BAUER AG

At the end of September, a top-class consortium of industry and research partners gathered at the headquarters of BAUER Maschinen GmbH to launch the second phase of the innovation project Deep Sea Sampling II (DSS II). The project’s goals are to develop and evaluate technological approaches for potential exploration of deep-sea mineral deposits, with a strong focus on environmental protection and minimizing the ecological footprint. The research project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE).

Why the deep sea is drawing attention

In the coming decades, the increasing growth of populations and economies worldwide will lead to a growing need for raw materials. The circular economy and recycling alone will not be enough to meet this increasing demand. The global transformation towards a digital, electrified and decarbonized society also requires expanding the mining of strategically important minerals and metals. At the same time, the requirements for ecological and social standards are becoming stricter when it comes to the extraction of these raw materials. In this complex environment, it is essential to proactively and objectively evaluate technological options for the future. The DSS II project addresses this challenge by examining the potential of deep-sea minerals as an alternative source of raw materials.

Looking back: The “Vertical Approach” concept

During the preceding project Deep Sea Sampling I (2021-2024), the project partners explored the technical feasibility of a compact, electrified deep-sea cutter. The concept is based on Bauer’s diaphragm wall method. This ensures a closed-circuit process to prevent contamination from entering the environment as far as possible. Seawater and rock particles are separated on site right on the sea floor, and the treated flushing fluid is reintroduced back into the process. This eliminates the need for an energy-intensive pump system that reaches the surface of the sea.

Objectives for phase 2

By 2028, the second project phase which will focus on a holistic consideration of marine resources with regard to ecological and economic factors. For research purposes, more information and data about the geology and sea environment is needed.

• Exploration: Development of a lightweight, compact deep-sea platform that can withstand pressures at a depth of 4,000 m and is able to extract rock samples selectively at multiple locations.
• Extraction: Preliminary investigation for a minimally invasive mining concept based on vertical cutter technology

The challenges

The pressure on the sea floor is up to 400 bar – equivalent to the weight of a small car concentrated over an area the size of a postage stamp. Equipment operating in these conditions needs to be both robust and highly precise. In addition, complete darkness, steep slopes, and the complex topography of deep-sea deposits pose further challenges.

Next steps

After launching the requirement and concept phase, an interdisciplinary team of geoscientists, maritime experts, and engineers is now working strategically to develop forward-looking solutions. “Raw materials such as copper are essential for the energy transformation and digitalization. Deep Sea Sampling II aims to identify ways of extracting these metals with minimal impact on the natural environment,” remarks project coordinator Dr. Matthias Semel from BAUER Maschinen GmbH.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

At its most recent meeting, the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG appointed two new members to the Executive Board. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Detlef Heck will be responsible for the Geotechnical Solutions segment from 15th August. Dr. Martin Thormann will join the Executive Board on 15th September and will then be responsible for the Equipment segment. A concrete division of responsibilities and tasks with regard to all business segments will be determined in the near future.

Both new appointments strengthen the strategic and operational orientation of the BAUER Group. With their proven expertise and leadership skills, Prof. Dr. Heck and Dr. Thormann will make an important contribution to the sustainable development of the group.

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Detlef Heck began his career in 1997 at Züblin Spezialtiefbau GmbH before being appointed professor of construction management and construction economics at Graz University of Technology, Graz/Switzerland, in 2006. From 2007, he was managing director of profacto GmbH and then managing director of H+P Consult GmbH in Graz. In addition, he has been a court-certified and sworn expert in calculation, procurement, contract law, construction management, and construction accounting since 2008. Since 2020, he has also been spokesperson for the DACH construction management professorships.

Dr. Martin Thormann has an international career in mechanical and plant engineering and a proven track record in driving growth and implementing major transformations. He joined thyssenkrupp AG in 2012 and earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering at TU Dortmund University, Dortmund/Germany, in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute. After completing his doctorate, he moved to the strategy department of thyssenkrupp Elevator (now known as TK Elevator) in 2015 and took over as head of the strategy team for the Europe Africa business unit in 2018. In 2020, he was appointed CEO Nordics, based in Stockholm. Since the end of 2022, he has been CEO Greater Europe, based in Vienna, where he is responsible for TK Elevator’s operational business in over twelve countries and the distributor business in the CIS states.

