Sol Solution
Sol Solution is a French geotechnical engineering SME (founded 1992, ~100 employees, Riom) that designs proprietary PANDA® and GRIZZLY® penetrometers and Websprint© software, delivering soil investigation, compaction control, and engineering services to construction, railway, mining, public works, and residential customers internationally.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1992
- HeadquartersRiom, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Sol Solution does
Sol Solution is a French geotechnical engineering company founded in 1992 and headquartered in Riom (Auvergne), specializing in soil investigation, compaction control, and foundation diagnostics. The company designs, manufactures, and commercializes proprietary variable-energy and constant-energy dynamic penetrometers — notably the PANDA® (lightweight, third-generation PANDA 3 with instrumented measurements), GRIZZLY® (heavy, including the new electric e-Grizzly® launched in December 2025), PANDITO®, and e-KODIAK® — alongside the Websprint© cloud-based software for penetrometric data management and interpretation.
Beyond equipment, Sol Solution operates an OPQIBI-qualified engineering services practice delivering G1-G5 geotechnical studies, compaction quality controls, diagnostics, geophysical surveys (GPR, electromagnetic, seismic), and professional training. Its customer base spans construction and engineering firms, individual homeowners (driven by France's ELAN law mandating soil studies in clay-risk zones), railway operators (including SNCF and an active South Africa campaign), public works contractors, mining companies, and local government authorities. The company supports these customers with approximately 100 employees based at its Riom headquarters, all on permanent contracts, with more than 80% trained annually and a documented gender equality index of 88/100.
Sol Solution monetizes through a diversified mix of capital equipment sales with recurring consumables (stems, tips), subscription-based Websprint© software, project-based engineering services, training courses, and calibration/maintenance contracts. Pricing is uniformly quote-based. The company maintains an international footprint across Europe (Poland, Russia), South America (Chile, Mexico), and Africa (Burkina Faso, South Africa), supported by over 234 academic publications validating its methods and active participation in industry events such as Rail Live 2026 and the 21st International Conference on Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering.
Sol Solution firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Sol Solution
- Legal name
- SOL SOLUTION
- Website
- https://sol-solution.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1992
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Sol Solution is a French geotechnical engineering SME (founded 1992, ~100 employees, Riom) that designs proprietary PANDA® and GRIZZLY® penetrometers and Websprint© software, delivering soil investigation, compaction control, and engineering services to construction, railway, mining, public works, and residential customers internationally.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Sol Solution industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Geotechnical Engineering Services & Equipment
- NAICS
- Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing (334519)
- SIC
- Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers) (IMAFAOAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing) (IMAFAOAG), Geotechnical Design, Engineering & Consulting (Analysis, Design, Peer Review) (IMAFAOAK), Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)
Keywords
Where Sol Solution is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Riom
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Sol Solution business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Geotechnical Equipment Sales: Sale of penetrometers (PANDA®, GRIZZLY®, PANDITO®, Light Dynamic Plate, e-KODIAK®) and accessories (stems, tips) to construction companies, engineering firms, and laboratories.
- Software Licenses: Websprint© cloud-based geotechnical software with user accounts accessible from any web browser.
- Engineering Services: Geotechnical studies (G1 to G5), diagnostics, investigations, support and bearing calculations, quality controls, and geophysical studies (georadar, electromagnetism, electrical and seismic measurements).
- Training Courses: Professional training courses on compaction control, soil investigation, laboratory tests, and Websprint© software.
- Support & Maintenance: Technical support, calibration, metrology services, and maintenance for equipment.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Equipment (PANDA®, GRIZZLY®, accessories) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Geotechnical Studies (G1/G2) |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Training Courses |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Sol Solution product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Sol Solution designs, manufactures and sells proprietary dynamic penetrometers (PANDA®, GRIZZLY®, e-Grizzly®, PANDITO®, e-KODIAK®, Light Dynamic Plate) for compaction control and geotechnical ground investigation, and provides the Websprint© cloud software for managing and interpreting penetrometric and bearing capacity data. It also delivers OPQIBI-qualified geotechnical engineering services (G1–G5 soil studies, diagnostics, support and bearing calculations, compaction control, geophysical surveys) plus training courses and equipment maintenance for construction, infrastructure, mining, railway and public-sector clients.
