What SAFRAM does

SAFRAM is a Swiss-origin European road freight transport and logistics company founded in 1965 and headquartered in Satigny (Geneva), Switzerland. It operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Heppner Group, with corporate subsidiaries in France, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary, and the United Kingdom serving industrial and commercial customers across more than 50 European countries. The company runs a proprietary closed-circuit network of 27 points with daily departures, in which long-haul lanes are covered by two trucks that exchange trailers at the mid-point, ensuring trucks never travel empty. Its fleet of approximately 240 trucks handles full truckload (FTL), groupage/LTL, and ADR-certified hazardous goods transport, supported by SEVESO high-threshold sites at Lyon and La Roche-sur-Foron.

The service portfolio spans road transport, customs brokerage and fiscal representation (AEO-certified in Switzerland, the EU, and the UK), 300,000 m² of storage including 60,000 m² of secure bonded warehousing, and value-added logistics such as pick-and-pack, re-labeling, and barcode-controlled returns with EDI feedback to enterprise ERP systems (SAP, QAD, BPCS). Technology is operational rather than transformational: real-time satellite-based fleet tracking via Trimble's CarCube, RFID cross-dock tracking (launched 2026), and a customer portal under development. Headcount stands at approximately 370 full-time employees across the group, with reported total turnover of 100 MCHF.

The business model is sales-led B2B with quote-based pricing and dedicated account management. Customers include enterprise accounts such as Patek Philippe, Nespresso, Bacardi, Honda, ABB, DSM-Firmenich, Givaudan, Siegwerk, Carglass, and Bobst Group. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on transportation services, managed services for warehousing, and professional services for customs and fiscal representation. The company has no external investors, no public listing, and operates as a strategic subsidiary under the Heppner Group umbrella.

Name

SAFRAM

Legal name

SAFRAM SA

Website

https://safram.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SAFRAM is a Swiss-origin European road freight transport company serving industrial and commercial enterprises across 50+ countries via a proprietary closed-circuit network. It offers daily departures, ADR-certified hazardous goods transport, 300,000 m² of warehousing, and AEO-certified customs services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Road Freight Transport & Logistics

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

In-Transit & Special Regimes Processing (Transit, TIR/ATA Carnet, Temporary Import/Export) (TLACAFAJ)

Keywords

• Road freight transport
• European logistics services
• Hazardous goods transport
• Warehousing and storage
• Customs brokerage services

Headquarters

HQ city

Satigny

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Road Freight Transport Services: Full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL/groupage) road transport services across Europe, including traditional and hazardous goods (ADR). Revenue is generated through transportation fees based on distance, weight, and service type.
2. Warehousing and Storage Services: Bonded warehouse and secure storage facilities for customers requiring customs-controlled storage, including goods with undetermined final destinations, highly taxed merchandise, and products subject to quotas.
3. Customs and Fiscal Representation: VAT fiscal representation services enabling customers to comply with cross-border VAT obligations in different European countries, and Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certified customs services.
4. Logistics Value-Added Services: Pick and pack, re-labeling, barcode control, quality inspection, returns handling, and document preparation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SAFRAM is a European road freight transport company of Swiss origin that provides full truckload and groupage road transport across 50+ countries on a proprietary closed-circuit network with daily guaranteed departures. The offering includes specialized ADR (dangerous goods) transport, customs brokerage and fiscal representation under AEO certification, 300,000 m² of bonded and secure warehousing, and pick & pack value-added services. Customers are industrial and commercial enterprises requiring scheduled, compliant cross-border logistics across Europe.

