What Herrenknecht does

Herrenknecht AG is a German, family-owned manufacturer of mechanical tunnel boring machines (TBMs), mining equipment and trenchless pipeline installation systems, headquartered in Schwanau, Germany and founded in 1975 by Martin Herrenknecht. The company designs and builds a full spectrum of TBMs - including EPB shields, Mix shields, Double Shield TBMs, Single Shield TBMs, Multi-Mode TBMs, Gripper TBMs, AVN machines and Variable Density TBMs - covering diameters from 0.1m to over 19m and all ground conditions from soft soil to hard rock. It also supplies shaft boring systems (VSM, SBC, SBR, SBE, SDJ), mining equipment (BBM, BBR, RBM, RBR, DHBM, MLV, TTV, LLS), exploration rigs (Tiefbohranlagen, SDD-Rig), pipeline technologies (HDD-Rig, Direct Pipe, Pipe Express, E-Power Pipe) and a stack of auxiliary products (navigation/monitoring via VMT, Combisegments lining, separation technology, conveyor and rolling stock systems).

The business operates a project-based, enterprise-field-sales model selling customized machines and Original Herrenknecht Services directly to large construction contractors, government infrastructure owners and mining operators worldwide, supported by 70+ subsidiaries and affiliates. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of TBMs and related equipment, complemented by professional services (engineering, on-site support, 24/7 tunneling assistance) and a managed remanufacturing business at the Kehl Rebuild Services facility. FY2025 revenue was €1,202M with €1,343M of order intake and €1,319M of total output, on a base of 5,432 employees (plus 238 apprentices). Strategic priorities include deepening the energy-transition exposure via geothermal partnerships (Badenova, stake in H. Anger's Söhne), advancing Autonomous TBM development with Gamuda, and monetizing the Herrenknecht.Connected digital platform for recurring, data-based service revenue.

Name

Herrenknecht

Legal name

Herrenknecht AG

Website

https://herrenknecht.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Herrenknecht AG is a German, family-owned manufacturer of tunnel boring machines, mining equipment and trenchless pipeline systems, serving global construction contractors, public infrastructure owners and mining operators with customized project-based solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tunnel Boring Machines and Underground Construction Equipment

NAICS

Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Underground Mining Equipment (Loaders/LHDs, Continuous Miners, Longwall Systems) (IMAKANAB)

Keywords

• Tunnel boring machines
• Underground construction equipment
• Mining shaft boring
• Horizontal directional drilling
• Pipeline installation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwanau

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tunnel Boring Machine Sales: Sale of customized tunnel boring machines including EPB shields, gripper TBMs, multi-mode TBMs, and specialized machines for various diameters and ground conditions. Machines range from small utility tunnels to mega-diameter machines over 16 meters.
2. Remanufacturing Services: Professional rebuilding and modernization of used TBMs and components. Follows ITA guidelines and exceeds them in many aspects. Includes complete overhaul and technology upgrades.
3. Original Herrenknecht Services: Comprehensive service portfolio including project design and TBM manufacturing, transport and site assembly, tunneling support, disassembly and rebuilding. Service specialists provide 24/7 support during operations.
4. Mining Equipment: Boxhole Boring Machines, Raise Boring Rigs, Shaft Boring equipment for underground mining operations.
5. Exploration Equipment: Deep drilling systems for oil, gas, and geothermal energy exploration including Tiefbohranlagen and SDD-Rig.
6. Pipeline Installation Equipment: HDD-Rig, Direct Pipe, Pipe Express for trenchless pipeline installation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Herrenknecht AG manufactures customized mechanical tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for traffic, utility, mining, exploration, and pipeline installation projects worldwide. The company designs and builds a full range of TBMs—EPB shields, Mix shields, multi-mode TBMs, gripper TBMs, double/single shield TBMs—with diameters from 0.4 to 19 meters, plus trenchless pipeline installation systems (HDD, Direct Pipe, Pipe Express, E-Power Pipe), mining and shaft boring equipment, and the Herrenknecht.Connected digital IoT platform.