Product overview
Sol Solution offers a portfolio of geotechnical products comprising penetrometers (PANDA®, GRIZZLY®, PANDITO®, e-KODIAK®), geotechnical software (Websprint©), and testing equipment (Plaque Dynamique Légère). The company also provides engineering services including soil investigations (G1-G5 studies), geotechnical diagnostics, support and bearing capacity analysis, compaction control, geophysical surveys, and training courses. The penetrometer hardware is complemented by Websprint© software for data interpretation and management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- PANDA®: Variable energy dynamic penetrometer for compaction control and geotechnical ground investigation.
- GRIZZLY®
- Websprint©
Products and services
- PANDA® Lightweight variable-energy dynamic penetrometer (DPL) for compaction control and geotechnical ground investigation, designed and developed in-house by Sol Solution. Targeted at construction companies, engineering firms and laboratories performing soil investigation.
- GRIZZLY® Heavy dynamic cone penetrometer with constant energy (DPSH) intended for compaction control and geotechnical soil investigation. Targeted at earthworks, road construction and infrastructure projects.
- e-Grizzly® Electric-powered variant of the GRIZZLY® heavy dynamic cone penetrometer for compaction control and geotechnical soil investigation, marketed by Sol Solution as an electric revolution in geotechnics.
- PANDITO® Penetrometer equipment for geotechnical investigations, offered by Sol Solution as part of its penetrometer product line.
- e-KODIAK® Equipment for geotechnical investigations listed by Sol Solution on its product quote form alongside other penetrometers and accessories.
- Plaque Dynamique Légère (Light Dynamic Plate) Light dynamic plate equipment for compaction control, offered by Sol Solution alongside its penetrometer product line.
- Websprint© Cloud-based geotechnical software for the management and interpretation of penetrometric and bearing capacity data, accessible from any device via a web browser. Offered on a subscription basis to geotechnical professionals using Sol Solution penetrometers.
- Geotechnical Studies (G1–G5) OPQIBI-qualified geotechnical engineering studies (G1 to G5) covering site context, design phase (AVP/PRO), execution (DCE/ACT), supervision (DET) and monitoring (AOR) studies for construction, infrastructure and individual homeowner projects.
- Professional Training Courses Professional training courses on compaction control, soil investigation, laboratory tests, and the Websprint© software, available as standard or customized programs for engineers, technicians and laboratory staff.
- Equipment Support & Maintenance Technical assistance, calibration, metrology services and maintenance for Sol Solution's geotechnical equipment (penetrometers, dynamic plates and accessories).
Quantifiable outcome
- Training more than 80% of employees annually
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Sol Solution
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Sol Solution technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Sol Solution partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- OPQIBIcoreSol Solution's soil investigation service is OPQIBI qualified (Qualified Engineering), demonstrating professional competence certification for engineering services.
- Laboratoire Central des Ponts et Chaussées (LCPC) / Université Gustave Eiffel-IFSTTARminorResearch collaboration for geotechnical database with 160 load tests and detailed ground investigation data used for validation of direct design methods.
- International academic institutionsminorCollaborations with universities worldwide on penetrometer research including Poland (Warsaw University of Technology), France (Clermont-Ferrand, various institutions), Mexico, Chile, Russia, Burkina Faso, USA, and others.
- SNCF / French RailwaysminorCollaboration on railway ballast investigation using GPR and AI-based learning from LDCP data, with database of 4700 km of GPR measurements and 12,000 soundings.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Sol Solution competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Fugro: Dutch global leader in geo-data and geotechnical site characterization services. A much larger player in the same end markets (infrastructure, rail, mining, offshore) where Sol Solution provides investigation services and equipment.
