What Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung Gmbh & Co. Kg does

Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co. KG is a third-generation, family-owned general contractor headquartered in Kiel, Germany, founded in 1938. The company delivers construction services across four integrated lines: Tiefbau (civil engineering and infrastructure), Hochbau (building construction, including turnkey delivery), Umwelttechnik (environmental remediation, soil management, and liquid-soil production), and Projektentwicklung (real-estate project development). It supplements these with two specialized service models: the Partnering collaborative delivery model and the ÖPP (Public-Private Partnership) program, through which it assumes full 25-year lifecycle responsibility alongside partner Höft Bauunternehmung.

The company's technical differentiators include Flüssigboden (liquid soil) production on-site, BIM data matching used across all projects (pioneered in Schleswig-Holstein), the branded modular fire station product 27flex with fixed-price guarantees, and the HybridBau hybrid wood-concrete construction system delivered in partnership with CREE Deutschland GmbH, which won the Sustainability Heroes Awards 2024. Operations span northern Germany, with an East German affiliate (Gebrüder Karstens in Waren/Müritz) and recent acquisitions (Matthiesen GaLaBau in 2021, Sievertsen in 2023). Revenue is generated through project-based contracts won via public procurement tenders, direct negotiation with private developers, and long-term PPP obligations.

Customers are concentrated in the Schleswig-Holstein public sector (City of Kiel, FH Kiel, UKSH, Universität Flensburg, CAU Kiel) and regional housing cooperatives (WOGE, Wankendorfer, Baugenossenschaft Mittelholstein), supplemented by selective industrial and commercial engagements (Queisser Pharma, VINK Chemicals, Porsche Zentrum Kiel, Markant). The firm maintains an in-house fleet, a 150+ partner subcontractor network, and an apprenticeship pipeline (6–12 annually) supported by school cooperation agreements, and reports company-stated quality metrics of 99% error-free and 95% on-time project completion.

Name

Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung Gmbh & Co. Kg

Legal name

Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://www.heinrich-karstens.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Heinrich Karstens is a third-generation, family-owned German general contractor based in Kiel that delivers civil engineering, building construction, environmental remediation, and project development services to public-sector clients, housing cooperatives, and industrial/commercial developers across Schleswig-Holstein and northern Germany.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Construction Services

NAICS

Nonresidential Building Construction (2362)

SIC

General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), Heavy Construction Other Than Bldg Const - Contractors (1600), Construction - Special Trade Contractors (1700)

akta.pro primary industry

Multi-Family Residential Construction (Apartments, Condos, Townhomes) (IMAFABAB)

Keywords

• Civil engineering services
• Building construction
• Environmental remediation
• Public-private partnerships
• Project development

Headquarters

HQ city

Kiel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tiefbau (Civil/Infrastructure Engineering): Infrastructure construction services including canal/sewer construction, pipeline installation, cable laying, earthworks, road construction, excavation, development, and specialized civil engineering. Revenue is generated through fixed-price project contracts for public and private clients.
2. Hochbau (Building Construction): Residential, commercial, industrial, and public building construction, including turnkey (schlüsselfertig) delivery. Services span from structural work through to complete building handover. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts, with some delivered as general contractor.
3. Umwelttechnik (Environmental Engineering): Environmental remediation services including hazardous material disposal, contaminated site remediation, soil management, soil improvement, recycling, and liquid soil production. Regulatory-compliant execution with detailed disposal documentation provided to clients.
4. Projektentwicklung (Project Development): Real estate development services from feasibility study through concept, financing, construction, and sales. Particularly focused on office and commercial properties in the Kiel region.
5. ÖPP / PPP (Public-Private Partnership): Full lifecycle PPP contracts spanning financing, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance over 25-year terms. The company and its partner Höft assume responsibility for the entire building lifecycle, including operational costs, going well beyond conventional construction warranties.
6. 27flex Modular Fire Station: Modular fire station product sold with fixed price guarantee, expedited timeline, and legally compliant procurement. Revenue from design, manufacturing coordination, and construction delivery.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Heinrich Karstens is a third-generation family-owned construction company that delivers civil engineering (Tiefbau), building construction (Hochbau), environmental technology (Umwelttechnik), and project development (Projektentwicklung) services across northern Germany. The company also provides ÖPP/PPP lifecycle contracts, the Partnering collaborative delivery model, and a branded modular fire station product called 27flex. Its client base includes municipalities, housing cooperatives, universities, industrial firms, and private developers in Schleswig-Holstein and beyond.

