1.0Market Snapshot
- +10.5%
- Growth in employees from 2020 (8,598) to 2024 (9,497) in the BFS class that contains lift installers (STATENT, NOGA 43.29.02 other building installation, which also includes fire-protection installers); +45.7% since 2011.
- 2,500
- Employees of Schindler in Switzerland, including 550 service technicians, 320 installers and 80 repair technicians, plus more than 300 apprentices (schindler.ch).
- CHF 10,947m
- Schindler Group revenue in 2025 (+1.3% in local currencies), with an EBIT margin of 12.6%; modernisation and service growth more than offset lower new-installation revenue (Annual Report 2025).
- 26.2%
- Share of the class's 9,497 employees working in Central Switzerland in 2024, where Schindler (Ebikon) and AS Aufzüge (Küssnacht) are registered: 2,492 employees, 10.6 per firm (BFS STATENT).
2.0Industry Overview
Lift and escalator companies install new systems, modernise old ones and maintain the installed base under service contracts. Switzerland is home to one of the world's largest manufacturers: the Schindler Group, with its holding company in Hergiswil and its Swiss operating company in Ebikon, had revenue of CHF 10,947 million in 2025 (2024: CHF 11,236 million, the decline due to currency effects), order intake of CHF 11,313 million and an EBIT margin of 12.6%. In Switzerland, Schindler employs 2,500 people, including 550 service technicians, and trains more than 300 apprentices. Safety rules follow the EU: the federal Lift Ordinance of 2015 (SR 930.112) applies the EU Lift Directive 2014/33/EU.
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Recurring maintenance contracts on a large installed base
- No separate official statistics for the trade
- Modernisation of ageing installations
- Global manufacturers buying up regional service firms
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Elevator & Escalator Services business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 6.5 - 8.5×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 7.5 - 11.5×
- Market Trend
- Stable
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Central Switzerland
235 units with 2,492 employees in 2024 in the class containing lift installers (BFS STATENT, NOGA 43.29.02), the largest on average (10.6 per firm); Schindler (Ebikon) and AS Aufzüge (Küssnacht) are registered here.
Western Switzerland
345 units with 2,211 employees, the most units of any region; Otis is registered in Villars-sur-Glâne.
Zurich
249 units with 1,582 employees; KONE (Wangen-Brüttisellen) and TK Aufzüge (Rümlang) are registered here.
Eastern Switzerland
254 units with 1,171 employees.
Northwestern Switzerland
231 units with 861 employees, the smallest on average (3.7 per firm).
Bern and Solothurn
194 units with 829 employees; EMCH Aufzüge is registered in Bern.
Ticino
70 units with 351 employees.
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is a lift company worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss lift and escalator services at 7.5–11.5× EBITDA in transactions and 6.5–8.5× EBITDA on statutory valuations, among the highest of the building trades. Firms with a large, well-priced maintenance portfolio sit at the upper end; installation-focused firms sit lower.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss lift and escalator company?
Buyers price: (1) the number, duration and pricing of maintenance contracts; (2) trained service technicians; (3) modernisation know-how across makes; (4) access to spare parts; (5) the client mix; (6) dependence on the owner.
▶How big is the Swiss lift industry?
BFS does not count lift companies separately. Lift installers are counted with other building installers, including fire-protection installers (NOGA 43.29.02), which had 1,578 units and 9,497 employees in 2024. Schindler alone employs 2,500 people in Switzerland.
▶Who are the main lift companies in Switzerland?
The Schindler Group (Swiss company in Ebikon) with its subsidiary AS Aufzüge (Küssnacht), KONE (Wangen-Brüttisellen), Otis (Villars-sur-Glâne) and TK Aufzüge (Rümlang) are the largest; EMCH Aufzüge of Bern is an independent family maker.
▶What are the key trends in the Swiss lift industry?
Five trends: (1) service and modernisation growing faster than new installations; (2) consolidation by the manufacturers; (3) growing employment; (4) construction recovering; (5) EU-aligned safety rules.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss lift company?
The main risks are: (1) loss of maintenance contracts or technicians; (2) dependence on one make's parts; (3) liability after accidents; (4) price pressure on service contracts; (5) dependence on the owner. Due diligence should check the maintenance portfolio, contract terms, parts supply and technicians' qualifications.
▶Who buys Swiss lift service companies?
Mostly the global manufacturers: the register shows AS Aufzüge (Schindler), Otis, KONE and TK Aufzüge absorbing regional lift firms. Independents serving several makes can also attract family or financial buyers.
▶Where are Swiss lift companies located?
Using BFS figures for 2024 for the class containing lift installers: Western Switzerland has the most units (345, with 2,211 employees), followed by Eastern Switzerland (254; 1,171), Zurich (249; 1,582), Central Switzerland (235; 2,492), Northwestern Switzerland (231; 861), Bern and Solothurn (194; 829) and Ticino (70; 351).