What Skarpnes does

Skarpnes AS is a Norwegian family-owned building materials manufacturer headquartered in Grimstad, founded in 1919 and recognized as Norway's oldest roof tile company across four generations of family ownership. The company manufactures concrete roof tiles (Flat, Enkelkrum, Dobbelkrum, and Dobbelkrum RU variants) at its Østerhus industrial facility, distributes clay and ceramic roof tiles sourced from German partners Creaton and Jacobi, and sells lightweight Bond steel roof panels. Its product portfolio extends beyond roof coverings to include undertak/underlay membranes (700 SK2, UV 1800 SK2, DiffteQ series), Grøvik rainwater systems, wind barriers, snow guards, and electrical accessories. All Skarpnes roof tiles carry a 30-year product warranty for watertightness, strength, and frost resistance, and the SINTEF Byggforsk institute has certified its concrete tiles as the tightest in Norway.

The business model is hardware sales through a nationwide Norwegian dealer network: building materials retailers (byggevarehus) and professional/trade customers (proffkunder), supported by six regional sales managers covering distinct Norwegian territories. Pricing is FCA Grimstad on net-30 terms, with freight charged separately. Two innovation initiatives anchor the forward strategy: (1) Ovati™, a Building-Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) concrete roof tile co-developed with German PV specialist Autarq GmbH, offering 14W per tile in a low-voltage (<120V) parallel-wired system retaining 80% output after 20 years; and (2) FlexGreen, a 2025-launched concept allowing customers to choose CO2-reduced cement content (up to 100%) in concrete tiles, achieving near carbon neutrality at 0.204 kg CO2-eq/m². Distribution is anchored domestically, with a June 2025 takeover of Wakaflex distribution from BMI Group (following BMI's Norwegian exit) strengthening the one-supplier positioning. The Skarpnes Solpartner certified installer program, BIM/REVIT objects, technical documentation (EPDs, CE marking, NS-EN certifications), and free roof inspection service round out a sales-led, channel-driven GTM aimed at residential homeowners, professional tradespeople, and sustainability-focused developers.

Name

Skarpnes

Legal name

Skarpnes AS

Website

https://skarpnes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1919

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Skarpnes AS is Norway's oldest roof tile manufacturer (founded 1919), producing concrete roof tiles and distributing clay and steel roofing products through a nationwide dealer network. The family-owned company also offers the Ovati BIPV solar roof tile and FlexGreen CO2-reduced concrete options for the Nordic market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Roofing Materials / Building Materials Manufacturing

NAICS

Roofing, Siding, and Insulation Material Merchant Wholesalers (42333)

SIC

Asphalt Paving & Roofing Materials (2950)

akta.pro primary industry

Clay & Concrete Roof Tiles (IMADAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Roof Underlayment & Vapor Barriers (IMADAFAI)

Keywords

• Concrete roof tiles
• Clay roof tiles
• Solar roof tiles
• Roofing systems
• Building materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Grimstad

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Roofing Product Sales: Skarpnes manufactures and sells concrete roof tiles, distributes clay/ceramic roof tiles (Creaton, Jacobi), and steel roof panels (Bond) through a Norwegian dealer network. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales at dealer level. The company also generates revenue from complementary products including underlays, gutters, snow guards, and accessories. Pricing is FCA Grimstad, with payment terms net 30 days.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Skarpnes AS manufactures concrete roof tiles (Flat, Enkelkrum, Dobbelkrum, RU variants) and distributes clay tiles (Melodie, Futura, Domino, H2, MZ3), the Bond steel roof tile, and the Ovati BIPV solar roof tile co-developed with Autarq GmbH. The company offers a complete roofing system including underlays, gutters, flashing (Wakaflex), wind barriers, electrical accessories for solar tiles, and accessories (snow guards, fasteners, ventilation), distributed through Norwegian building materials retailers and professional tradespeople, with a 30-year product warranty and extended system warranty when Skarpnes underlays are combined with Skarpnes roof covering.