Product overview

Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung is a third-generation family construction company based in Kiel, Germany, offering a comprehensive portfolio of construction services. The core offerings include Tiefbau (civil engineering/infrastructure), Hochbau (building construction), Umwelttechnik (environmental technology), and Projektentwicklung (project development). These are supplemented by specialized service models including Partnering for collaborative project delivery, ÖPP (public-private partnerships), and the branded modular product '27flex' for fire stations. The company emphasizes BIM technology, Virtual Reality planning methods, and innovative techniques such as liquid soil production (Flüssigbodentechnik).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 27flex: Modular fire station concept offering fixed price guarantee, cost and schedule certainty, and fast implementation through a modular and expandable system.

Products and services

• Tiefbau (Civil Engineering) Comprehensive civil engineering services including canal construction, outdoor facilities, road construction, excavation, development, special foundation engineering, and cable installation for public and private clients in northern Germany.
• Hochbau (Building Construction) Full-service building construction including residential, commercial, industrial, hall construction, healthcare, hotel construction, renovation, and public facilities, with BIM application and turnkey (schlüsselfertig) delivery options.
• Umwelttechnik (Environmental Technology) Professional disposal of hazardous substances in soil, groundwater, and air; contaminated site remediation; site assessment, planning, consultation, soil management, improvement, recycling, and liquid soil production with regulatory-compliant documentation.
• Projektentwicklung (Project Development) End-to-end real estate project development from conception through construction execution to sales, offering feasibility studies, profitability analysis, conceptualization, permit planning, and time management for office and commercial properties in the Kiel region.
• 27flex - Das modulare Feuerwehrhaus (Modular Fire Station) Modular fire station system offering fixed price guarantee, cost and schedule certainty, proven planning, shortened construction time, and expandable design tailored for municipal fire department needs.
• Partnering Collaborative project delivery model ensuring transparency, efficiency, and planning security with pre-agreed project goals, fixed costs, and streamlined problem resolution for complex construction projects.
• ÖPP (Public-Private Partnership) Long-term public-private partnership covering financing, planning, construction, operation, and maintenance over 25-year lifecycle terms, extending responsibility beyond conventional construction warranty.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% of work results are error-free (fehlerfrei)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Gemeinschaftsschule KronshagenminorOthers · 1 October 2024A school cooperation was signed on October 16, 2024 with the Gemeinschaftsschule Kronshagen. The partnership aims to promote practical projects and provide students with insights into various construction professions. The first project involved paving an area around an outdoor pizza oven with support from Karstens staff.
• Gebrüder Karstens BauunternehmungcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Affiliated company based in Waren (Müritz) in the new federal states (East Germany), established in 1991. Gebrüder Karstens Bauunternehmung entered into a major contract in 2024 with HH2E for construction of one of Europe's largest green hydrogen production facilities in Lubmin. The affiliated company operates under the same family ownership and brand umbrella.
• HH2EminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2024Gebrüder Karstens Bauunternehmung (affiliated company) signed a contract with HH2E in August 2024 for the construction of an HH2E green hydrogen production plant in Lubmin, Germany. The plant is planned to be one of the largest green hydrogen production facilities in Europe.
• VINK ChemicalsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 November 2023Heinrich Karstens is building a new production facility for VINK Chemicals in the Industriepark Schwerin. The 50,000 m² site will create 40-50 new jobs. Spatenstich (groundbreaking) took place on November 10, 2023. Completion is planned for early 2026. A notable 1,400 m³ concrete slab was poured with 175 mixer vehicles.
• Lilli-Martius-Schule (Kiel)minorOthers · 1 January 2021School cooperation agreement signed on January 15, 2021 between the Lilli-Martius-Schule and Geschäftsführer Stephan Karstens. The partnership allows students to learn about various construction trades, undertake internships, and ask apprentices about their professions.
• CREE Deutschland GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the HybridBau (hybrid wood-concrete construction) project. CREE provides its innovative building system that combines wood and concrete materials. Heinrich Karstens serves as the construction partner executing projects using the CREE system. The CREE system has bound over 10,000 tonnes of CO2 across its buildings. The partnership won the Sustainability Heroes Awards 2024.
• Höft Bauunternehmung GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing PPP (ÖPP) partnership for public-private partnership projects. Together, Heinrich Karstens and Höft have successfully delivered four PPP projects including: Seminargebäude Universität Flensburg, Mathematische Fakultät CAU Kiel, RBZ am Schützenpark Kiel, and the current Mathematical Faculty project. The partnership covers the full project lifecycle from financing and planning through construction, operation, and maintenance over 25-year terms.
• Kieler Stadthaus (Bauträger)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe company refers residential development clients to Kieler Stadthaus for housing projects, while retaining commercial and office property development for itself. This is a complementary relationship within the Karstens group ecosystem.
• UKSH Förderstiftung (University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Support Foundation)minorOthersLong-term curators of the UKSH Support Foundation, which aims to improve conditions for patients, relatives, and staff at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein and to promote innovative medical projects. The company contributes financially and through its network to strengthen the hospital as a maximum care provider.
• Marija Behrendt (Artist)minorOthersFreischaffende Künstlerin (independent artist) from Kiel who creates artistic collages documenting the company's construction projects. The collaboration has produced multiple artworks depicting notable Karstens projects including the Hörn water tower, Beach Bay, and others. The artist describes the work as combining architecture, construction machinery, and Kiel identity.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• HOCHTIEF AG: One of Germany's largest construction groups, with strong positions in civil engineering, building construction, and public infrastructure PPP. Comparable on public-sector and PPP project mix, though vastly larger in scale and geographic reach.
• Ed. Züblin AG: Major German general contractor (STRABAG subsidiary) covering civil engineering, building construction, and PPP projects. Comparable on integrated construction delivery and PPP capability, though operating at substantially larger scale than Heinrich Karstens.
• Porr AG: Austrian-headquartered full-service construction group with significant German operations across civil engineering and building construction. Comparable on multi-trade integrated construction delivery and public-sector exposure, but at substantially larger scale.

