What H&e Bohrtechnik Gmbh does

H&E Bohrtechnik GmbH is a German horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractor founded in November 2005 in Stadtroda-Bollberg, Thuringia. The company operates a fleet of seven horizontal drilling rigs and provides trenchless installation services for cable ducts (telecommunications, traffic systems, power cables), PE-HD water and wastewater pressure lines up to DN500 with single pull lengths up to 600 meters, and gas and district-heating pipelines. Revenue is generated through project-based contracts awarded via direct sales and public tenders to enterprise customers (Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Tesla Gigafactory Berlin) and municipal utilities (e.g., Abwasserzweckverband Naumburg). The 2019 disclosed revenue exceeded 4.5 million EUR, with no later figure publicly stated.

The company's competitive position rests on a portfolio of proprietary, patented technology developed in cooperation with TU Ilmenau. Core innovations include TerraSmartHDD, an AI-based automated dosing and mixing system for drilling fluids with soil recognition (registered European trademark, pending European patent); Bentomisch, a patented automated bentonite additive dosing plant (recognized as BMWi ZIM Handwerksprojekt des Jahres 2018); Regenerationsbohrgestänge, an additive process for refurbishing drill rods with a wear-resistant surface (European patent granted 2024); and a proprietary bentonite recycling system that reuses 75% of drilling fluid material. The firm holds DVGW GW 321 Gruppe GN 2:A and ISO 9001:2015 certifications, has received funding from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator, and has been recognized multiple times by the Oskar Patzelt Foundation (Großer Preis des Mittelstandes finalist 2017, winner 2019, Ehrenplakette 2022, Premier Finalist 2025). Distribution partnerships with Tracto-Technik and Ditch Witch support planned European commercialization of TerraSmartHDD beyond the domestic service business.

Name

H&e Bohrtechnik Gmbh

Legal name

H&E Bohrtechnik GmbH

Website

https://hue-bohrtechnik.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

H&E Bohrtechnik GmbH, founded in 2005 in Stadtroda-Bollberg, Germany, is a 30-employee horizontal directional drilling contractor serving utilities, telecoms, and municipalities across Germany, with proprietary patented systems (TerraSmartHDD, Bentomisch) for automated drilling fluid management.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trenchless Pipeline Construction Services

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Water and Sewer Line and Related Structures Construction (23711)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying) (EUADADAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Underground transmission & distribution cable EPC (civil + cable install) (EUADAKAB), Underground Gas Line Trenching & Sleeving (HSAOAKAI)

Keywords

• Horizontal directional drilling
• Trenchless pipeline installation
• Cable duct installation
• Bentonite mixing systems
• HDD drilling contractor

Headquarters

HQ city

Stadtroda

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Projektgeschäft Horizontalspülbohrung: Das Unternehmen erwirtschaftet Einnahmen durch horizontale Spülbohrprojekte für Kunden wie Telekommunikationsunternehmen, Versorgungsunternehmen und Kommunen. Die Aufträge umfassen das Verlegen von Kabelschutzrohren, Trink- und Abwasserleitungen sowie Gasleitungen.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

H&E Bohrtechnik provides guided horizontal directional drilling (HDD / Horizontalspülbohrverfahren) services for trenchless installation of steel, cast iron, HPDE and PP pipes up to DN500 in single pull lengths up to 600 meters. The company lays cable ducts for telecommunications, traffic guidance and power, as well as gas, drinking water, wastewater pressure and district heating pipelines, including certified PE welding, drilling planning, pull-force measurement, suction and in-house recycling of drilling fluids.

Product overview

H&E Bohrtechnik GmbH is a specialized drilling contractor offering horizontal directional drilling (HDD) services. The company operates a fleet of 6-7 horizontal drilling rigs and provides complete drilling solutions including cable protection pipes, telecommunications infrastructure, wastewater pressure pipelines, and gas/district heating/drinking water supply installations. The product portfolio centers on proprietary technology: TerraSmart HDD is an AI-based automated dosing and mixing system with KI soil recognition; BENTOMISCH is a patented mixing and dosing plant for automated bentonite additive management; the Recyclinganlage enables 75% material recovery; and Regenerationsbohrgestänge is an additive process for refurbishing drill pipes. The company holds multiple European patents and was awarded ZIM Handwerksprojekt des Jahres in 2018.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BENTOMISCH: A mixing and dosing system for horizontal drilling rigs that automatically adds bentonite additives to the drilling fluid based on local soil conditions. Developed as a ZIM-funded project, patented by the company.
• TerraSmartHDD
• Regenerationsbohrgestänge
• Bohrwasser Control