Product overview

Herrenknecht AG is a global market leader in mechanical tunnel boring technology, offering a comprehensive portfolio of tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and underground construction solutions. The product portfolio consists of core tunnel boring machines including EPB shields, mix shields, double shield TBMs, single shield TBMs, gripper TBMs, AVN machines, and multi-mode TBMs for various ground conditions and diameters from 0.4 to 19 meters. Pipeline installation solutions include HDD rigs, Direct Pipe®, Pipe Express®, and E-Power Pipe® systems. The company also offers shaft boring technology (VSM, SBC, SBR, SBE, SDJ), mining equipment (BBM, BBR, RBM, RBR, DHBM, TTV, MLV, LLS), exploration drilling systems, and extensive auxiliary equipment including navigation and monitoring systems, tunnel enlargement systems, segment production systems, rolling stock, separation technology, and conveyor belt systems. Digital services are provided through the Herrenknecht.Connected IoT platform. The group includes subsidiaries and brands such as VMT (navigation/monitoring), Herrenknecht Formwork, Herrenknecht Separations, H+E Logistik, TMS, GTE, Bohrtec, and others. Original services cover the entire project lifecycle from design and manufacturing through assembly, excavation support, and remanufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• VMT: Navigation and monitoring solutions for tunnel boring machines
• Herrenknecht Formwork
• Herrenknecht Separations
• H>Next
• Euroform
• H+E Logistik
• Techni-Métal Systèmes (TMS)
• Global Tunnelling Experts (GTE)
• Herrenknecht Vertical
• Bohrtec
• Herrenknecht.Connected

Products and services

• EPB-Schild (EPB Shield) Earth Pressure Balance shield tunnel boring machine providing rapid tunnelling with broad application spectrum for soft soils with low water permeability (clay, silt, loam), diameters 1.7–16 meters, for traffic, utility, and metro infrastructure projects.
• Mixschild (Mix Shield) Safe tunnelling technology for heterogeneous ground conditions including sandy and gravelly soils with high water permeability and pressure, diameters 4.8–19 meters, for major traffic and metro tunnelling projects.
• Doppelschild-TBM (Double Shield TBM) Continuous tunnelling TBM operating at highest speeds in all types of stable and unstable rock, diameters 2.8–14 meters, for long-distance traffic and utility tunnels.
• Multi-Mode-TBM Flexible TBM technology for strongly varying excavation conditions along tunnel alignment, including heterogeneous soils, hard rock, and soft ground, diameters 2.4–19 meters, for complex long-distance tunnelling alignments.
• Gripper-TBM Expert hard rock TBM for granite, gneiss, and basalt, diameters 2–12.5 meters, optimized for performance and speed in high-strength rock conditions.
• AVN-Maschine (AVN Machine) Versatile TBM for utility tunnelling in all ground conditions including soft soils, heterogeneous soils, and hard rock, diameters 0.4–4.8 meters, for water, sewer, and utility tunnels.
• HDD-Rig (Horizontal Directional Drilling) Strong horizontal drilling rig for trenchless pipeline installation in soft to hard rock conditions, diameters 0.2–2 meters (8–80 inches), for pipeline operators and utility contractors.
• Direct Pipe® Proprietary pipeline installation technology combining pipe jacking and microtunnelling in a single work step, diameters 0.8–1.5 meters (30–60 inches), for environmentally friendly trenchless pipeline installation crossing obstacles and water bodies.
• Pipe Express® Proprietary semi-open pipeline construction method for installation in soft and heterogeneous soils (clay, silt, loam, sand, gravel) below groundwater, diameters 0.9–1.5 meters (36–60 inches), for pipeline contractors.
• E-Power Pipe® Proprietary microtunnelling innovation for cable conduit installation in heterogeneous ground, for power transmission and energy cable projects requiring trenchless installation methods.
• Shaft Boring Cutterhead (SBC) Surface-to-depth shaft sinking system for hard and very hard rock, capable of reaching depths of 2,000 meters, for deep mining operations.
• Raise Boring Rig (RBR) Intelligent and safe shaft construction system for hard rock with diameters 0.3–8 meters, for underground mining shaft construction.
• Schachtabsenkanlage (VSM) - Vertical Shaft Sinking Machine Compact shaft drilling technology for all ground conditions (soft soils, heterogeneous soils, hard rock), diameters 4.5–16 meters, for vertical shaft construction in mining and civil applications.
• Tiefbohranlagen (Deep Drilling Systems) Efficient drilling technology for accessing deep energy deposits including geothermal resources, for oil, gas, and geothermal exploration operators.
• Herrenknecht.Connected Digital IoT platform providing real-time performance reports and data analytics for tunnel boring machines, enabling remote monitoring and data-based decision making across all project phases, including an energy management module, delivered to enterprise customers as a digital service.
• Original Herrenknecht Services Comprehensive aftermarket and project services including TBM project design, manufacturing, transport, site assembly, excavation support, disassembly, and professional remanufacturing, with 24/7 on-site service specialists during tunneling operations.
• High-End Remanufacturing (Rebuild Services) Professional rebuilding and modernization of used TBMs and components following ITA guidelines, with TÜV SÜD verified environmental savings of 71.42% emissions per tonne of TBM components, for sustainable infrastructure project owners and contractors.

