What Schaffner AG does

Schaffner AG is a Swiss garden furniture manufacturer that has been developing and producing high-quality outdoor furniture for over 70 years. The company operates a factory in Müllheim, Thurgau, Switzerland, where it manufactures metal and fibreglass garden furniture using traditional techniques, including hand-weaving of its iconic Spaghetti chairs, pure fibreglass construction, and pure polyester powder coating. Its catalogue spans 13 product families (PIX, Säntis, Rigi, Luzern, Locarno, Bodensee, Glarus, Bermuda, Davos, St. Moritz, Bernardino, Schaffhausen, and the Lounger line) covering chairs, tables, benches, loungers, and salon seating, with the Rigi family positioned as the premium line featuring exclusively processed Swiss ash wood.

The company's go-to-market combines a distributor and dealer network across Switzerland, Germany, and Austria with a B2B contract furniture sales motion serving hotels, restaurants, and public spaces. Revenue is generated through multiple streams: one-time sales of durable goods (chairs, tables, loungers, benches, stools) via authorised dealers, a contract furniture direct-sales channel, an event furniture rental service (miete.schaffner-ag.ch) providing 1,000+ seating pieces, 300 tables, and 125 Glatz umbrellas on 3-20 day rentals, and an aftermarket business comprising a spare-parts e-commerce store and repair services (slat repair, fibreglass panel repair, colour correction lacquer). Pricing is not publicly disclosed; distributor pricing is gated through a dedicated partner portal.

Schaffner AG is a privately held Swiss corporation with no parent company, subsidiaries, external investors, public listing, or disclosed leadership team beyond its operational team. The company supports its brand through cultural event sponsorships (Mitsommerfest Frauenfeld, Lake&Sound, Moon&Stars, Zürich Film Festival, Bloom Sommerkino), trade-show presence (Messe Mailand, Messe Iheimisch), and an athlete sponsorship programme with cross-country skier Alina Meier. There are no disclosed AI, software, or digital-platform capabilities; the company's differentiation rests on Swiss Made certification, material quality, craftsmanship, and a multi-decade heritage.

Name

Schaffner AG

Legal name

Schaffner AG

Website

https://schaffner-ag.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Schaffner AG is a 70+ year Swiss garden furniture manufacturer producing metal and fibreglass outdoor furniture in Müllheim, Thurgau, distributed across Switzerland, Germany, and Austria to residential consumers, B2B contract clients, and event rental customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Household Furniture (except Wood and Upholstered) Manufacturing (337126), Household and Institutional Furniture Manufacturing (33712), Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (4491)

SIC

Household Furniture (2510), Retail-Home Furniture, Furnishings & Equipment Stores (5700)

akta.pro primary industry

Outdoor Furniture Retail (Patio Seating, Dining Sets, Umbrellas, Outdoor Storage) (CRAIAAAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Outdoor & Patio Furniture Rental (CRAIAOAK)

Keywords

• Garden furniture
• Outdoor furniture
• Fibreglass furniture
• Contract furniture
• Metal furniture

Headquarters

HQ city

Müllheim

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Garden Furniture Product Sales: Direct sales of high-quality garden furniture including chairs, tables, loungers, benches, and stools through a network of distributors and dealers in Switzerland, Germany, and Austria. Products are sold as durable goods with long replacement cycles.
2. Event Furniture Rental: Rental service for garden furniture for events including summer festivals, open-air cinemas, corporate events, and weddings. Inventory includes 1,000 seating pieces, 300 tables, and 125 Glatz umbrellas. Rental duration is flexible from 3-20 days.
3. Contract Furniture (B2B): B2B sales of furniture for commercial/object clients including restaurants, hotels, and public spaces. Features dedicated contract furniture product lines.
4. Spare Parts and Repair Services: Aftermarket sales of replacement parts and repair services including colour correction lacquer, slat repairs, and fibreglass panel repairs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Schaffner AG manufactures and sells premium garden furniture made of metal, pure fibreglass, and Swiss ash wood through 13 design families including chairs, tables, loungers, benches, and stools. The company also operates a B2B contract furniture line for hotels, restaurants, and public spaces, an event furniture rental service, and a spare parts and repair program, all backed by Swiss Made certification.