Product overview

SAFRAM is a European road freight transport company offering a comprehensive logistics platform centered on its proprietary closed-circuit network with mid-route trailer exchange. The core offering comprises full truckload and groupage road transport services across 50 European countries, including specialized dangerous goods (ADR) transport. The portfolio extends to customs brokerage with AEO certification, fiscal representation, 300,000 m² of bonded and secure warehousing, and pick & pack order preparation services. Technology differentiation comes through real-time satellite fleet tracking via CARCUBE (Trimble) and EDI connectivity to major ERP systems (SAP, QAD, BPCS). The network spans 27 points across Europe with daily departures for reliable transit times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Road Transport (Transport Routier) Full truckload and groupage road freight services across Europe with daily departures, transporting both traditional and hazardous goods between 50+ countries.
• Dangerous Goods Transport (ADR) Specialized transport of hazardous materials with ADR-certified vehicles and trained drivers, supported by internal Safety Advisors and SEVESO-classified sites at Lyon and La Roche-sur-Foron.
• Customs Services (Douane) Customs brokerage with Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) certification, facilitating simplified international trade procedures across Switzerland, EU, and UK.
• Fiscal Representation Tax representation services enabling compliance with VAT obligations across different European countries, simplifying cross-border tax compliance for customers.
• Warehousing & Secure Storage 300,000 m² of storage space including bonded warehouses in free zones across European cities, with 60,000 m² dedicated to secure storage for goods with undetermined final destinations, highly taxed merchandise, or quota-controlled products.
• Pick & Pack (Préparation de Commandes) Order preparation services including sampling, re-labeling with barcode control, parts inspection, returns handling, weighing, and EDI feedback to customer ERP systems.
• Closed-Circuit Network Proprietary closed-loop network with mid-route trailer exchange system ensuring trucks never travel empty, delivering cost-efficient, reliable, and lower-emission scheduled European freight.
• Charter Solutions Centralised charter solutions department providing dedicated transportation beyond traditional groupage, with comprehensive responses to customer transportation projects.

Quantifiable outcome

• 360,636 deliveries annually with guaranteed daily departures across Europe
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LSU SchäberleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2011LSU is SAFRAM Basel's agent for the Stuttgart/Germany region. Together they run a daily route between Basel and Stuttgart in both directions. LSU exhibited at LogiMAT trade fair and shared stand with SAFRAM to inform visitors about the Swiss network and SAFRAM group.
• Heppner GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSAFRAM is part of the Heppner Group, a Swiss transport and logistics group. SAFRAM Group is pursuing harmonious growth as part of the Heppner Group structure, benefiting from group resources while maintaining its brand identity and operations.
• Trimble (CARCUBE)coreTechnology or IntegrationSAFRAM uses CARCUBE, the embedded IT fleet management solution from Trimble, for real-time tracking and monitoring of the truck fleet via satellite. The Operations Manager of the French site led the acquisition project.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Dachser: German-headquartered European road freight haulier and contract logistics provider operating FTL/LTL, warehousing, and value-added services for industrial shippers. Directly comparable mid-large European trucking and contract-logistics competitor with overlapping enterprise customers in chemicals, automotive, and consumer goods.
• Rhenus Logistics: German-headquartered multimodal logistics and freight forwarding group with substantial European road freight, customs, and warehousing operations. Comparable to SAFRAM in cross-border road service, customs representation, and mid-market enterprise customer mix across the DACH region and beyond.
• Geodis: French-headquartered global logistics provider with road transport, contract logistics, distribution, and freight forwarding. Closely comparable to SAFRAM in French market presence, enterprise-customer roster, hazardous-goods capability, and integrated transport plus customs-plus-warehousing offering.
• STEF: French temperature-controlled logistics specialist with significant road transport, cold storage, and distribution across Europe. Comparable in French footprint, enterprise-grade B2B transport services, and warehousing footprint, though its specialization skews to cold chain while SAFRAM focuses on hazmat.
• Heppner Group: SAFRAM's parent group, operating French and European road freight, customs, and contract logistics services for industrial customers. Directly comparable as the sister business with the same B2B transport, AEO-style compliance, and warehousing model - and the company against which SAFRAM's standalone positioning is benchmarked inside the group.

Broad incumbents

• XPO Logistics: Global freight transportation and contract logistics provider with significant European LTL/FTL trucking and last-mile operations. Competes with SAFRAM in European road freight for industrial customers but serves additional geographies, modes, and customer segments.
• DB Schenker: German-headquartered global freight forwarder and logistics provider with substantial European road, rail, air, and ocean operations. Comparable in road freight plus customs offering, but with broader transport modalities, a global network, and rail expertise SAFRAM does not offer.
• DSV: Danish global freight forwarder and contract logistics provider with significant European road, air, and sea forwarding. Comparable in road freight and customs services but at materially larger scale and with a much broader service portfolio spanning all transport modes and geographies.
• CEVA Logistics: French global supply chain management and contract logistics provider owned by CMA CGM, operating road, ocean, air, and contract logistics across 170+ countries. Comparable as a French-headquartered competitor in road freight and contract logistics, but at materially larger scale and with multimodal breadth.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Swiss-headquartered global freight forwarder and contract logistics provider with major European road operations and customs services. Comparable as a Swiss-headquartered competitor offering road freight plus customs services, but operating at much larger scale and with global air and ocean breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/safram-france

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SAFRAM