Products and services

• Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) Services Steerable HDD service for trenchless installation of steel, cast iron, HPDE and PP pipes up to DN500 in single pull lengths up to 600 m, used for cable ducts, gas, drinking water, wastewater pressure and district heating lines under roads, railways, rivers and built-up areas; includes drilling planning, certified PE welding, pull-force measurement and drilling-fluid handling. Sold to infrastructure operators, utilities and municipalities.
• BENTOMISCH (Bentomisch) Automated Bentonite Mixing and Dosing System Patented mixing and dosing plant for HDD rigs that automatically adds bentonite additives to the drilling fluid in response to local soil conditions within a single borehole. Features two solid and one liquid depot to cover diverse soil and mixing scenarios. Used internally on HDD projects and as a standalone technology offering.
• TerraSmartHDD AI-Based Automated Mixing and Dosing System European-trademarked and patented AI-based automatic dosing and mixing plant for drilling fluids with KI-based soil recognition; automatically adjusts bentonite additive mixtures to terrain-specific conditions during drilling. Marketed via channel partners Tracto-Technik and Ditch Witch across Europe and used in H&E Bohrtechnik's own HDD operations.
• Drilling Fluid Recycling System (Recyclinganlage) Company-owned recycling plant that separates used drilling-fluid mixture and recovers bentonite additives so that the drilling solution does not need landfill disposal; currently enables 75% of materials to be reused. Used internally on HDD projects.
• Regenerationsbohrgestänge (Drill Rod Regeneration) European-patented additive process that refurbishes used drill rods to a wear-resistant surface condition, enabling longer rod life than new units. Used internally on H&E Bohrtechnik HDD projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30% less bentonite additives consumed with automated TerraSmartHDD mixing
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 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

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Technische Hochschule IlmenaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGemeinsame Forschungsprojekte mit der TU Ilmenau: Regenerationsbohrgestänge (additive Aufbereitung von Bohrgestängen) und weitere F&E-Projekte zur Optimierung der Horizontalbohrtechnik.
• Tracto-TechnikcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVertriebspartner für TerraSmartHDD in Europa. H&E Bohrtechnik arbeitet mit Tracto-Technik zusammen, um die automatische Misch- und Dosieranlage auf dem europäischen Markt zu vertreiben.
• Ditch WitchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVertriebspartner für TerraSmartHDD in Europa. Ditch Witch ist ein weiterer Vertriebspartner für die patentierte Technologie.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Vermeer Corporation: US-headquartered manufacturer of HDD rigs and underground construction equipment. Comparable as a major HDD equipment incumbent serving similar utility/infrastructure end markets.
• Per Aarsleff Holding A/S: Danish trenchless technology contractor (No-Dig) and pipe rehabilitation specialist. Comparable as a European trenchless contractor serving utility and infrastructure clients.
• Ditch Witch (The Charles Machine Works): Global HDD equipment leader and current channel partner for TerraSmartHDD. Comparable as the dominant incumbent in HDD machinery and underground construction equipment.
• Herrenknecht AG: German global leader in trenchless technology, primarily TBM and microtunnelling, with overlap in HDD-adjacent trenchless installation. Comparable as a German-headquartered trenchless technology incumbent.
• Akkerman: US-based manufacturer of trenchless equipment including HDD, microtunnelling, and pipe jacking systems. Comparable as an HDD/trenchless equipment incumbent with similar product category overlap.

Direct peers

• Tracto-Technik: German manufacturer of HDD and trenchless technology equipment and a current channel partner for TerraSmartHDD. Directly comparable as a Germany-based HDD specialist spanning equipment and services.
• Bohrtec Gesellschaft für Bohr- und Umwelttechnik mbH: Germany-based HDD contractor offering controlled horizontal directional drilling for pipeline and cable installation. Closest direct peer in scale, geography, and service scope.

Regional players

• Horizontal Drilling International (HDI): France-based HDD contractor serving European utilities and infrastructure projects. Comparable as a European HDD services peer operating in adjacent geographic markets.
• LMR Drilling Ltd: UK-based HDD contractor providing trenchless installations for utilities and telecoms. Comparable as a regional HDD services peer in a different European geography.
• TRACTO-TECHNIK UK & Ireland: UK arm of Tracto-Technik selling and supporting HDD equipment in the British and Irish market. Comparable as a regional extension of the closest direct peer operating in trenchless cable and pipeline installation.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 H&e Bohrtechnik Gmbh