immo!nvest – Die Plattform für Standorte und Immobilien

Tag: Gebaeudetechnik

  • Building Services Group boosts profits and continues to grow

    Building Services Group boosts profits and continues to grow

    According to a press release, the Burkhalter Group has closed the 2025 financial year with “excellent results”. All relevant key performance indicators have once again improved compared with the previous year. The building services provider recorded revenue growth of 1.8 per cent to CHF 1.2 billion, as well as a 6 per cent increase in EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) to CHF 73.8 million and a consolidated profit of CHF 61.3 million (previous year: CHF 57.2 million, up 7.3 per cent). Earnings per share rose to CHF 5.78, representing an increase of 7.2 per cent on the previous year. As a result of this positive performance, the Board of Directors is proposing an increased dividend of CHF 5.20 per share to the Annual General Meeting.

    The drivers of growth are sustained high demand for building services engineering and efficiency gains from optimised and digitalised processes. Targeted acquisitions also contributed to the positive performance. In 2025, the Group acquired Mathieu Ingenieure AG in Visp (VS) and Gattiker Elektro GmbH in Uster (ZH). Four further acquisitions followed at the start of 2026: BZ-Dépannage Sàrl in Lonay, Vaud; Enplan AG in Herisau, Appenzell Ausserrhoden; Elektro Gasser AG in Lalden, Valais; and Caotec SA in Brusio, Graubünden. According to the company, this strengthens the Burkhalter Group’s regional presence, expands its expertise and increases its market share. The acquisition strategy remains a central component of growth.

    The company is confident about the 2026 financial year. Driven by government support programmes and continued high levels of construction activity, demand for energy-efficient building services solutions remains strong. The Group expects to be able to achieve a moderate increase in earnings per share for the 2026 financial year as well.

  • District heating networks are becoming increasingly important for urban energy supply

    District heating networks are becoming increasingly important for urban energy supply

    Researchers at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (HSLU) are working on the development of seasonal thermal energy storage systems. In an era of global warming, thermal networks are becoming increasingly important for cooling densely built-up cities. This involves circulating water from lakes or rivers through pipe systems to cool buildings; these same systems are then used for district heating in winter. To drive the development of such systems forward, the university organised an event to share experiences. According to a press release, the 22nd IGE Seminar of the Institute for Building Technology and Energy (IGE) took place on 11 March 2026. Representatives from Thermische Netze Schweiz,WWZ Energie AG (Zug), Wien Energie GmbH and the City of Zurich, with their CoolCity Zurich project, also took part in the presentations and discussions.

    At HSLU, flexible heat storage systems are being developed that adapt to changing conditions. Researchers led by Timotheus Zehnder demonstrated how firewood can be used more efficiently in wood-fired systems thanks to flue gas cooling and condensation. Three speakers presented thermal networks for heating and cooling supply in Zug, Zurich and Vienna.

    Dieter Kissling from the ifa Institute for Occupational Medicine raised an interesting point: office temperatures were adjusted in the 1960s to suit the needs of men (21 to 22 degrees Celsius). However, it has been shown that women are more productive at 26 to 27 degrees Celsius. With a higher proportion of women in the workforce, it is worth considering whether room temperatures should be adjusted.

    The diversity of topics demonstrated that climate change poses further challenges. The 23rd IGE Seminar has already been scheduled for 10 March 2027.

  • Building services engineering group expands in Engadin

    Building services engineering group expands in Engadin

    The Burkhalter Group has acquired Caotec SA, based in Brusio, which specialises in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and sanitation technology (HVAC). The acquisition of Caotec SA will enable the Burkhalter Group to provide HVAC services in the Upper and Lower Engadine and Valposchiavo regions in future.

    According to a statement, the acquisition is also part of the Burkhalter Group’s targeted acquisition strategy, which already saw it acquire Gattiker Elektro GmbH in Uster, Canton of Zurich, and Mathieu Ingenieure AG in Visp, Canton of Valais, in 2025.

    The newly acquired Caotec AG employs 17 people and most recently generated annual sales of around CHF 4.9 million. The company will continue to operate as an independent group company of Burkhalter Holding AG under the current management of Dario Cao. The name Caotec SA will be retained and all employees will be taken on.

    The Burkhalter Group is a full-service provider of cross-trade building technology, particularly in the areas of heating and cooling, ventilation and air conditioning, sanitation and electrical engineering. The group is headquartered in Zurich.

  • Expansion of the company site for future growth

    Expansion of the company site for future growth

    HKG, a company specialising in building technology and energy consulting based in Aarau, is moving to new premises in Baden. From 1 March 2026, it will be operating from its site at Täfernstrasse 14a in the Dättwil district of Baden. HKG is currently still looking for additional employees for the new location, as detailed in a press release. The new offices are described as a “state-of-the-art workplace with light, space and a feel-good atmosphere” as well as a “workplace of the future” with a roof terrace, focus zones and modern infrastructure.

    Founded in 1978, Herzog Kull Group Holding operates in various fields of electrical engineering. These include electrical engineering, building automation, building IT and security, as well as consulting, energy, digitalisation and overall planning. While Herzog Kull Group Holding is headquartered in Rotkreuz, companies belonging to the group such as HKG Engineering and HKG Consulting are based in Aarau.

  • Further training for modern fire protection expertise

    Further training for modern fire protection expertise

    The Technopark Zurich-based AFC Academy, which claims to be a leader in training and further education in the areas of fire protection, safety and building technology, has developed the BSV 2026 retraining concept, which prepares specialists for the new BSV 2026 fire protection regulations, according to a press release.

    In Module A of the training programme, the academy provides an overview of the key innovations of BSV 2026 at fire protection specialist level and practises drawing up plans and concepts in accordance with the regulations. Module B, on the other hand, teaches the practical application of the new requirements and documentation methods at fire protection expert level.

    According to the AFC Academy, the new fire protection regulations BSV 2026 mark a fundamental change in Swiss fire protection and significantly increase the requirements. Risk-based verifications are replacing standard solutions and make in-depth knowledge of structural, technical and organisational contexts essential. As fire protection is becoming an integral part of architecture, utilisation, operation and technology, it is necessary to work together on all these levels – interdisciplinary thinking is therefore becoming crucial, according to the Academy. In future, clear communication will also be required: specific requirements for documentation, quality assurance and enforcement must be clearly communicated to clients, authorities and project partners.

    The AFC Academy has been offering training programmes for fire protection, sustainable construction, safety and building technology since 2016.

  • Strategic partnership strengthens building technology and energy planning

    Strategic partnership strengthens building technology and energy planning

    AEW Energie AG is acquiring a stake in Herzog Kull Group Holding AG(HKG). The energy supplier from Aarau will acquire a 35 per cent stake in the Zug-based building technology and electrical engineering group, AEW announced in a press release. The two companies intend to develop new business areas together. Examples cited in the press release include general planning for site concepts and standardised overall solutions for residential construction.

    The two companies have agreed not to disclose the purchase price for the shares. AEW and HKG have already worked together in the past. AEW acquired a 50 per cent stake in the HKG subsidiary GA-Werkstatt.ch AG(GAW) at the end of 2023. GAW is to be merged with HKG subsidiary Energy-Group.ch AG this year to form Energy Group AG.

    “The megatrends of decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation will continue to shape the energy system in the future, and every building will be an active element in this,” AEW CEO Marc Ritter is quoted as saying in the press release. His company intends to expand its own expertise in planning, engineering and building management, while continuing to forgo activities in execution. As part of the acquisition of HKG, Ritter and AEW Chairman of the Board of Directors Raffael Schubiger will join the Board of Directors of Herzog Kull Group Holding AG.