“With the appointment of Prof. Dr. Heck and Dr. Thormann, we are gaining two extremely competent individuals with many years of industry experience for our Executive Board team,” explains Prof. Dr. Bastian Fuchs, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG. “Both bring in-depth expertise in their respective fields and will help to further expand our operational strength in specialist foundation and mechanical engineering. I am very much looking forward to working with them.”

As part of the new appointments, Klaus Pöllath will leave the Executive Board on August 15, when Prof. Dr. Heck takes up his position, and return to the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG. Alongside Lena Effinger, who was appointed Executive Board Member for Commercial Affairs on June 1, the Executive Board of BAUER AG will then consist of three members.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

Munich-based technology company abaut GmbH has completed a 3.2 M € funding round. The round was led by Swiss VC EquityPitcher Ventures, with co-investors Bayern Kapital, EIT RawMaterials, and existing investor BAUER AG from Schrobenhausen.

With the fresh capital, abaut is resolutely pursuing its mission: to make construction and raw materials operations more productive, transparent, and predictable – through intelligent digitization on the job site. The company’s multimodal, sensor-based software enables real-time visibility of material flows in civil engineering and surface mining operations, automating operational decisions based on data—the result: measurable cost savings and higher utilization.

abaut is already in use in 18 countries across four continents – from mid-sized businesses to international corporations. The success is apparent: the global demand for practical digitalization in the field is growing – and abaut offers a scalable solution.

“This additional funding will be used to strengthen our sales and marketing team and to focus on product development. We will further develop our algorithms so that customers can achieve even greater efficiency and productivity gains with our solution,” explains Sebastian Kaluza, Founder & CEO of abaut GmbH. Hermann Koch of EquityPitcher adds: “With its solution, abaut has created a technologically unique product that delivers real value to the industry. The team excels at successfully integrating AI into day-to-day processes in heavy civil and surface mining operations.”

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EquityPitcher Ventures

EquityPitcher Ventures is a Swiss early-growth venture capital firm based in Zurich. It focuses on technology-driven startups with scalable business models.

With over 30 portfolio companies and a clear diversification strategy, EquityPitcher Ventures supports founding teams across industries, markets, and stages. Startups benefit from access to a broad network of more than 50 industry and subject-matter experts, experienced entrepreneurs, and strategic partners.

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Bayern Kapital

Bayern Kapital is the venture capital company of the Free State of Bavaria. With 700 M € under management, investments of up to 25 M € per company, over 110 active portfolio companies, and 30 years of experience in the VC business, it is one of the most active and well-funded investors in the DACH region.

Bayern Kapital co-invests with private investors in Bavarian high-tech and deep-tech startups and scale-ups with innovative business models, from the seed stage through scale-up and exit. Since its founding in 1995, Bayern Kapital has invested over 500 M € of its capital in more than 320 startups and scale-ups across various sectors, including life sciences, software and IT, advanced materials, nanotechnology, and environmental technology, creating over 12,000 sustainable jobs in Bavaria.

Notable success stories supported early by Bayern Kapital include Casavi, Catalym, commercetools, egym, EOS, Fazua, Immunic, Isar Aerospace, IQM, Parcellab, Proglove, Qbilon, Riskmethods, SimScale, Sirion, tado, Tubulis, Marvel Fusion, Proxima Fusion, plancq, Akhetonics, and many more.

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EIT RawMaterials

EIT RawMaterials is the world’s most extensive and most active knowledge and innovation network for raw materials, comprising more than 300 partner organizations across the entire raw materials value chain. EIT RawMaterials promotes innovation, collaboration, and sustainable practices to foster a circular economy in Europe.

