CITEL

What CITEL does

CITEL-2CP SAS, operating as CITEL, is a France-headquartered specialist manufacturer of surge protection devices (SPDs) that safeguard electrical and electronic installations from transient overvoltages caused by lightning and switching operations. Founded in 1937 and headquartered at 29 boulevard Edgar Quinet in Paris, the company employs 101–250 people and serves a global B2B customer base across industrial/manufacturing, data centers, photovoltaic/solar, LED lighting, wind energy, telecommunications, e-mobility, and security systems.

CITEL's product portfolio spans six core categories — AC Power, Photovoltaic, LED, Telecom, Dataline, and Radiocommunication — built on Gas Discharge Tube (GDT) and Metal Oxide Varistor (MOV) technologies. Two proprietary technologies anchor the differentiation: VG Technology (a hybrid MOV+GSG architecture eliminating leakage and operating currents in PV applications) and patented CTC Technology (a thermosensitive separation point for fail-safe disconnection). The portfolio is supported by a dense international certification stack (IEC 61643-11, EN 61643-11, IEC/EN 61643-31, EN 50539-11, UL1449 ed.5, KEMA, EAC), enabling specification-driven enterprise sales globally. Recent product additions include the DPVN PV SPD series, the DACN1 SPD with integrated surge counter, and coordinated Protection Kits.

The business model is hardware sales of SPDs priced per unit (€192–€416 ex-tax depending on type and capacity) to professional B2B buyers. Distribution combines direct e-commerce shipping within France with international channel/reseller distribution, supported by a multilingual (FR/EN/ES) website, downloadable technical documentation for tender specifications, and active social presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. The company is privately held with no disclosed parent, institutional investors, or funding rounds.

Name

CITEL

Legal name

CITEL-2CP SAS

Website

https://citel.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1937

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

CITEL is a France-based, 87-year-old specialist manufacturer of surge protection devices (SPDs) using GDT and MOV technologies, serving global B2B customers across industrial, photovoltaic, data center, telecom, and e-mobility sectors via a certified, specification-driven sales model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Surge Protection Devices

NAICS

Wiring Device Manufacturing (33593)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Circuit Protection Devices (MCBs, MCCBs, ACBs, fuses, RCD/GFCI, surge protection) (IMAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Varistors & Surge Protection (MOV/TVS-like passive protectors/GDT) (HDAHANAI)

Keywords

• Surge protection devices
• Photovoltaic protectors
• Lightning protection systems
• AC power protectors
• Telecom data line protectors

Headquarters

HQ city

Sèvres

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Surge Protection Devices: CITEL generates revenue through the sale of physical surge protection devices and related accessories. Products include AC power surge protectors, photovoltaic surge protectors, LED protectors, telecom and dataline protectors, and radiocommunication protectors. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware purchases via direct sales and potentially through distribution partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CITEL manufactures and sells surge protection devices (SPDs) for protecting electrical and electronic installations from transient overvoltages caused by lightning and switching operations. The product portfolio spans six categories: AC Power, Photovoltaic, LED, Telecom, Dataline, and Radiocommunication surge protectors, available in Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and combined configurations. The company incorporates two proprietary technologies — VG Technology (MOV+GSG) for photovoltaic applications and CTC Technology for safe disconnection — alongside multi-varistor designs, serving industrial, data center, solar, telecom, and infrastructure customers.

Product overview

CITEL is a specialist in overvoltage/surge protection devices, offering a comprehensive portfolio of SPDs (Surge Protective Devices) organized into six main product categories: AC Power (low-voltage), Photovoltaic, LED lighting, Telecom, Dataline, and Radiocommunication surge protectors. The product range spans multiple protection types (Type 1, Type 2, Type 3, and combined configurations) and incorporates two proprietary technologies: VG Technology (MOV+GSG) for PV applications providing no leakage and improved longevity, and CTC Technology with thermosensitive separation points for enhanced safety. The portfolio includes modular/pluggable designs (DAC series), compact monobloc configurations (DPVN series), and heavy-duty PV protectors (DS60VGPV series). CITEL also provides application-specific solutions for Data Centers, Energy Storage Systems (ESS), Water Treatment, E-Mobility, Wind Turbines, LED Lighting, Security Systems, and Industrial Installations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAC1-13S-31-275 Type 1+2 AC Surge Protector

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• KEMAcoreTechnology or IntegrationKEMA provides product certification services for CITEL's surge protection devices, verifying compliance with international standards such as IEC 61643-11 and EN 61643-11.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hubbell: Hubbell manufactures electrical and lighting products including surge protection devices for commercial and industrial applications. It is comparable as a broader electrical-component manufacturer with a focused SPD offering.
• Eaton: Eaton's electrical business supplies surge protection devices, power distribution, and UPS solutions for industrial, data center, and commercial customers in North America and globally. It competes with CITEL in data centers, industrial sites, and renewable energy installations.
• Legrand: Legrand is one of the world's largest wiring-device manufacturers and includes surge protection within its residential and commercial product portfolios. It directly competes with CITEL in commercial buildings and residential PV applications, especially in France and EMEA.
• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric offers surge protection within its broader Square D and Acti9 wiring-device/electrical distribution portfolio. Its installed base in industrial and commercial buildings competes for the same spec-in opportunities as CITEL's AC and LED protection products.
• Siemens: Siemens provides surge and overvoltage protection across its Smart Infrastructure and industrial portfolios, including for data centers, factories, and renewable energy. It competes with CITEL for large project and OEM sockets across Europe and globally.
• ABB: ABB is one of the largest industrial-electrical and grid-equipment manufacturers globally, offering surge arresters and protection devices as part of a much broader substation, switchgear, and T&D portfolio. It competes with CITEL in utility, industrial, and rail electrification projects.
• nVent (ERICO): nVent's ERICO brand supplies surge and lightning protection products for data centers, telecom, and industrial facilities. It competes with CITEL in telecommunications, dataline, and radiocommunication surge protection segments.

Direct peers

• Phoenix Contact: Phoenix Contact is a global manufacturer of industrial connection and electronic interface products, with a strong surge protection device portfolio spanning AC, DC, signal, and data-line protection—overlapping tightly with CITEL's industrial and infrastructure customer base.
• DEHN: DEHN is a German specialist manufacturer of surge protection, lightning protection, and earthing solutions. It is the most direct head-to-head competitor to CITEL, serving the same AC power, PV, LED, telecom, and data-line applications with IEC/EN-certified products.
• Mersen: Mersen is a specialist in electrical protection (fuses, surge protection, cooling) for power electronics, industrial automation, and renewable energy. Its surge protection portfolio and PV focus compete directly with CITEL's product lines and customer segments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CITELSurgeProtectors
• Facebookfacebook.com/CITEL-2cp-1526096157474231/?ref=bookmarks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/citel

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 CITEL