Marais

What Marais does

Groupe Marais, headquartered in Durtal, France, is a specialist rental and mechanized trenching company that supplies trenchers, micro-trenchers and complementary equipment together with qualified operators, mechanics and detection services for the installation of underground networks used by telecom, electrical, gas and water infrastructure projects. Founded in the 1960s (sources cite 1962 and 1964) and operating as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Italian listed equipment group Tesmec since 2015, the company positions itself as the European leader in mechanical laying, with a fleet of 82 machines and approximately 110 employees in France plus a wider network of 260+ personnel across Tesmec Group. Operations span France (with agencies in Carcassonne and Saint Symphorien) and international projects in Belgium, Germany, the UK and New Zealand, and customers include Proximus, GRDF network contractors, RTE and Enedis contractors, Eiffage and other large civil-works groups.

The core product portfolio comprises micro-trenchers (trench widths 13-150mm) targeted at FTTH and urban telecom deployments, and macro-trenchers (180-910mm) used for heavier electrical, gas and water utility work. Underlying proprietary technology includes the TrenchTronic 4.0 automated forward-speed regulator, the Smart Tracker georeferencing system that captures XYZ coordinates of installed networks, the Tesmec Explorer 3.0 Georadar (GPR) for non-intrusive detection of existing underground assets, the Cleanfast compact radio-controlled trenchers with integrated suction, and the E-Sidecut, marketed as the first 100% electric trencher for silent, low-carbon urban work. The offering is rounded out by multi-brand maintenance, Gator tungsten-carbide digging teeth, and ancillary equipment such as sandblasters, reel carriers and pavers.

Commercially, Marais monetizes primarily through recurring rental contracts that bundle a machine, a certified operator and a mechanic with a service vehicle, pricing project-by-project based on machine type, duration and ground conditions; secondary streams include multi-brand maintenance and spare-parts service and (prior to January 2025) direct machine sales. The customer base is entirely enterprise, dominated by utility operators, telecom carriers and large civil-works contractors, served via direct enterprise field sales rather than channel partners - except in Germany where exclusive distributor BTS-Bautechnik Solutions handles market development. In January 2025 the parent group executed a strategic reorganization that moved manufacturing, sales and after-sales of trenchers into a newly created Tesmec France entity, repositioning Groupe Marais as the pure-play French rental arm of the group and extending its mandate into supporting Tesmec France's rail and energy sector activities.

Name

Marais

Legal name

Groupe Marais

Website

https://samarais.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Groupe Marais is a French rental specialist that provides trenchers, micro-trenchers, GPR detection and certified operators for underground telecom, electrical, gas and water network projects, operating across Europe and selected international markets as a subsidiary of Italy's Tesmec Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Underground Construction Equipment Rental

NAICS

Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction (237130), Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (5324)

SIC

Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Cable Installation & Construction Services (trenching, duct banks, HDD, pulling, cable laying) (EUADADAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Underground Gas Line Trenching & Sleeving (HSAOAKAI)

Keywords

• Trencher rental services
• Underground network installation
• Mechanized cable laying
• Utility construction equipment
• Ground penetrating radar mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Durtal

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Trencher Rental with Operators: Rental of wheel and chain trenchers with qualified operators for network construction projects. Includes operator, mechanic with service vehicle, and full technical support.
2. Multi-brand Maintenance Services: Technical assistance, troubleshooting, and spare parts supply for trenchers across all brands, provided through various agencies and subsidiaries in France and internationally
3. Machine Sales (Historical): As of 2025, sales and production activities have been transferred to the newly established Tesmec France entity as part of strategic reorganization

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Groupe Marais rents wheel and chain trenchers (micro-trenchers of 13-150mm width and macro-trenchers of 180-910mm width) with qualified operators and mechanics for the mechanized laying of underground networks in telecom, electrical, gas, and water infrastructure. The company also provides multi-brand maintenance, spare parts, and underground network detection/mapping services using ground penetrating radar (Georadar) technology.