Direct peers

• Goldbeck GmbH: German family-owned construction company specializing in system-based commercial, industrial, and public building construction with modular and prefabricated approaches. Highly comparable to Heinrich Karstens on integrated Hochbau delivery, modular/innovative construction methods, and family-owned mid-sized positioning.
• Max Bögl: Major German family-owned construction company with strengths in modular construction, hybrid building systems, and renewable infrastructure. Highly comparable to Heinrich Karstens on innovation in modular products (akin to 27flex), hybrid wood-concrete construction (akin to HybridBau), and family-owned multi-trade scope.
• Leonhard Weiss GmbH: German family-owned general contractor delivering civil engineering, building construction, and road construction across Germany. Directly comparable on integrated Tiefbau/Hochbau capabilities, family ownership structure, and mixed public-private customer base.
• Höft Bauunternehmung GmbH: Regional Schleswig-Holstein construction company and long-standing PPP partner of Heinrich Karstens, jointly executing multi-decade ÖPP mandates. Most directly comparable peer on geography, project type, and partnership dynamics.
• GP Papenburg Baugesellschaft mbH: Family-owned German general contractor active across civil engineering, building construction, and environmental/remediation services. Comparable on integrated scope, family ownership, and German regional contracting model.
• Köster GmbH: German general contractor delivering turnkey commercial, industrial, and public building construction with strong digital/BIM planning capabilities. Comparable on integrated Hochbau delivery and BIM-led planning emphasis.

Regional players

• Aug. Prien Bauunternehmung: Hamburg-headquartered construction company active across northern Germany in commercial building construction and civil engineering. Highly comparable on regional northern Germany footprint and integrated Hochbau/Tiefbau offering, with similar mid-market positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HeinrichKarstensBauunternehmung
• Instagraminstagram.com/karstens.de

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries5 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 Heinrich Karstens Bauunternehmung Gmbh & Co. Kg