On behalf of the European Commission, EIT RawMaterials leads the European Raw Materials Alliance (ERMA), which includes over 750 members and a project pipeline of more than 40 advanced projects representing an investment potential of over 25 bn €.

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BAUER AG

The BAUER Group is a leading provider of services, machinery, and products for both ground and groundwater applications. With a global network spanning all continents, the company is active in three forward-looking segments: specialist foundation engineering, machinery, and resources.

Bauer benefits from the synergies between its three business segments, positioning itself as an innovative and highly specialized provider of products and services for demanding specialist foundation work and related markets. The company addresses global challenges, including urbanization, infrastructure development, environmental protection, and water management.

Founded in 1790 and headquartered in Schrobenhausen, Bavaria, the BAUER Group employed approximately 11,000 people worldwide in 2024 and reported total group revenues of 2.2 bn €.

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abaut GmbH

Founded in 2017 in Munich, abaut focuses on solutions for the construction and raw materials industries. Its technology is already in use in 18 countries on four continents, serving both mid-sized companies and large enterprises.

Further information:
abaut GmbH
www.abaut.de

Following a meeting of the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG, Peter Hingott will be stepping down as a member of the Executive Board.

Supervisory Board member Klaus Pöllath has been appointed to the Executive Board by the Supervisory Board – his position on the Supervisory Board is suspended. Klaus Pöllath has been a member of the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG since 2021 and has extensive expertise in the construction industry. From 1979 to 2018, he worked at Ed. Züblin AG, from 1991 to 2002 as managing director of Züblin Spezialtiefbau GmbH, and from 2003 to 2018 as a member of the Executive Board of Ed. Züblin AG.

The Executive Board of BAUER AG thus consists of Lena Effinger and Klaus Pöllath, with Lena Effinger primarily responsible for all commercial departments and Klaus Pöllath responsible for all operational issues.

Klaus Pöllath is a suitable candidate with extensive knowledge of the construction industry to seamlessly continue the operational activities. Together with Lena Effinger, who has been with the BAUER Group since 2006 and was appointed Chief Financial Officer effective 1st June, 2025, the Executive Board is very well positioned. Together with a motivated workforce, the company plans to shape the future actively and successfully.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

With groundbreaking machines and innovative solutions for special foundation engineering, the BAUER Maschinen Group, Schrobenhausen/Germany, once again set new industry standards at bauma 2025. Several thousand industry professionals flocked to BAUER City to experience the company’s latest developments and technologies up close. The broad range of exhibits included BAUER’s proven rotary drilling rigs, diaphragm wall technology and drilling tools, as well as innovative products from its subsidiaries KLEMM, RTG, and BAUER MAT. Eurodrill was also present, as in previous years, with its own booth showcasing drilling drives.

A key highlight was the new BCS 185 power pack cutter system (Figure 1). Featuring a modular drive concept, it offers flexible operation with either electric or diesel power. This system allows for locally emission-free use and variable positioning of the power unit to reduce the footprint on construction sites.

Another standout exhibit was the eRG 21 t hybrid from RTG Rammtechnik. The combination of a powerful 430 kW diesel engine with an additional 88 kW electric motor enables operation with up to 68 % fewer CO₂ emissions – a clear reflection of BAUER’s commitment to sustainable innovation.

KLEMM Bohrtechnik impressed with the newly developed KR 806-4E, an evolution of its electrohydraulic KR 806-3E drilling rig. The latest version offers increased motor power, improved battery capacity and an optimized electric system – delivering environmental performance without compromising the power of its diesel-hydraulic counterparts.

BAUER MAT Slurry Handling Systems presented the new CMS 50 colloidal mixer, which boasts a 10 % larger mixing volume than its predecessor, along with cutting-edge technology and a new design. In the field of injection technology, MAT unveiled the fully automatic IPA 250-E. It combines proven MAT mixing technology with Obermann pump technology, setting new benchmarks in injection processes.