Product overview

Skarpnes AS is Norway's oldest roofing tile company (established 1919), offering a comprehensive modular roofing system built around concrete, clay, and steel roof tiles as the primary product families. The core concrete roof tile range includes Flat (flat slate-like), Enkelkrum (single-curved classic Nordic format), Dobbelkrum (double-curved), and RU Dobbelkrum (rough double-curved) — all carrying a 30-year warranty for watertightness, strength, and frost resistance. Clay tiles are sourced from German partner Creaton (with over 120 years of experience) and include Melodie (traditional Nordic form), Futura (technical), Domino (flat, high-strength, suitable from 15° pitch), H2 (traditional interlocking, from Jacobi), and MZ3. The innovative Ovati™ solar cell roof tile (BIPV product developed with German partner Autarq GmbH) integrates photovoltaic technology into flat concrete tiles for combined roof protection and electricity generation. Steel roofing is represented by the lightweight Bond steel tile. Supporting the primary roof coverings, Skarpnes offers undertak/underlayment (700 SK2, UV 1800, DiffteQ series), gutters from Grøvik, wind barriers (Difflex, WrapteQ), Wakaflex flashing (distributed from 2025), electrical accessories for Ovati (inverters, PV controllers, PV boosters), and snow guards, flashings, and ventilation products. The FlexGreen add-on enables customer-controlled CO2 reduction in concrete tiles by selecting CO2-reduced cement content. A 30-year system warranty applies when Skarpnes undertak is combined with their roof tiles.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ovati: Solar cell integrated flat concrete roof tile developed in collaboration with Autarq GmbH. BIPV (Building Integrated Photo Voltaic) product for Norwegian and Nordic climate conditions.
• FlexGreen
• FlexGreenX

Products and services

• Skarpnes Flat (concrete roof tile) Skarpnes Flat is a flat concrete roof tile with a slate-like appearance designed as a modern alternative to traditional slate roofing. It features clean straight lines for contemporary architecture and is available with the Edelbelegg premium surface finish.
• Skarpnes Enkelkrum (concrete roof tile) Single-curved concrete roof tile representing the classic Nordic format that has remained essentially unchanged since 1919. Available in untreated or Edelbelegg premium surface finish in 6 colors.
• Skarpnes Dobbelkrum (concrete roof tile) Strong and robust double-curved concrete roof tile suitable for both new and existing buildings. Produced with untreated, Edelbelegg premium, or RU surface finishes, available in 13 colors.
• Skarpnes Dobbelkrum RU (concrete roof tile) Rough double-curved concrete roof tile with double-overlapping edges for enhanced grip and durability. Designed with a rough finish for harder-wearing applications, available in 5 colors.
• Ovati Solar Roof Tile Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) flat concrete roof tile co-developed by Skarpnes with German partner Autarq GmbH. Combines roof protection with electricity generation. Each tile specified at 14 W output with minimum 80% retention after 20 years. Low-voltage system under 120V using parallel wiring topology with no need for micro-inverters.
• Melodie Clay Tile Quality clay roof tile with traditional Nordic form, deep interlocking ribs, and large batten flexibility. Available in glazed finesse+, nuance engobe, and natural red surface treatments in 5 colors.
• Futura Clay Tile Technical clay roof tile with stable base surfaces and large batten flexibility. Features stable contact surfaces for reliable installation, available in glazed noblesse, glazed finesse+, nuance engobe, and natural red variants in 6 colors.
• Domino Clay Tile Flat clay tile with high strength suitable for Norwegian conditions. Features deep interlocking ribs for very tight pitched roofs, installable at roof angles from 15 degrees. Available in glazed, engobe, and natural red surfaces in 7 colors.
• H2 Interlocking Clay Tile Traditional extruded interlocking clay tile most similar to old hand-molded clay tiles, produced by German family manufacturer Jacobi (six generations since 1860). Particularly suitable for buildings where preserving old architectural style is desired.
• MZ3 Clay Tile Clay roof tile manufactured by Creaton (over 120 years of German manufacturing experience) and distributed by Skarpnes in Norway. Currently offered in Sort Noblesse (black glazed) finish.
• Bond Steel Roof Tile Lightweight steel roof tile with a classic appearance, significantly lighter than concrete or clay tiles, making it suitable for roofs not constructed for heavy loads. Easy and quick installation with 30-year warranty.
• Undertaksprodukter (Roof Underlays) Underlayment and roof membrane system that works together with Skarpnes roof coverings to form complete roof systems. Includes diffusion-tight (Skarpnes 700 SK2, UV 1800 SK2) and diffusion-open (DiffteQ Longspan 220 SK2, Safeguard 260 SK2, Base 150 SK2) options. When Skarpnes undertak is combined with Skarpnes roof covering, products qualify for the Skarpnes Systemgaranti (20-30 years).
• Takrenner og tilbehør (Gutters and Accessories) Complete gutter system in N70 and T120 profiles from Grøvik, including bends, leaf guards, downpipes, connectors, and accessories for full rainwater management on Skarpnes roofs.
• Electrical Accessories for Solar Roof Tile (Ovati) Complete electrical accessory set for the Ovati solar roof tile system, including branch matrix cables, junction boxes (DJB), inverter cabinets, PV controllers, PV boosters (5 kW and 10 kW), arc fault boxes, marking stickers, and installation tools.
• Wakaflex Flashing Lead-free, flexible, self-adhesive flashing material for roof details around chimneys, walls, and other penetrations. Now distributed in Norway exclusively by Skarpnes after the company took over from BMI Group (formerly Icopal and Zanda) in June 2025. Available in multiple colors and widths.
• FlexGreen CO2-Reduced Concrete Option Customer-controlled CO2 reduction option applied to Skarpnes concrete roof tiles. Customers choose the percentage of CO2-reduced cement (30%, 50%, or 100%) used in production; at 100% the lifecycle emissions can reach as low as 0.204 kg CO2-eq/sqm, supported by EPDs NEPD-2709-1409 (treated) and NEPD-2708-1410 (untreated).

