Rettberg GmbH

What Rettberg GmbH does

Rettberg GmbH & Co. KG is a family-owned German specialty construction company headquartered in Göttingen, Lower Saxony, operating since 1945. The firm focuses on trenchless (no-dig) pipe and sewer rehabilitation, offering five complementary methods: Berstlining (static pipe bursting) for full pipe replacement with optional 1–2 size diameter upsizing; TIP-Verfahren (tight-in-pipe) for pipe-in-pipe renewal of hosts with up to 30% deformation; Rohrrelining and the Reduktionsverfahren (close-fit reduction) for hydraulic-downsizing scenarios; Horizontal-Spülbohrverfahren (HDD) for trenchless house connections up to 70m; and traditional open-trench Kanal- und Rohrleitungsbau for new pipeline and chamber construction. Equipment capacity spans 40 to 190 tonnes of pulling force across pipe diameters DN 65 to DN 1200mm, with documented capability for pipe insertions up to 1,500m in length, including cross-river installations under the Seine and the Danube.

The company's commercial model is project-based: each engagement is individually quoted on a case-by-case basis with no publicly disclosed pricing. Customers fall into three primary segments — public utilities and municipalities (the dominant segment, served under tender frameworks including VOB/A), private property owners (house connections, drainage compliance under DIN 1986-30 and DIN EN 1610), and large industrial clients with major pipeline requirements. Rettberg supplements project revenue with a 365-day, 24/7 emergency pipe-break response service for public utility clients. Marketing is minimal and relies on direct contact (phone, email, website form), earned media in German trade publications (bbr, 3R international, B_I Umweltbau, Göttinger Tageblatt), and a project-reference-driven website.

The firm is structured as a GmbH & Co. KG with Rettberg Verwaltungs-GmbH as the general partner, managed by Dipl.-Bauingenieur Werner Rettberg sen. and Dipl.-Bauingenieur Karsten Rettberg. It holds RAL Kanalbau AK2 (open canal construction), RAL S51 (trenchless pipe bursting), and RAL GZ 961 quality certifications, which are prerequisites for public-sector wastewater tenders in Germany. Operations are anchored by a 7,000 m² yard in Herbershausen, and the core team of approximately 5 people is supplemented by project-based subcontractors to operate the heavy specialized equipment fleet.

Name

Rettberg GmbH

Legal name

RETTBERG GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://rettberg-bau.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rettberg GmbH is a family-owned German specialty contractor founded in 1945, providing trenchless pipe and sewer rehabilitation services (Berstlining, TIP, relining, HDD) plus traditional canal construction to public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners across Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trenchless Pipe Rehabilitation and Canal Construction Services

NAICS

Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711), Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction (237)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation, Lining & Renewal (Pipe Relining, Trenchless Rehab, Asset Renewal) (IMAFAGAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Works General Contracting (IMAFAAAG)

Keywords

• Trenchless pipe rehabilitation
• Canal construction services
• Horizontal directional drilling
• Sewer pipe renewal
• Water pipeline construction

Headquarters

HQ city

Göttingen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction Services - Trenchless Pipe Rehabilitation: Project-based revenue from providing specialized trenchless pipe rehabilitation services including Berstlining, TIP, Relining, and horizontal drilling. Services are provided to public utilities, municipalities, and private customers on a project quotation basis.
2. New Pipeline and Canal Construction: Traditional open-cut construction services for new sewage systems, water supply networks, transport collectors, chamber structures, pumping stations, and retention basins. Includes 365-day emergency services for pipe break remediation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

RETTBERG GmbH & Co. KG is a specialty construction contractor that performs trenchless (no-dig/grabenlos) pipe and sewer rehabilitation for water, gas, and wastewater lines, as well as traditional open-cut canal and pipeline construction. Its core service portfolio includes the Berst-Verfahren (pipe bursting), TIP-Verfahren (tight-in-pipe), Rohrrelining, HDD horizontal directional drilling, and conventional Kanal- und Rohrleitungsbau, delivered under RAL Kanalbau quality certifications. Projects are quoted per engagement and typically involve public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners.

