What Gimaex does

Gimaex designs, engineers, manufactures, and services custom firefighting and emergency response vehicles from two production sites in France (Mitry-Mory in Seine-et-Marne and Roanne in Loire) totaling 30,500 m² of industrial floor space. The company produces approximately 250 vehicles per year across a portfolio of 14 NF- and EN-certified models organized into five categories: urban fire vehicles (FPTL, FPT, FPTSR, FPT Electrique), high-power foam vehicles (FMOGP), road rescue vehicles (VSRL, VSRM, VSRS, VSR Electrique), forest fire vehicles (CCFL, CCFM, CCFS), and special-purpose vehicles (VPI, VIM). Recent launches include 100% electric variants targeting low-emission municipal procurement. The company holds ISO 9001 certification, multiple patents for fire apparatus innovations, and operates an in-house engineering team of 8 designers using Solidworks CAD.

Gimaex has been a subsidiary of Groupe Desautel, the French fire-safety market leader, since 2018. It serves customers in over 100 countries through direct enterprise field sales to municipal fire departments (SDIS), civil protection agencies, industrial/petrochemical operators, airport authorities, and military fire services. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time sales of custom-built vehicles with quote-based pricing, supplemented by recurring after-sales service, spare parts, renovation, and training. The company maintains a 48-hour response time commitment for maintenance in mainland France, supported by dedicated service partnerships in French overseas territories (New Caledonia, French Polynesia) and Morocco. Historical capital activity includes a 2011 funding round of approximately $26.5M from BNP Paribas Développement, EPF Partners, and FCDE, and the 2008 acquisition of Egi SA. The company traces its origin to a 2003 merger of BeMAEX and GICAR.

Name

Gimaex

Legal name

GIMAEX

Website

https://gimaex.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Gimaex designs, manufactures, and services NF/EN-certified custom firefighting and emergency response vehicles across urban, forest, industrial, airport, and civil protection categories. Operating from two French production sites as a subsidiary of Groupe Desautel, the company serves public fire services and industrial clients in over 100 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Firefighting and Emergency Response Vehicles

NAICS

Engine, Turbine, and Power Transmission Equipment Manufacturing (3336)

SIC

Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Natural Disaster Preparedness & Recovery (Storm/Flood/Wildfire) (BPABANAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

State/Provincial Public Safety & Emergency Management (Police, Fire, EMS Oversight) (BPAIABAG), Integrated Forest Health & Fire Management Planning (AFAMAEAK)

Keywords

• Firefighting vehicle manufacturing
• Emergency response vehicles
• Rescue vehicle engineering
• Custom fire apparatus
• Wildland fire trucks

Headquarters

HQ city

Mitry-mory

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fire Truck Manufacturing and Sales: Gimaex designs, manufactures, and sells custom fire trucks and emergency response vehicles. Vehicles are produced to order based on customer specifications, with typical lead times involving design, assembly, wiring, painting, and testing phases.
2. After-Sales Service and Maintenance: Comprehensive service including spare parts, repairs, renovation, and reconditioning of vehicles. Service includes 48-hour response time commitment for mainland France with dedicated SAV technicians.
3. Training and Support Services: Initial training during delivery and operational commissioning, plus maintenance training programs for chassis constructors. Formation services for international fire department clients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Gimaex designs, engineers, manufactures, and customizes firefighting and emergency response vehicles across five product categories: urban, wildland forest fire, industrial, airport, and special vehicles. The company produces a portfolio of 14 distinct vehicle models including electric and diesel variants, all certified to NF and EN standards, and delivers comprehensive after-sales service including training, maintenance, spare parts, and a 48-hour response commitment in mainland France.

Product overview

Gimaex is a designer and manufacturer of firefighting and emergency response vehicles operating as part of the Desautel Group. The company produces a comprehensive portfolio of 14 distinct vehicle models organized across five product categories: urban vehicles (FPTL, FPT, FPTSR, FPT Electrique), high-power foam vehicles (FMOGP), road rescue vehicles (VSRL, VSRM, VSRS, VSR Electrique), forest fire vehicles (CCFL, CCFM, CCFS), and special vehicles (VPI, VIM). The product architecture follows a modular approach where vehicles share common design principles (certified NF and EN standards) while being customized for specific intervention scenarios. The company offers both conventional diesel and electric propulsion options across multiple product lines, enabling customers to select vehicles based on their operational requirements and environmental considerations. Gimaex serves customers in over 100 countries worldwide through two production facilities in France totaling 30,500 m².

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Desautel Group: Parent group of GIMAEX; French group specializing in fire risk management products and services