Quantifiable outcome

• 0.204 kg CO2-eq per sqm at 100% CO2-reduced cement vs. 4.05 kg with regular cement — approximately 95% reduction
• +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

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BMI Group (formerly Icopal and Zanda)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2025Skarpnes took over distribution of the original Wakaflex product in the Norwegian market from BMI Group, which had discontinued its Norwegian operations. Wakaflex is the market-leading flashing/sealant material for roof details and penetrations. Distribution available from June 1, 2025 through Skarpnes' established network of Norwegian building materials retailers and proffkunder.
• Autarq GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationGerman technology partner for the development of Ovati BIPV solar roof tiles. Skarpnes developed the Ovati solcelletakstein (Building Integrated Photovoltaic) product together with Autarq. Autarq provides the photovoltaic integration technology; Skarpnes handles manufacturing in Grimstad, Norway. This is a co-development partnership yielding the first BIPV product based on concrete roof tile.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• BMI Group (Monier / Icopal): BMI Group is a major European pitched and flat roofing manufacturer (Monier brand historically covers concrete/clay tiles; Icopal/Zanda covered membranes and accessories). BMI exited Norway, ceding Wakaflex distribution to Skarpnes, making it a former direct competitor and now a wholesale-supply partner for adjacent SKUs.
• Tesla (Solar Roof): Tesla Solar Roof is a broad incumbent in the building-integrated solar roofing category. Comparable to Ovati as a competing BIPV roof product targeting the premium energy-generating residential roofing segment globally, though Tesla operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic reach.
• Wienerberger: Wienerberger is the world's largest producer of bricks and clay roof tiles, operating across Europe with ceramic roofing solutions. Comparable as a broad incumbent in clay and concrete roof systems, serving similar residential/renovation end-markets with overlapping product families.

Direct peers

• Benders: Benders is the largest Nordic concrete roof tile manufacturer, headquartered in Sweden. Directly comparable to Skarpnes as a Nordic-region competitor producing concrete roof tiles (and complementary products) for Scandinavian climates, with overlapping dealer and pro-channel go-to-market.
• Meyer-Holsen: Meyer-Holsen is a German family-run clay roof tile maker specializing in premium and heritage-style tiles. Comparable to Skarpnes as a heritage-focused, family-owned premium tile manufacturer serving similar residential and restoration segments in Northern Europe.
• ERLUS: ERLUS is a German manufacturer of high-quality clay roof tiles and complete roof systems (including solar-integrated options). Comparable to Skarpnes on premium clay tile manufacturing and roof system integration, with overlap in the high-end residential/renovation segment.
• Creaton: Creaton is a leading European clay roof tile manufacturer (over 120 years experience) supplying Skarpnes' Melodie, Futura, Domino, and MZ3 clay tiles. Directly comparable as a clay/concrete tile maker serving similar residential/renovation segments across Europe.
• Nelskamp: Nelskamp is a German family-owned manufacturer of concrete and clay roof tiles. Directly comparable to Skarpnes as a specialist pitched-roofing tile maker with similar product breadth (concrete + clay) and Nordic/Northern-European distribution focus.
• Jacobi (Familiebedriften Jacobi): German six-generation family clay tile manufacturer (since 1860) producing the H2 Vingetegl distributed by Skarpnes in Norway. Directly comparable as a heritage clay tile specialist focused on traditional and heritage-building applications in Northern Europe.

Emerging players

• Autarq GmbH: Autarq is a German BIPV technology partner that co-developed the Ovati solar roof tile with Skarpnes. Comparable as a building-integrated photovoltaic (solar roof tile) technology specialist with overlapping product category (BIPV tiles) but positioned as the technology supplier to Skarpnes' tile platform.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SkarpnesAS
• Facebookfacebook.com/skarpnestak
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/skarpnes
• Instagraminstagram.com/skarpnes_as
• Xx.com/skarpnesas

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 Skarpnes