Schenk Ag Heldswil
Schenk AG Heldswil is a Swiss family-owned civil engineering contractor specializing in guided horizontal directional drilling (HDD), trenchless pipeline installation, road construction, and surveying. It serves Swiss municipalities, energy utilities, and private developers through competitive tenders, with proprietary drilling equipment and ~110 employees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersHeldswil, Switzerland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Schenk Ag Heldswil does
Schenk AG Heldswil is a Swiss family-owned civil engineering and trenchless-technology contractor founded in 1969 by Ernst Schenk in Heldswil, Thurgau canton. The company's core competency is guided horizontal directional drilling (HDD / gesteuerte Horizontal-Spülbohrung) for trenchless installation of pipelines and cables under roads, railways, rivers, and lakes. Supporting service lines include civil engineering (Tiefbau), road construction (Strassenbau), pipeline construction (Leitungsbau), pipe jacking, pipe bursting (Berstlining), underground utility location (Ortungsservice) using georadar, and project planning and surveying (Planung & Vermessung). The company has developed proprietary in-house equipment — the Mini-Twinny mini pipe jacking system (1994) and the E-Z-Jet Spülbohrsystem (2013) — and acquired Switzerland's first fully electric HDD rig in 2022. Documented record-setting projects include Switzerland's longest HDD at 1,060 meters and the world's longest horizontal rock drilling in Åndalsnes, Norway (2021).
The business operates primarily through competitive tenders for public and private infrastructure projects, serving Swiss municipalities and cantonal governments, energy and utility companies (e.g., Axpo Grid, Energie Kreuzlingen, Energie 360°, Holzwärme Grindelwald AG), and private construction developers. Projects are quoted individually via [email protected] based on scope and complexity, with multi-year contract cadences typical for public infrastructure work. The company employs ~110 people across three generations of the Schenk family and a credentialed executive team led by CEO Curdin Pinggera (appointed 2019) under sole-owner Beni Schenk (since 2022). Certifications include the 2025 DCA (Drilling Contractors Association) certificate and the Ständige Liste of qualified Swiss civil engineering contractors. Geographic reach is centered on Switzerland with opportunistic cross-border projects in Austria and Norway, and a 2026 joint venture (ARGE ThuRhein with Marty Bauleistungen AG) for the Klöntalersee lake drilling project.
Schenk Ag Heldswil firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Schenk Ag Heldswil
- Legal name
- Schenk AG Heldswil
- Website
- https://schenkag.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Schenk AG Heldswil is a Swiss family-owned civil engineering contractor specializing in guided horizontal directional drilling (HDD), trenchless pipeline installation, road construction, and surveying. It serves Swiss municipalities, energy utilities, and private developers through competitive tenders, with proprietary drilling equipment and ~110 employees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Schenk Ag Heldswil industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Civil Engineering & Trenchless Construction Services
- NAICS
- Building Equipment Contractors (2382), Foundation, Structure, and Building Exterior Contractors (2381)
- SIC
- Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Temporary Works & Shoring (Sheeting, Bracing, Cofferdams) (IMAFAKAI)
Keywords
Where Schenk Ag Heldswil is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Heldswil
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Schenk Ag Heldswil business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Civil Engineering and Construction Services: Primary revenue stream from providing specialized construction services including guided horizontal drilling (Spülbohrung), civil engineering (Tiefbau), road construction (Strassenbau), pipeline construction (Leitungsbau), and pipe jacking (Berstlining). Projects are typically contracted through public and private tenders for infrastructure development, utility installation, and environmental engineering.
- Planning and Surveying Services: Additional service revenue from providing location services (Ortungsservice) and planning and surveying (Planung & Vermessung) for construction projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Project-based construction services - quotes provided per project based on specifications, scope, and complexity |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Schenk Ag Heldswil product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Schenk AG Heldswil is a Swiss family-owned construction contractor specializing in trenchless underground infrastructure installation. Its core work includes guided horizontal directional drilling (HDD/Spülbohrung), civil engineering (Tiefbau), road construction (Strassenbau), and pipeline construction (Leitungsbau). Supporting offerings cover underground utility location (Ortungsservice), planning and surveying (Planung & Vermessung), and pipe-bursting rehabilitation (Berstlining), with proprietary equipment (Mini-Twinny, E-Z-Jet) developed in-house.