Quantifiable outcome

• 71.42% emissions reduction per tonne of TBM components through remanufacturing (TÜV SÜD verified)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature11 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Badenova AGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 July 2025Energy provider Badenova and Herrenknecht AG are jointly realizing a geothermal project near Freiburg. The partnership focuses on regional geothermal energy development, combining Badenova's energy infrastructure expertise with Herrenknecht's drilling and tunneling technology capabilities.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Komatsu: Global mining and construction equipment manufacturer with tunnel-related offerings. Competes in similar mining customer accounts but its core machines are not direct TBM substitutes.
• Caterpillar: Global leader in construction and mining equipment with adjacent underground hard-rock equipment. Overlaps with Herrenknecht in mining and large infrastructure customers but does not specialize in TBMs.
• Liebherr: Family-owned European construction and mining equipment major. Competes in adjacent heavy-equipment categories and shares large infrastructure customer relationships, though it does not field a TBM product line.
• Epiroc: Swedish mining and infrastructure equipment specialist (spun out of Atlas Copco). Strong overlap in underground mining equipment and rock excavation, serving many of the same mining customers as Herrenknecht's mining division.
• Sandvik: Swedish engineering group with a Mining and Rock Solutions division. Comparable in underground mining equipment, cutting tools and consumables that complement or substitute for portions of Herrenknecht's mining portfolio.
• China Communications Construction Company (CCCC): Chinese state-owned global infrastructure contractor and equipment manufacturer. Acts both as a major customer for tunnel works and as a vertically integrated competitor with growing TBM manufacturing capability.

Direct peers

• The Robbins Company: US-headquartered, family-founded tunnel boring machine manufacturer (est. 1952). Directly competes with Herrenknecht in mechanical TBMs for traffic, utility and mining tunnels globally, and is the most cited direct specialist rival.
• China Railway Construction Heavy Industry (CRCHI): Subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation and one of the world's largest TBM manufacturers. Competes head-to-head with Herrenknecht on tunnel boring machines for metros, rail, utility and mining projects, particularly in emerging markets.
• Kawasaki Heavy Industries: Japanese conglomerate with a dedicated Shield Tunnel Boring Machine division. Comparable to Herrenknecht in EPB and slurry shield TBM offerings for traffic and utility tunnels, especially across Asian and Middle Eastern projects.
• Hitachi Zosen Corporation: Japanese industrial manufacturer with a long-standing shield TBM business. Directly comparable product line for soft-ground and slurry-shield tunnel boring machines used in metro, sewer and underwater crossings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/p/C-LPxjzPpTB
• Facebookfacebook.com/herrenknechtag

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries12 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 Herrenknecht