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022In 2022, Näf acquired the extraction technology business (Bereich Absaugtechnik) of Ruefli AG in Biel/Bienne. In 2021, a new service branch was opened at Ruefli AG's premises in Biel. The acquisition expanded Näf's presence in Western Switzerland and added extraction technology capabilities.
• Rolltech GmbH (Schönengrund)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020In 2020, Näf acquired Rolltech GmbH from Schönengrund, which brought a broad range of workshop equipment (Betriebseinrichtungen) into the product portfolio.
• Strebel Lufttechnik (Alpnach Dorf)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018In 2018, Näf acquired the company Strebel Lufttechnik from Alpnach Dorf, including the SCHUKO distribution representation. This acquisition brought compressed air and ventilation product lines into Näf's portfolio and added the SCHUKO brand agency.
• Weiss Metallbau (Steckborn)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015In 2015, Näf took over the production and distribution of the WEISS gluing stand (Verleimständer) from Weiss Metallbau in Steckborn. This expanded Näf's own-manufactured/managed product line.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/n%C3%A4f-service-und-maschinen-ag

Compliance1 record

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 Näf Service und Maschinen AG