Product overview

Schaffner AG is a Swiss garden furniture manufacturer with 70+ years of experience, producing high-quality outdoor furniture made of metal and fiberglass at their factory in Müllheim, Thurgau. The product portfolio consists of 13 distinct product families (PIX, Säntis, Rigi, Davos, St. Moritz, Luzern, Locarno, Bernardino, Schaffhausen, Bodensee, Glarus, Bermuda, and Lounger) organized around core furniture categories: chairs (Spaghetti, Lättli/slatted, Textil/fabric, Schalen/shell), tables (metal and fiberglass in various shapes with folding and extendable options), benches, loungers, and salon chairs. The Rigi family represents the premium line featuring exclusively processed Swiss ash wood. The company offers products to last a lifetime, certified as 100% Swiss Made. Beyond product sales, Schaffner provides garden furniture rental services for events (1,000 seating pieces, 300 tables, 125 umbrellas), spare parts ordering, professional repair services (slat repair, fiberglass panel repair, color correction), and assembly and care instructions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Segments3 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GlatzcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlatz supplies 125 umbrellas as part of Schaffner's event rental inventory, enabling comprehensive outdoor event solutions including seating, tables, and shade coverage from a single source.
• Alina MeierminorOthersAlina Meier is a cross-country skier sponsored by Schaffner AG. The sponsorship includes ongoing athlete support with product provision. Alina provides testimonial content for the company.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EMU (Gruppo EMU): Italian manufacturer of metal outdoor furniture (chairs, tables, loungers) with established European distribution. Comparable to Schaffner in metal-based outdoor furniture manufacturing, premium positioning, and contract/residential dual channel.
• Fermob: French manufacturer of premium metal outdoor furniture with a broad catalog of chairs, tables, and loungers. Closest peer to Schaffner in product category (metal garden furniture), premium DACH/Western European positioning, and multi-channel distribution to consumers and HoReCa.
• Tribù: Belgian premium outdoor furniture maker focused on high-end design and durability. Directly comparable to Schaffner's Rigi premium tier in price point, materials, and design-led European positioning.
• Garpa: German premium garden furniture and accessories brand with curated collections. Comparable to Schaffner in premium garden furniture positioning, DACH-focused distribution, and combination of consumer and HoReCa clientele.
• Manutti: Belgian premium outdoor furniture brand offering teak, metal, and fabric collections for residential and contract clients. Comparable to Schaffner in premium positioning, contract furniture channel, and European design heritage.
• Gandia Blasco: Spanish design-led outdoor furniture brand offering metal, aluminum, and textile collections. Comparable to Schaffner in premium positioning, modern metal outdoor furniture, and design-forward aesthetic targeting residential and contract buyers.
• Sieger (SIEGER 354): German premium outdoor furniture brand focusing on design-led collections for gardens and terraces. Comparable to Schaffner in metal outdoor furniture, premium DACH positioning, and direct-to-consumer plus dealer channels.
• Rausch Classics: German premium outdoor furniture manufacturer specializing in weather-resistant metal furniture for upscale residential and hospitality clients. Closely comparable to Schaffner in metal garden furniture manufacturing, German-speaking market focus, and contract/residential dual channel.

Broad incumbents

• Kettler: German heritage brand with broad outdoor and leisure furniture assortment across price tiers. Comparable to Schaffner in DACH distribution and outdoor furniture focus, but operates at significantly larger scale and broader price spectrum.

Others

• Glatz: Swiss/German manufacturer of premium outdoor umbrellas and shade systems. Already a Schaffner channel partner (125 Glatz umbrellas in Schaffner's rental inventory) and a comparable Swiss-made premium outdoor brand; not a direct competitor but a complementary/ecosystem peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schaffner-ag

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Schaffner AG