A particularly noteworthy innovation showcased at the BAUER booth was the prototype of the electronic Cutter Soil Mixing (eCSM) system. As the world’s first electrified diaphragm wall method, it replaces traditional hydraulic components with a powerful electric drive architecture – reinforcing BAUER’s position as a technological leader in this field.

Peter Hingott, Member of the Executive Board of BAUER, emphasized: “We want to place even greater focus on our innovative strength and engineering expertise. BAUER is already a leader in the industry, but our goal is to be the best. We don’t just deliver products – we offer complete solutions for our customers’ challenges.”

Wulf Flos, Managing Director of BAUER Maschinen GmbH, added: “Our products are designed to inspire customers around the globe. As a premium manufacturer, we rely on strategic partnerships and outstanding service. Once again, bauma 2025 proved that we are shaping the industry with state-of-the-art technology, sustainable solutions, and low emission drive systems. The feedback on our BAUER City and the exhibits was excellent. A strong order intake speaks for itself.”

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

Operating large, mobile hydraulic construction equipment is a demanding task. Safe and efficient operation depends primarily on the operator’s experience – expertise that can take years to acquire. Less experienced operators often reach their limits quickly. This is precisely where the recently concluded OPAI4DNCS research project, funded by the Bavarian Research Foundation (BFS), stepped in.

Industry and science joining forces
For this project, BAUER Maschinen GmbH, HAWE Hydraulik SE and STW (Sensor- Technik Wiedemann GmbH) collaborated closely with the Chair of Automation and Information Systems as well as the Chair of Ergonomics at Munich Technical University. Over the course of three years, the project partners explored operator-centered assistance for mobile construction equipment used in specialist foundation engineering.

Needs-based assistance from AI
The aim of this project was to develop adaptive, intelligent, and self-learning control systems based on multi-agent systems (MAS). The focus was on needs-based assistance of machine operators to enable safe operation even in borderline situations.

Bauer grab used as test vehicle
The technology was demonstrated using a hydraulic grab (Figure 1), typically used in the construction of diaphragm walls. The crucial factors were dampening vibrations and stabilizing the grab. Operating the grab is particularly challenging due to its swinging bucket. Using a soft sensor to measure the pendulum movements caused by pressure fluctuations on the hydraulic actuators, a real assistance system was development and successfully implemented in test campaigns.

Human-AI collaboration
One central result of the project was the development of a shared-control platform that enables intuitive collaboration between human operators and artificial intelligence. A retrofitting solution was established that can extend existing control systems with intelligent functions, without requiring major changes to the machine’s architecture. The assistance system offers three different control modes tailored to the operator’s experience level. Combined with a multi-agent architecture, the system delivers flexible, context-sensitive assistance for complex control tasks – improving efficiency, safety and resource conservation on construction sites.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

At its most recent meeting, the Supervisory Board of BAUER AG appointed Lena Effinger as a member of the Executive Board with effect from 1st June 2025 (Figure 1).  She will take on responsibility as Chief Financial Officer of BAUER AG.

Lena Effinger has been with the BAUER Group since 2006 and has headed the Group Finance department since 2016, where she was most recently responsible for financing and treasury.

“I would like to thank the Supervisory Board and the Executive Board for their trust and look forward to working closely with the entire management team,” said Lena Effinger.

“I am delighted to continue our long-standing collaboration with Lena Effinger on the Executive Board. She is an experienced finance professional who has been responsible for coordinating with our banks for many years and has significantly developed Bauer’s treasury in recent years,” said Peter Hingott, member of the Executive Board of BAUER AG.

Following the appointment of Lena Effinger, Hartmut Beutler will step down from the Executive Board. After leaving the Executive Board at the end of 2021, Hartmut Beutler had been reappointed as interim member of the Executive Board of BAUER AG.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

The BAUER Group has continued to pursue its course towards becoming a sustainably successful and profitable company. In an environment where the political and economic conditions around the world remained challenging, Bauer considerably increased total Group revenues to 2,183.4 M €. At 89.1 M €, EBIT was on a par with the previous year’s 89.0 M €.

