List of the 150 largest construction suppliers Switzerland [2024]

List of the 3 largest construction suppliers in Switzerland

Some of the world’s leading construction suppliers are based in Switzerland. Below we briefly present the three largest companies to give you an idea of the companies included in our list.

1. Holcim Ltd, Zug

Holcim, headquartered in Zug, is one of the largest building materials groups in the world. It maintains plants and production facilities worldwide in the concrete, aggregates and cement product groups. With net sales of CHF 23.1 billion in 2020, the company is one of the country’s top-selling companies. After the two building materials producers Holcim and Lafarge merged in 2015, the Group was renamed LafargeHolcim. In 2021, this step was reversed and the company is once again operating under the name Holcim Ltd, with Lafarge and Holcim as separate brands.

Update 2023: In the building materials sector, the Zug-based construction supplier is investing in the Swiss scale-up “Neustark,” which acts as a climate tech pioneer. The aim of the strategic collaboration is to accelerate the scaling of carbon removal technology. The sooner Neustark succeeds, the sooner Holcim will also benefit.

2. Schindler Aufzüge AG, Ebikon

Schindler Aufzüge is one of the largest employers in the canton of Lucerne and is one of the most successful Swiss companies worldwide. Schindler’s elevators and escalators are used all over the world, making the Group one of the most relevant construction suppliers in Europe. In addition to the production of elevators and escalators, the company is also active in the servicing of its products.

Update 2024: Major order from Saudi Arabia – Schindler is still doing well and delivered 150 elevators and escalators for the “Masar” urban development project in Mecca last calendar year. 44 Schindler 7000 elevators, which will be installed with the R.I.S.E. robotic system, are among the 150 units.

3. Sika AG, Lausanne, Baar

Sika is a company from the specialty chemicals sector. Particularly in the segments of construction chemical product systems and industrial sealants and adhesives, the Baar-based company is one of the most relevant players worldwide and is thus also one of the largest construction suppliers in Switzerland. Its comprehensive product range includes concrete admixtures, specialty mortars, damping materials, floor coatings, roof waterproofing membranes and other chemical products for construction. Sika is present in more than 100 countries and has hundreds of production sites.

Picture source: C. Dustin

The industry at a glance

The construction supply industry is closely linked to the real estate industry. Every newly constructed building, every real estate project, every renovation requires a wide range of construction materials. Be it the concrete for the building structure, the elevator to reach the higher floors, sanitary products to equip the bathrooms or home automation products.

All these products are distributed nationally and internationally by the largest building suppliers in Switzerland. Our list of the top-selling Swiss construction supply companies provides a unique overview of Switzerland’s largest companies in the industry.

Sectors of the Swiss construction supply industry

As already mentioned, construction suppliers are active in all sub-sectors that are necessary for the construction of a building. In the following, we provide an insight into the most important sub-sectors of Swiss building suppliers.

Building components: Windows, doors, floor systems, etc.

An integral part of the building supply industry is represented by manufacturers who supply finished building components. An important component here are Swiss suppliers of windows, doors and flooring systems. A good example is 4B AG, which sees itself as a specialist for windows and facades. The product range includes window systems and sliding doors. The focus here is on wood-metal and plastic solutions.

Electronics and building automation

Power supply to buildings has always been important. Intelligent socket systems and cabling play a major role here. The increasing share of e-cars is also creating new challenges and changing product demand for suppliers in this area. Home automation in connection with the networked home, the so-called “smart home”, also plays a role. The leading Swiss supplier ABB, for example, offers its “Busch-free@home” building control solutions for this purpose.

Construction chemicals and fastening technology

Often hidden from the observer’s eye, but nevertheless essential, are the suppliers of construction chemicals and fastening technology. Construction chemicals are used at various points in the construction process, whether for bonding solutions or surface technology.

Building materials: gravel, concrete and more

Building materials play an elementary role, especially in the basic structure of construction. The most important building material of all is concrete. Concrete combines the binding agent cement as well as aggregate and added water. The composite material serves as the basic structure for the majority of buildings.

Sanitary products, fittings and kitchens

No building should be without sanitary products. One of the world market leaders in this segment is Geberit International AG from Rapperswil-Jona. It offers a broad product portfolio ranging from entire bathroom series to installation products and piping systems. This includes washbasin fittings, bathtubs and urinal systems. Numerous kitchen manufacturers are also based in Switzerland and are important in the industry.

Picture source: Unsplash

Included information in this database

• Company name & legal form
• Segmentation by sector & field of activity
• General contact data (address, e-mail address, telephone number, URL)
• Name of the management
• Serial letter suitable for addressing the management (e.g. “Dear Dr. Müller”)
• Sales figures for the years 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements or public directories)
• Employee figures for the years 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018 (taken from the annual and consolidated financial statements or public directories)

Note: If the sales and employee figures are not included in a company’s own financial statements but in the parent company’s consolidated financial statements, the data from the respective consolidated financial statements are provided.