Product overview

Rettberg GmbH is a construction company specializing in trenchless pipe and canal rehabilitation technologies. The company offers a portfolio of complementary pipe renewal methods: the Berst-Verfahren (pipe bursting) for complete pipe replacement with possible diameter expansion, the TIP-Verfahren (tight-in-pipe) for pipe-in-pipe rehabilitation, Rohrrelining for hydraulic reduction scenarios, the Horizontal-Spülbohrverfahren (HDD) for trenchless house connections, and traditional Kanal- und Rohrleitungsbau for open-trench construction. These methods range from trenchless to conventional approaches, allowing the company to offer complete infrastructure solutions for water, gas, and sewage pipelines. The portfolio is complemented by specialized reduction methods and pipe pull-in services for pressure pipelines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Berst-Verfahren (Pipe Bursting) Trenchless pipe renewal method that breaks the existing pipe while simultaneously pulling in a new PE-HD, PP-HM, ductile iron, steel, GRP, or stoneware pipe. Allows pipe diameter expansion of 1-2 sizes and achieves cost savings of up to 30% compared to open trench installation. Suitable for all old pipe materials and previously inliner-rehabilitated pipes. Offered to public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners.
• TIP-Verfahren (Tight-In-Pipe) Trenchless rehabilitation method where a slightly smaller new pipe (e.g., DA 292 in DN 300) is pulled into the existing host pipe, creating a pipe-within-pipe system. The remaining 4 mm annular gap is not grouted. Used for corrosion damage, cracks, deformations up to 30%, root intrusion, and leaks. Push-pull equipment ranges from 70 to 1600 kN. Offered to public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners.
• Rohrrelining (Pipe Relining) Trenchless reduction method where a significantly smaller new pipe is installed inside the existing pipe when hydraulic capacity allows. New pipe is positioned using spacers, and the remaining annular space is grouted. Offered to public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners.
• Horizontal-Spülbohrverfahren (Horizontal Directional Drilling / HDD) Trenchless installation method using a pit boring system (1.60m x 1.40m excavation) for house connections (gas, water, electricity, fiber optic) up to 70m length and 200mm diameter. Suitable for road crossings, river crossings, and areas where open trenching is not possible. Pipe installations up to 75 m length and DN 200 mm are possible. Offered to public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners.
• Kanal- und Rohrleitungsbau (Canal and Pipeline Construction) Traditional open-trench construction services for new sewage systems, water supply networks, transport collectors, chamber structures, pumping stations, and retention basins. Includes 365-day emergency pipe break remediation services. Also includes reduction/swelling methods for pressure pipe rehabilitation up to 1,500 m length. Offered to public utilities, municipalities, and private property owners.
• Reduktionsverfahren (Reduction Method) and Rohreinzüge (Pipe Pull-ins) Close-fit trenchless pipe renovation system where a PE pipe strand is pulled through the host pipe and expands to fit tightly against the inner wall without annular space, plus specialized pipe insertion services for installing single pipes, pipe strands, or pipe bundles up to 1,500 m length into microtunneling jacking pipes. Suitable for gas, water, and sewage pressure pipes up to DA 1200. Includes steel pipe installations such as DN 1000 through DN 2000 microtunnels. Offered to public utilities, municipalities, and large industrial clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 30% cost savings compared to open-cut construction
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Diringer & Scheidel GmbH & Co. KG: Diringer & Scheidel is a German construction group with significant trenchless pipeline rehabilitation and civil infrastructure capabilities. Comparable to Rettberg as a domestic contractor offering both trenchless and traditional pipeline construction methods to public-sector clients.
• Swietelsky-Faber GmbH: Swietelsky-Faber Kanalsanierung is one of Germany's leading trenchless sewer rehabilitation specialists, offering pipe bursting, lining, and relining. Directly comparable to Rettberg as a domestic German specialist in no-dig pipe renewal serving municipalities and utilities.
• Rädlinger ZT GmbH: Rädlinger ZT operates the Primus Line system for trenchless rehabilitation of pressure pipelines using flexible Kevlar-reinforced liners. Comparable to Rettberg as a German trenchless specialist serving municipal and industrial customers with overlapping no-dig technologies.
• Brandenburger Liner GmbH & Co. KG: Brandenburger Liner is a German manufacturer and applicator of UV-cured CIPP liners for trenchless sewer and pipe rehabilitation. Comparable to Rettberg as a domestic specialist in no-dig renewal technology focused on municipal water and wastewater networks.
• Karl Weiss GmbH: Karl Weiss is a German pipeline and infrastructure construction company active in sewer, water, and gas pipeline installation including trenchless methods. Comparable to Rettberg as a mid-sized German pipeline contractor with overlapping service offerings to municipal customers.
• Per Aarsleff Holding A/S: Danish-headquartered Aarsleff is a leading European trenchless pipe rehabilitation group with German operations (Aarsleff Rohrsanierung). Comparable to Rettberg as a multi-country trenchless specialist competing in the German market with CIPP and pipe-bursting capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Bilfinger SE: Bilfinger is a European industrial services and engineering firm with capabilities in pipeline construction, water infrastructure, and rehabilitation. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering overlapping infrastructure services to industrial and municipal customers.
• HOCHTIEF AG: HOCHTIEF is a major German-headquartered international construction company with civil engineering and infrastructure capabilities including pipeline work. Comparable as a broad incumbent that competes for large municipal infrastructure tenders alongside specialized trenchless firms.
• Max Bögl Stiftung & Co. KG: Max Bögl is a large German construction group with civil engineering and infrastructure capabilities including pipeline and canal construction. Comparable as a broad incumbent operating across multiple infrastructure categories that competes for the same municipal water and sewer tenders.
• STRABAG AG: STRABAG is one of Europe's largest construction groups with extensive civil engineering and pipeline construction capabilities. Overlaps with Rettberg on water and sewer infrastructure work but as part of a much broader portfolio rather than a trenchless specialist.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rettberg-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Rettberg GmbH