In this context it should be noted that the execution of a major project in Hungary alone contributed roughly 318 M € to the increase in total Group revenues. The earnings figures contain provisions that were created due to the difficulty in forecasting the ongoing progress of that major project. This was owing to additional sanctions entering into force in late 2024, which worsened the conditions for this major project.

Overall, the global environment was shaped by various influencing factors, including Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, attacks by Israel on the Gaza strip, a persistently weak construction sector in China and an ongoing weak economic performance in other Asian countries.

“We are basically satisfied with the key figures achieved in 2024 owing to the economic and political conditions, even though our long-term goals for the earnings figures are positioned at higher levels,” emphasizes Peter Hingott, Executive Board member of BAUER AG.

The company succeeded in making further progress with the development of the balance sheet figures. Total assets remain nearly unchanged at 1,683.6 M € despite the increased revenue, and net debt further reduced to 375.3 M €. The ratio of net debt to EBITDA further improved to 1.68 and thereby achieved a new historically low value.

Development of the segments

In the Geotechnical Solutions segment, the international presence was further optimized by placing focus on subsidiaries in sustainably stable and promising markets. Successes are already evident here as a result of the reduction in fixed costs, as well as from consistent improvements in risk management. The operative implementation of projects was positive again in 2024, which meant that nearly all regions delivered solid contributions to earnings. Revenues were up on the previous year, mainly due to the execution of a major project in Hungary, while earnings after taxes were burdened by provisions.

The Equipment segment recorded a stable financial year in terms of the operative business with growth in the sales figures in Europe and the Middle East. Business was solid in Germany, while restraint among customers was evident in the USA due to the presidential elections. In contrast, China was once again unsatisfactory as a sales market due to the persistent weakness of the construction market, and restructuring measures burdened the earnings. Overall, the Asian market is proving to be increasingly challenging in part due to growing competition from local manufacturers. The cyber attack in late October 2023 influenced this segment most significantly in the previous year. This resulted in the loss of almost two months of sales and the corresponding earnings contribution in the 2023 figures, which means that the considerable increase in revenue and earnings figures needs to be put into perspective to a certain degree.

The Resources segment recorded an encouraging development once again. Good revenue and earnings performance was achieved in nearly all business divisions. In environmental services, due to the difficult market environment for construction in Germany and the increasingly competitive situation, there was a downturn. Performance was encouraging in the area of mining, which not only delivered a positive contribution to earnings once again, but was able to considerably increase its order backlog even further. This means long-term utilization of capacities in this area of business. The bottom line is that revenues in the segment decreased slightly while earnings after tax increased slightly.

Outlook

Overall, Bauer wants to place a stronger focus on performance and also increasingly highlight innovation and technology. “Over the past years, we have laid all the foundations for being sustainably successful once again. The reinforced balance sheet gives us options for beneficial investments in the future. The economic and political environment in the world has weakened further in the past year, and we are preparing ourselves for this. We are working on reducing costs in all areas in order to remain successful in the coming years even in a difficult market environment. We have laid all the foundations for making 2025 a successful year,” remarks Peter Hingott, Executive Board member of BAUER AG.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

How to dispose of waste? This question is not only the subject of discussion on a small scale, but also represents a challenge at the national level – especially when it comes to radioactive waste. The town of Krško in eastern Slovenia is the focus of a major project: the construction of a repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. The Slovenian Agency for Radioactive Waste Management (ARAO) has tasked a consortium led by Riko d.o.o. of Ljubljana, together with Kolektor CPG of Nova Gorica, CGP of Novo mesto and Kostak d.d. of Krško, to carry out the construction work. Trial operation of the facility is planned in 2028.