- ELE International: Long-established global supplier of geotechnical and concrete testing equipment. Competes with Sol Solution across penetrometers and soil testing products, with deeper international distribution and a wider equipment catalog.
- Gilson Company: US-based distributor and manufacturer of testing equipment for construction materials, including geotechnical and soil mechanics products. Comparable as a competitor in geotechnical testing equipment, with a broader catalog and stronger North American distribution.
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) company with a substantial geotechnical and infrastructure services business. Competes with Sol Solution in geotechnical studies and construction quality assurance, particularly for large infrastructure projects.
Direct peers
- CONTROLS Group: Italian-headquartered manufacturer of testing equipment for the construction and geotechnical industries, including penetrometers, consolidation, and soil mechanics apparatus. Direct competitor in geotechnical laboratory and field equipment, with a broader product portfolio and global distribution.
- Humboldt Mfg. Co. US manufacturer of materials testing and geotechnical equipment, including soil compaction and penetration testing apparatus. Competes with Sol Solution in the broader geotechnical field and lab equipment market, particularly across the Americas.
- Pagani Geotechnical Equipment: Italian manufacturer of penetrometers and geotechnical field equipment, including dynamic and static cone penetrometers. Most direct comparable to Sol Solution's penetrometer product line, competing in the same European customer base of geotechnical engineers and contractors.
- Cooper Technology: UK-based supplier of geotechnical and civil engineering testing equipment, including dynamic and lightweight cone penetrometers. Comparable product line to Sol Solution's PANDA® and GRIZZLY® for compaction control and soil investigation.
Emerging players
- APAGEO: French geotechnical equipment manufacturer and distributor offering penetrometers, CPT equipment, and instrumentation. Closely comparable French peer with overlapping products in the domestic market.
- Geomatech: French geotechnical equipment and services provider with comparable product offerings in penetrometers and soil investigation. A direct niche competitor in the French market alongside Sol Solution.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Sol Solution social profiles
Digital presenceSol Solution compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Sol Solution financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Sol Solution leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Sol Solution funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Sol Solution M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Sol Solution
What does Sol Solution do?
Sol Solution designs, manufactures and sells proprietary dynamic penetrometers (PANDA®, GRIZZLY®, e-Grizzly®, PANDITO®, e-KODIAK®, Light Dynamic Plate) for compaction control and geotechnical ground investigation, and provides the Websprint© cloud software for managing and interpreting penetrometric and bearing capacity data. It also delivers OPQIBI-qualified geotechnical engineering services (G1–G5 soil studies, diagnostics, support and bearing calculations, compaction control, geophysical surveys) plus training courses and equipment maintenance for construction, infrastructure, mining, railway and public-sector clients.
Is Sol Solution a public or private company?
Sol Solution is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Sol Solution founded?
Sol Solution was founded in 1992. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Sol Solution based?
Sol Solution is headquartered in Riom, France, in the Europe region.
How does Sol Solution make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Geotechnical Equipment Sales are the primary driver. The others are software Licenses, engineering Services, training Courses and support & Maintenance.
Who are Sol Solution's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Fugro, ELE International, Gilson Company and Bureau Veritas. Direct peers are CONTROLS Group, Humboldt Mfg. Co., Pagani Geotechnical Equipment and Cooper Technology. Emerging players are APAGEO and Geomatech.
Does Sol Solution have an API?
No public API is recorded for Sol Solution.
What industry is Sol Solution in?
Sol Solution's product category is Geotechnical Engineering Services & Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAFAOAH, Geotechnical Instrumentation & Monitoring (Settlement, Inclinometers, Piezometers), with a secondary code of IMAFAOAG, Geotechnical Investigation & Site Characterization (Boreholes, In-situ Testing, Lab Testing). Its NAICS code is 541360 and its SIC code is 3823.