Products and services

• Fourgon Pompe Tonne Léger (FPTL) Certified NF and EN light firefighting vehicle for urban fire brigades, combining firefighting capabilities with road traffic incident response. Designed for a crew of 6 persons.
• Fourgon Pompe Tonne (FPT) Certified NF and EN standard firefighting vehicle for urban fire brigades, providing firefighting and road traffic incident response capabilities for a crew of 6 persons.
• Fourgon Pompe Tonne Secours Routier (FPTSR) Certified NF and EN versatile vehicle combining firefighting and road traffic rescue capabilities for urban fire brigades, designed for a crew of 6 persons.
• Fourgon Pompe Tonne Electrique (FPT Elec) 100% electric certified NF and EN firefighting vehicle for urban fire brigades, offering zero CO2 emissions with up to 4 hours autonomy per norm requirements. Designed for a crew of 6 persons.
• Fourgon Mousse Grande Puissance (FMOGP) Certified NF and EN large water carrier for urban rescue brigades, featuring approximately 10,000L water and 2,000L foam agent capacity with a high-capacity pump (6-10,000L) and 2 cannons for large-scale fire response.
• Véhicule Secours Routier Léger (VSRL) Certified NF and EN light vehicle for road traffic incident response, designed for exceptional maneuverability in difficult environments with extrication and rescue equipment for a crew of 2-3 persons.
• Véhicule Secours Routier Moyen (VSRM) Certified NF and EN medium vehicle for road traffic incident response, equipped with a high-pressure pump system fed by a 500L tank for fire suppression capabilities, designed for a crew of 3 persons.
• Véhicule Secours Routier Super (VSRS) Certified NF and EN large road rescue vehicle featuring telescopic mast, emergency light arrow, variable message panel, and surveillance system for personnel safety, designed for a crew of 3 persons.
• Véhicule Secours Routier Electrique (VSR Elec) 100% electric certified NF and EN road traffic rescue vehicle, providing zero CO2 emissions with up to 4 hours autonomy while maintaining full intervention capabilities for a crew of 6 persons.
• Camion Citerne Feux de Forêt Léger (CCFL) Light forest fire vehicle built on pick-up chassis (ISUZU, TOYOTA) or small 4X4 chassis up to 7.5t, featuring manual hose reel and high-pressure system for early fire response with a compact footprint.
• Camion Citerne Feux de Forêt Moyen (CCFM) Medium forest fire truck with robust engineering and reliability, equipped with a 4-seat cabin, electric winch, pivot-mounted manual hose reel, and manual or electronic dosing system for various vegetation types.
• Camion Citerne Feux de Forêt Super (CCFS) Largest forest fire vehicle in the Gimaex range with approximately 8,000L capacity, designed as a water supply support vehicle with comprehensive self-protection system including cabin water spray and emergency retreat signals.
• Véhicule Première Intervention (VPI) Compact electric vehicle designed for rapid response to fire starts, featuring an electric motor for reduced emissions and noise, 350L tank, high-pressure pump with dosing system, and lighting mast.
• Véhicule Protection Civile (VIM) Multi-purpose intervention vehicle on 4X4 MAN chassis for civil protection operations, featuring equipment for natural disaster response, winch, tailgate, lighting mast, and signaling triangle.
• After-Sales Service and Maintenance Comprehensive after-sales service including spare parts, repairs, renovation, and reconditioning of fire trucks, with a 48-hour response time commitment in mainland France provided by dedicated SAV technicians.
• Training and Commissioning Services Initial training during vehicle delivery and operational commissioning, plus maintenance training programs for chassis constructors and formation services for international fire department clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• 250 vehicles produced annually across two production sites
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ATECOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partnership in New Caledonia for after-sales support and maintenance of Gimaex fire trucks in the Pacific region.
• TAHITI AUTOminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partnership in French Polynesia for after-sales support and maintenance of Gimaex fire trucks in the Pacific islands.
• ITFAEminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerService partnership in Morocco for after-sales support and maintenance of Gimaex fire trucks in North Africa.
• Chassis Dealer NetworkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with chassis dealer networks in each French department and overseas territories for minor repairs and maintenance services.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• REV Group: NYSE-listed US specialty vehicle manufacturer owning multiple fire apparatus brands (E-One, Spartan, KME, Ferrara). Closest US-listed comparable with similar custom-build model and broad customer base across municipal, industrial, and airport segments.
• Morita Holdings: Tokyo-listed Japanese manufacturer of fire trucks, ambulances, and rescue vehicles. Directly comparable business model with municipal customer base and full custom-engineering capability; serves as a relevant benchmark for APAC scale players.
• Desautel (fire truck brand): Sister fire truck brand within the same Groupe Desautel parent alongside Gimaex, Gallin, and Echelles. Operates as a near-clone business model serving French municipal fire services with custom-built vehicles—useful internal benchmark for operating performance.
• Rosenbauer International: Austrian-listed global leader in firefighting vehicles and equipment. Direct competitor across urban, industrial, and airport fire trucks with comparable international reach and electric vehicle programs (e.g., RT/Revolution).
• E-One: US fire apparatus manufacturer producing custom pumpers, tankers, aerials, and industrial fire trucks, now part of REV Group. Directly comparable product architecture and customer profile to Gimaex's industrial and urban ranges.
• Magirus (Iveco Group): Historic fire truck brand owned by Iveco Group, producing a full range of pumpers, tankers, and aerial appliances. Directly comparable on chassis-based fire apparatus and competes in similar European and international tenders.
• Ziegler Feuerwehrgerätetechnik: German family-owned fire apparatus manufacturer with comparable product portfolio spanning urban, wildland, and industrial firefighting vehicles. Direct competitor in the European municipal and SDIS-equivalent markets.
• Spartan Emergency Response: US custom fire apparatus manufacturer (REV Group subsidiary) producing pumpers, aerials, and rescue vehicles. Closely matches Gimaex's custom-build, municipal-customer business model and engineering-led differentiation approach.

Broad incumbents

• MAN Truck & Bus: German heavy truck manufacturer (Traton/Volkswagen) that supplies chassis to fire apparatus builders and also markets complete fire and rescue vehicles. Important both as a potential chassis supplier competitor and as a vehicle-level rival in select tenders.
• Oshkosh Corporation (Pierce Manufacturing): US-listed diversified specialty vehicle manufacturer whose Pierce subsidiary is the North American fire apparatus market leader. Larger and broader portfolio than Gimaex, but Pierce Manufacturing is the most direct product-line competitor globally.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gimaex-s-a-s-
• Facebookfacebook.com/GimaexFireTrucks

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors3 records

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Gimaex