Product overview
Schenk AG Heldswil is a Swiss family-owned construction company offering specialized civil engineering services with a focus on trenchless technologies. The company operates as a service provider rather than a software product company. Its core offerings include guided horizontal mud drilling (HDD), civil engineering (Tiefbau), road construction (Strassenbau), and pipeline construction (Leitungsbau). The company has developed proprietary equipment including the Mini-Twinny (mini pipe jacking system, 1994) and the E-Z-Jet mud drilling system (2013). Supporting services include underground utility location (Ortungsservice), planning and surveying (Planung & Vermessung), and pipe bursting (Berstlining). The company employs approximately 110 people and operates primarily in Switzerland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Guided Horizontal Mud Drilling (Gesteuerte Horizontal-Spülbohrung) Trenchless horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for installing pipelines and cables beneath obstacles such as roads, railways, rivers, and lakes. The company's primary specialization, delivered to municipalities, cantons, and utility companies.
- Civil Engineering (Tiefbau) General civil engineering and deep construction services including excavation, foundation work, canalization, landscaping, and infrastructure construction for residential and commercial projects.
- Road Construction (Strassenbau) Road construction services including asphalt paving, surface construction, and road rehabilitation for municipalities, cantons, and private developers.
- Pipeline Construction (Leitungsbau) Installation of water, gas, district heating, and other utility pipelines using both open-cut and trenchless methods for utility companies, municipalities, and developers.
- Mini-Twinny Pipe Jacking System Proprietary mini pipe jacking system developed in-house in 1994, used to install small-diameter pipes trenchlessly as an alternative to open-cut excavation.
- Berstlining (Pipe Bursting) Trenchless replacement of existing pipelines using pipe-bursting technology, avoiding the need for excavation and surface disruption.
- Underground Utility Location Service (Ortungsservice) Detection and geolocation of underground utilities and infrastructure using georadar and related detection technologies to support safe drilling and excavation.
- Planning & Surveying (Planung & Vermessung) Project planning, surveying, and technical documentation services for civil engineering and trenchless construction projects.
Companies that use Schenk Ag Heldswil
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Schenk Ag Heldswil technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Schenk Ag Heldswil partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Marty Bauleistungen AGcoreSchenk AG Heldswil partnered with Marty Bauleistungen AG in the ARGE ThuRhein joint venture for the Klöntalersee lake drilling project (2026). The partnership enables combined expertise for complex infrastructure projects requiring specialized drilling capabilities.
- Licht im Osten (LIO)minorSchenk AG supports Licht im Osten, a Swiss charitable organization, as part of their corporate social responsibility program. The company displays the organization's logo on their social responsibility page.
- MAF SchweizminorSchenk AG supports MAF Schweiz (Mission Aviation Fellowship Switzerland), a charitable organization, as part of their corporate social responsibility program.
- cbm SchweizminorSchenk AG supports cbm Schweiz, a charitable organization focused on people with disabilities in developing countries, as part of their corporate social responsibility program.
- Special Olympics SwitzerlandminorSchenk AG supports Special Olympics Switzerland, promoting sports for people with intellectual disabilities, as part of their corporate social responsibility program.
- plusportminorSchenk AG supports plusport, a Swiss sports organization for people with disabilities, as part of their corporate social responsibility program.