6,500 m² of diaphragm wall installed up to depth of 65 m

A key component of the project is the circular diaphragm wall shaft that was constructed by BAUER Spezialtiefbau GmbH. With a diameter of 32 m, a depth of 65 m and a wall thickness of 1.5 m, the structure extends over an impressive area of 6,500 m². To achieve this challenging task, the specialist foundation engineering experts used a BAUER MC 96 duty-cycle crane with a BC 48 trench cutter and an MC 64 with hydraulic grab DHG/V. Also employed: the BAUER Cutter Inclination System (CIS)^® for precise positioning of the diaphragm walls, as well as the Hydraulic Grab Inclination System (HGIS)^® for continuous monitoring and control of the hydraulic grab.

 

Digital tools for sustainability and quality

In order to manage the complexity of this large-scale project, the experienced team used digital tools for process optimization and lean management, key elements of the BAUER Construction Process. Thanks to detailed engineering, control and monitoring of all construction phases, it was possible to maintain optimal use of resources and the highest quality standards. “With our technology and decades of expertise, we are setting standards for geotechnical precision. By using our thoroughly tried-and-tested diaphragm wall equipment on the one hand, and advanced digital systems on the other, we are able to meet even the strictest accuracy requirements while ensuring optimally sustainable design,” explains Project Manager Stefan Neidhart.

Right from the start of diaphragm wall work on October 1, 2024, the crew from Bauer Spezialtiefbau showed full commitment. “Thanks to our dedicated team and state-of-the-art technologies, we have made a crucial contribution to this major project,” explains the project manager. The construction of the diaphragm walls was successfully completed in December 2024.

Further information:
BAUER AG
www.bauer.de

Looking back on the previous financial years at the BAUER Group, Schrobenhausen/Germany, the figures published by the company at the end of July practically seem to be a decisive turning point: After the conclusion of 2023, BAUER is able to look back on a turbulent but ultimately successful year. Despite the numerous changes and challenges in the company as well as in worldwide politics and the economy, the total Group revenues were increased to 1,831.1 M € and EBIT of 95.2 M € were achieved. The syndicated loan was also extended in advance.

The global environment was shaped by various influencing factors, including Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, attacks by Israel on the Gaza strip, a persisting weak construction sector in China and other Asian countries which have not yet recovered from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our year-end result is particularly notable given the background of a cyber attack on our IT infrastructure in late October 2023,” emphasizes Peter Hingott, Executive Board Member of BAUER AG (Figure 1). “Although this incident led to lost sales in the last two months of the year, the figures achieved demonstrate how solid our operative performance has actually already been.”

The extensive capital increase in 2023, which led to a change in the ownership structure, considerably improved the balance sheet structure of the BAUER Group. Net debt fell back considerably and the ratio of net debt to EBITDA was 1.96. “This is nearly a historically low value and shows that our balance sheet is very healthy once again,” remarks Hingott. On this basis, significant investments are also planned in modernizing and expanding equipment production at the Schrobenhausen location.

In the Geotechnical Solutions segment, Bauer succeeded in making a significant turnaround. This was supported by the optimization of the international position as well as projects running very successfully around the world. As a result, the segment achieved a considerable increase in revenue and positive earnings after tax.

The Equipment segment had a stable financial year in terms of the operative business, especially in the regions of the Americas and Europe. In contrast, China was again unsatisfactory as a market and contributed negative results. The cyber attack in late October 2023 influenced this segment most strongly. This resulted in the loss of almost two months of sales and the corresponding earnings contribution, which is why the expectations could not be fulfilled by the end of the year and both revenue and earnings after tax decreased slightly compared with the previous year.

The Resources segment performed encouragingly in the financial year gone by and achieved considerable positive earnings after tax along with the forecast slight decrease in revenue. Here as well, the restructuring measures carried out in the last year meant that the overall positive operative business was also reflected in the figures. Good revenue and earnings performance was achieved in nearly all business divisions despite a market environment for construction in Germany that continues to be difficult.

With a view to the future, BAUER is planning further improvement of the economic performance and intends to focus intensively once again on innovation and technology. “We have to be committed to being the best in order to hold our own against competitors in the years to come. And we want to be the best partner for our customers. We don’t just sell a product or a service – we sell a solution and help our customers to manage their challenges optimally.” (BAUER/Si.)