1.0Market Snapshot
- 2,870
- Wholesalers of machinery and equipment in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 46.62 machine tools, 46.63 construction machinery and 46.69 other machinery and equipment, which includes industrial components). Fastener and tool distributors are also counted in other wholesale classes.
- 30,128
- Employees of machinery and equipment wholesalers in 2024 (BFS STATENT), 26,455 full-time equivalents. NOGA 46.69 alone counts 2,505 units and 24,121 employees.
- +9.0%
- Growth in employees of machinery and equipment wholesalers from 2020 (27,640) to 2024 (30,128), BFS STATENT, while the number of units fell from 3,025 to 2,870: fewer, larger distributors.
According to Val Index analysis of Swiss commercial-register and federal data (2026), Switzerland counts 2,870 technical distribution & industrial supply companies — Wholesalers of machinery and equipment in 2024 (BFS STATENT, NOGA 46.62 machine tools, 46.63 construction machinery and 46.69 other machinery and equipment, which includes industrial components). Fastener and tool distributors are also counted in other wholesale classes..
2.0Industry Overview
Technical distribution supplies industrial manufacturers with components, fasteners, tools, machines and the logistics to keep them in stock. In 2024 BFS counted 2,870 wholesalers of machinery and equipment with 30,128 employees (STATENT, NOGA 46.62, 46.63 and 46.69). Employment rose 9.0% from 2020 while the number of firms fell from 3,025: the industry is consolidating into fewer, larger distributors. Two Swiss-listed groups lead it. Bossard of Zug, founded in 1831, grew sales 8.6% to CHF 1,068.9 million in 2025 with about 3,300 employees in 33 countries; organic growth was 2.0%, and the rest came from the German Ferdinand Gross group. SFS of Widnau sold CHF 1,347.6 million in its Distribution & Logistics segment, which offers quality tools and, in Switzerland, fastening technology.
3.0Industry Health Check (SWOT)
- Value-added services (engineering, inventory management) protect margins→ §5.0
- Dependence on industrial investment cycles
- Automation and smart logistics at customers
- Weak industrial demand and tariffs
Unlock full Technical Distribution & Industrial Supply intelligence
Market trends, cost structure, key players, succession analysis and regional clusters for Technical Distribution & Industrial Supply — free with Market Pulse, our monthly letter on Swiss deals.
Includes one letter a month on Swiss deals. Unsubscribe anytime.
Technical Distribution & Industrial Supply business valuation in Switzerland
- Statutory Multiple (EBITDA)
- 5.0 - 7.0×
- Deal Multiple (EBITDA)
- 7.0 - 10.0×
- Market Trend
- Rising
Indicative ranges based on market research. Actual multiples vary by company size, growth, and market conditions.
8.0Regional Clusters
Zurich
567 machinery and equipment wholesalers with 7,415 employees in 2024 (BFS STATENT), the most of any region; Brütsch/Rüegger is based in Urdorf.
Central Switzerland
452 units with 5,368 employees; Bossard is headquartered in Zug.
Western Switzerland
448 units with 3,892 employees.
Eastern Switzerland
434 units with 4,526 employees; SFS (Widnau) and Haberkorn (Berneck) are based in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley.
Northwestern Switzerland
417 units with 4,873 employees; Würth Switzerland is based in Arlesheim (BL).
Bern and Solothurn
309 units with 3,098 employees.
Ticino
220 units with 948 employees, the smallest on average (4.3 per unit).
Sources
9.0Frequently Asked Questions
▶How much is a technical distribution company worth in Switzerland?
ValIndex's multiples table puts Swiss technical distribution at 7.0–10.0× EBITDA in transactions and 5.0–7.0× EBITDA on statutory valuations. Distributors with exclusive supplier rights, logistics embedded at customers and engineering services sit at the upper end; traders dependent on one brand sit lower.
▶What drives the value of a Swiss technical distributor?
Buyers price: (1) exclusive or long supplier agreements; (2) inventory-management systems installed at customers; (3) customer concentration and industry mix; (4) technical and engineering staff; (5) working-capital needs; (6) succession and management depth.
▶How big is Swiss technical distribution?
BFS counted 2,870 wholesalers of machinery and equipment with 30,128 employees in 2024 (NOGA 46.62, 46.63 and 46.69), up 9.0% in employment since 2020. The two listed leaders give a sense of scale: Bossard sold CHF 1,068.9 million in 2025 and SFS's distribution segment CHF 1,347.6 million, both mostly outside Switzerland.
▶Who are the main technical distributors in Switzerland?
Bossard (Zug) and SFS (Widnau) are the listed leaders. Würth Switzerland (Arlesheim) supplies trades, Haberkorn (Berneck) technical products and hydraulics, and Brütsch/Rüegger (Urdorf) tools. Hundreds of family-owned specialists cover bearings, pneumatics, hydraulics and machines.
▶What are the key trends in Swiss technical distribution?
Five trends: (1) fewer firms but more employees from 2020 to 2024; (2) growth by acquisition, as with Bossard and Ferdinand Gross; (3) SFS buying three German trading partners by March 2026; (4) cautious industrial customers and a strong franc in 2025; (5) signs of recovery in Bossard's fourth quarter.
▶What are the main risks when buying a Swiss technical distributor?
The main risks are: (1) industrial downturns; (2) loss of a key supplier's distribution rights; (3) dependence on a few customers; (4) inventory and working-capital risk; (5) owner-dependent customer relationships. Due diligence should check supplier contracts, customer concentration, inventory quality and the systems installed at customers.
▶What margins do Swiss technical distributors earn?
Healthy for a trading business. In 2025 Bossard earned an adjusted EBIT margin of 10.5% and SFS's Distribution & Logistics segment an EBITDA margin of 10.6%. Value-added services such as engineering and inventory management at customers' plants support these margins.
▶Where are Swiss technical distributors located?
Using BFS figures for 2024: Zurich has the most wholesalers (567, with 7,415 employees), followed by Central Switzerland (452; 5,368), Western Switzerland (448; 3,892), Eastern Switzerland (434; 4,526), Northwestern Switzerland (417; 4,873), Bern and Solothurn (309; 3,098) and Ticino (220; 948).