- World Vision SwitzerlandminorSchenk AG supports World Vision Switzerland, a development organization focused on children and communities in need, as part of their corporate social responsibility program.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves12 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Schenk Ag Heldswil competitors and assessment
Company assessmentOthers
- Vermeer Corporation: US-based leading manufacturer of HDD drilling rigs and trenchless equipment. Supplies the type of machinery Schenk AG uses, making it an enabling ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
Direct peers
- Max Streicher GmbH & Co. KG: German construction and trenchless technology group with HDD and pipeline construction operations. Comparable to Schenk AG in providing HDD services for utility and infrastructure customers.
- Bohrtec GmbH: German horizontal directional drilling contractor offering trenchless installation of pipelines and cables. Directly comparable to Schenk AG in HDD-based service delivery across Europe.
- LMR Drilling GmbH: German HDD specialist delivering guided horizontal drilling and trenchless pipeline installations for utilities and infrastructure. Closely aligned service offering, technology stack, and customer type to Schenk AG.
Broad incumbents
- Tracto-Technik GmbH & Co. KG: German manufacturer and contractor for trenchless technology including HDD, pipe bursting, and guided boring. Overlaps with Schenk AG's trenchless service offering and similar municipal/utility customers.
- Implenia AG: Swiss-listed major contractor covering buildings, civil engineering, and infrastructure. Competes with Schenk AG for Swiss public infrastructure tenders while offering a much broader service portfolio.
- Herrenknecht AG: German global leader in tunnel boring and trenchless technology. Operates across the broader trenchless infrastructure space overlapping with Schenk AG's HDD drilling focus, but with much wider portfolio and scale.
- Strabag AG: Swiss arm of Strabag SE, one of Europe's largest construction groups with extensive civil engineering and infrastructure capabilities. Competes with Schenk AG for larger Swiss infrastructure tenders.
Regional players
- Marti Gruppe: Privately held Swiss construction group with tunnelling, civil engineering, and special foundation capabilities. Partner of Schenk AG on the Klöntalersee project and a direct competitor in the Swiss infrastructure market.
- Frutiger AG: Swiss construction group active in civil engineering, road construction, and infrastructure. Comparable Swiss regional player competing for similar cantonal and municipal projects.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Schenk Ag Heldswil social profiles
Digital presenceSchenk Ag Heldswil financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Schenk Ag Heldswil leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Schenk Ag Heldswil funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Schenk Ag Heldswil M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Schenk Ag Heldswil
What does Schenk Ag Heldswil do?
Schenk AG Heldswil is a Swiss family-owned construction contractor specializing in trenchless underground infrastructure installation. Its core work includes guided horizontal directional drilling (HDD/Spülbohrung), civil engineering (Tiefbau), road construction (Strassenbau), and pipeline construction (Leitungsbau). Supporting offerings cover underground utility location (Ortungsservice), planning and surveying (Planung & Vermessung), and pipe-bursting rehabilitation (Berstlining), with proprietary equipment (Mini-Twinny, E-Z-Jet) developed in-house.
Is Schenk Ag Heldswil a public or private company?
Schenk Ag Heldswil is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Schenk Ag Heldswil founded?
Schenk Ag Heldswil was founded in 1969. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Schenk Ag Heldswil based?
Schenk Ag Heldswil is headquartered in Heldswil, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Schenk Ag Heldswil make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Civil Engineering and Construction Services are the primary driver. The others are planning and Surveying Services.
Who are Schenk Ag Heldswil's main competitors?
Vermeer Corporation is listed as an others. Direct peers are Max Streicher GmbH & Co. KG, Bohrtec GmbH and LMR Drilling GmbH. Broad incumbents are Tracto-Technik GmbH & Co. KG, Implenia AG, Herrenknecht AG and Strabag AG. Regional players are Marti Gruppe and Frutiger AG.
Does Schenk Ag Heldswil have an API?
No public API is recorded for Schenk Ag Heldswil.
What industry is Schenk Ag Heldswil in?
Schenk Ag Heldswil's product category is Civil Engineering & Trenchless Construction Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAKAI, Temporary Works & Shoring (Sheeting, Bracing, Cofferdams). Its NAICS code is 2382 and its SIC code is 1700.