Product overview

Marais, a subsidiary of the Tesmec Group since 2015, is the undisputed leader in mechanical laying technology in Europe and worldwide with over 60 years of experience. The company operates two main business segments: rental services (with operators) and multi-brand maintenance. Their core product portfolio consists of micro-trenchers (trench widths 13mm-150mm) for telecom/FTTH networks and macro-trenchers (trench widths 180mm-910mm) for electrical, gas, water, and larger telecom infrastructure. Complementary equipment includes Georadar for detection/mapping, sandblasters, spiral binders, reel carriers, pavers, and Smart Tracker for georeferencing. The company also offers the pioneering E-Sidecut, a 100% electric trencher, and Cleanfast machines for clean cutting operations. Services include rental with certified operators, multi-brand maintenance, and underground network detection and mapping.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Micro-trenchers (Micro-trancheuses) Compact, radio-controlled trenching machines with trench widths ranging from 13mm to 150mm, designed primarily for telecom networks including FTTH, FTTB, FTTX, backbone, and smart city infrastructure deployment.
• Macro-trenchers (Macro-trancheuses) Heavy-duty trenching machines with trench widths from 180mm to 910mm, designed for telecom, electrical, gas, water networks, and public lighting infrastructure. Capable of mechanized laying of one or several networks simultaneously.
• Earthwork Equipment (Rock Hawgs / Bulldozers) Bulldozers and Rock Hawgs designed for efficient and economical bulk earthwork and excavation operations, replacing multiple different pieces of equipment with high productivity.
• Rental with Operators (Location avec Opérateur) Rental service providing machines with trained operators and mechanics equipped with service vehicles. Fleet of over 80 machines adapted to various project requirements in France and internationally.
• Multi-brand Maintenance Services (Services de Maintenance) Multi-brand maintenance service including technical assistance, troubleshooting, spare parts, and modification/adaptation services for specific client needs. Remote and on-site support available.
• Detection and Mapping (Détection et Cartographie) Underground network detection and mapping services using GPR (Ground Penetrating Radar) technology to precisely locate existing networks, detect anomalies, and produce detailed cartography to prevent damage during construction.
• E-Sidecut Fully Electric Trencher First 100% electric trencher developed by Tesmec and Marais, representing a significant step towards deploying silent and environmentally friendly machines with near-zero carbon footprint.
• Cleanfast Trencher Trenching machine designed for clean cutting operations, particularly effective for urban work environments. The fleet has expanded to 9 machines, with technology proven in France and expanding into Europe and the United States.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,200 km of networks installed in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Tesmec FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 January 2025As of 2025, Groupe Marais completed strategic reorganization with Tesmec Group in France. Marais focuses exclusively on rental operations while Tesmec France handles sales, production, and after-sales of trenchers, plus rail and energy sectors.
• GOFibercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 September 2024GOFiber partnered with East Trencher (Tesmec subsidiary) for advanced civil engineering solutions optimizing fiber optic deployment through improved trenching techniques and georadar mapping.
• BTS-Bautechnik Solutions GmbHmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 October 2023Exclusive German distributor partnership promoting mechanical laying technology in Germany. Thomas Caucigh, a former Marais employee, leads BTS and successfully promotes trenching solutions for HTA cable installation in the German market.
• Marais Laying New ZealandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 September 2023Subsidiary collaboration within Tesmec Group enabling technology sharing between France and New Zealand operations. Includes training on MCT400 Multicut machines and technology transfer.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunbelt Rentals: Sunbelt Rentals is one of the largest equipment rental companies in North America and Europe, with trenching and underground installation equipment available for rent with optional operator services. It is a broad incumbent in equipment rental whose trenching offerings overlap with Marais's rental business model.
• Vermeer Corporation: Vermeer is a major US-based manufacturer of trenchers, horizontal directional drills, and underground installation equipment, serving telecom, utility, and construction markets. As a broad incumbent with a much larger product portfolio, Vermeer is the closest large-scale analog to Tesmec Group's equipment business, which is the upstream supplier to Marais's rental operations.
• Ditch Witch (The Toro Company): Ditch Witch, a division of Toro Company, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of trenchers, vibratory plows, HDD equipment, and micro-trenching systems for utility installation. It competes with Tesmec/Marais in the same underground equipment category and is the dominant North American brand analogous to Marais's European leadership.
• Astec Industries (subsidiary brands: Trencor, Carlson): Astec Industries is a US-based diversified equipment manufacturer with trencher and underground construction brands including Trencor and Carlson. As a broad incumbent in the trencher manufacturing category, it competes upstream with Tesmec in supplying equipment to rental operators like Marais.

Emerging players

• TRACTO-TECHNIK: TRACTO-TECHNIK is a German manufacturer and rental provider of trenchless technology including HDD rigs, trenchers, and pipe-ramming equipment for utility installation. It is a meaningful peer in European underground construction with overlapping customer base in telecom and utility network deployment.
• Radius Subterra (formerly part of Radius Plus): Radius Subterra is a UK-based specialist in trenchless technology and underground utility installation including directional drilling, pipe-bursting, and moling. It is an emerging peer in mechanized underground network installation with overlapping service offerings for utility customers in telecom, gas, and water markets.

Direct peers

• BauerTechnik Solutions GmbH (BTS): BTS is Marais's exclusive German distributor, founded by a former Marais employee, and operates mechanical laying trenchers in the German HTA cable and fiber deployment market. It is a direct peer in operated-rental trencher services for utility infrastructure, though serving a different geography.
• Marais Laying New Zealand: Marais Laying New Zealand is a sister subsidiary within Tesmec Group that operates the same mechanized trenching rental model in Oceania. It directly mirrors Groupe Marais's operated-rental business model and equipment portfolio, making it the most directly comparable operating peer.
• Tesmec Group: Italian-listed Tesmec Group is the parent company of Marais and the manufacturer of the trenchers Marais rents out. It directly overlaps with Marais in equipment development, surface miners, and rail infrastructure, and is the closest direct peer given the 2025 restructuring that split manufacturing (Tesmec France) from rental (Groupe Marais).

Regional players

• LOXAM: LOXAM is a major European equipment rental company headquartered in France, offering trenching, earthmoving, and construction equipment for rent. As a French-headquartered rental incumbent, it is a regional peer addressing overlapping customer needs in the same geography as Marais, though with a much broader product catalog.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/marais-group

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Marais