setec lerm
setec lerm is a French materials engineering and laboratory services firm providing materials testing, structural diagnostics, structural health monitoring via its proprietary Captae® sensors and Datae® platform, and circular economy consulting for civil engineering, nuclear, infrastructure, and cultural heritage clients across France and select international markets.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1988
- HeadquartersArles, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What setec lerm does
setec lerm is a French materials engineering and laboratory services firm founded in 1988 in Arles as a spin-off from the historical CERILH research center (established 1948). The company operates from a 3,000 m2 laboratory and delivers five integrated service lines: materials control testing, materials engineering and durability assessment, structural diagnostics and maintenance, structural health monitoring via connected sensors, and waste valorization/circular economy consulting. It serves enterprise and government clients across civil engineering, nuclear energy, transportation infrastructure, water utilities, and cultural heritage sectors in France and select international markets including Portugal, Greece, Morocco, Norway, and Canada.
The firm's proprietary technology stack centers on Captae®, a miniaturized wireless multi-parameter sensor integrating optical 3D crack measurement, bi-axial inclinometry, 3D vibration accelerometry, temperature, and humidity sensing, paired with Datae®, a data operating platform launched in 2021 that processes multi-scale monitoring, NDT, and laboratory data through geostatistical methods (sequential Bayesian simulation, cokriging) and supervised learning to produce 3D digital twin representations of structures. These are complemented by extensive in-house laboratory capabilities including X-ray diffraction (Bruker D8 Advance with Rietveld quantification), TGA-FTIR, gammagraphy for prestressed concrete cables, and miniaturized geophysical radar deployed via remotely controlled rovers for hard-access sites such as the post-fire Notre-Dame de Paris assessment.
Revenue is generated primarily through professional services and managed monitoring engagements delivered via direct B2B enterprise sales under quote-based, project-specific pricing with multi-year contracts. Customer segments are weighted toward government infrastructure owners, nuclear operators, highway concessionnaires, and heritage conservation agencies; the firm holds the CEFRI 'E' nuclear facility certification, EDF UTO qualification, and Cofrac laboratory accreditation that create entry barriers. Marketing relies on technical authority positioning through industry conferences (AFGC, RILEM, SHM-France, AFTES, WNE), technical publications, a monthly newsletter (Lerm Infos), and PR appearances including the RMC Découverte documentary. The company operates as a subsidiary within the setec group and collaborates with sister subsidiaries (setec tpi, Terrasol, setec INTER) on large infrastructure programs such as Grand Paris Express.
setec lerm firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- setec lerm
- Legal name
- Lerm setec
- Website
- https://lerm.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1988
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- setec lerm is a French materials engineering and laboratory services firm providing materials testing, structural diagnostics, structural health monitoring via its proprietary Captae® sensors and Datae® platform, and circular economy consulting for civil engineering, nuclear, infrastructure, and cultural heritage clients across France and select international markets.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
setec lerm industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Construction Materials Engineering and Testing Services
- NAICS
- Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (541620)
- SIC
- Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Condition Monitoring & Reliability Services (Vibration/Oil Analysis/RCM) (IMAIACAL)
Keywords
Where setec lerm is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arles
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
setec lerm business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Laboratory Testing Services: Physical, chemical, mineralogical, and microstructural analysis services for construction materials including cements, aggregates, concretes, and building stones. Testing conducted in Cofrac-accredited laboratory facilities.
- Structural Diagnostics and Expertise: On-site non-destructive testing (NDT), investigations, sampling, and laboratory analysis for diagnosing structural conditions of civil engineering works, bridges, and heritage buildings.
- Instrumentation and Monitoring Services: Supply, installation, and monitoring services using Captae® connected sensors for structural health monitoring (SHM) and predictive maintenance of buildings and infrastructure.
- Training Services: Technical training programs on concrete diagnostics, concrete formulation, cement, and construction materials testing offered to industry professionals.
- Waste Valorization Consulting: Advisory services on circular economy and materials valorization, including excavation materials, dredging sediments, and demolition waste for construction projects.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Professional engineering and laboratory services with customized project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
setec lerm product offering
Product offeringCore offering
setec lerm provides materials control (laboratory testing of cements, additions, aggregates, concretes, and building stones), materials engineering (durability and formulation expertise), structural diagnostics and maintenance (non-destructive testing, sampling, and laboratory analysis), auscultation and monitoring (Captae® connected multi-parameter sensor systems for structural health monitoring), construction expertise (technical assistance for construction claims), and waste valorization consulting (circular economy advisory for excavation materials, sediments, and demolition waste). Services are delivered through a 3,000 m² Cofrac-accredited laboratory in Arles and on-site field investigations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Captae®: Miniaturized wireless data acquisition and transmission system for structural monitoring, featuring 3D optical fissuremetry, bi-axial inclinometry, 3D vibration accelerometer, and complementary resident functions (temperature, hygrometry).
- Datae
Products and services
- Contrôle Matériaux (Materials Control / Laboratory Testing)
Quantifiable outcome
- Predictive durability models validated against 15+ years of Vasco da Gama Bridge monitoring data
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use setec lerm
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
setec lerm technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability5 records
Feature9 records
setec lerm partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- EDFcoreEDF is both a major client and strategic development partner. The Diamond project for corrosion monitoring was initiated at EDF's request to develop a corrosion diagnosis probe and continuous in-situ monitoring solution for reinforced concrete structures and metallic structures. EDF holds UTO qualification status with Lerm.
- ADP (Aéroports de Paris)minorPartner in the DIAMOND research project focused on corrosion monitoring and predictive maintenance solutions for civil engineering structures.
- ANDRA (Agence Nationale pour la gestion des Déchets Radioactifs)minorPartner in the DIAMOND project for corrosion monitoring of civil engineering structures in radioactive waste management contexts.
- Autoroutes du Sud de la France (ASF)minorPartner in DIAMOND project for corrosion monitoring on highway infrastructure.
- Bridges to ProsperityminorNGO partnership for construction of pedestrian bridges in Rwanda. setec lerm engineers participate in bridge building projects with the NGO, contributing to social development and mobility access in isolated communities.
- setec tpicoreSubsidiary within the setec group providing geotechnical engineering. Collaborates with Lerm on Grand Paris Express projects including Clamart station monitoring using Captae sensors, combining structural and geotechnical expertise.
- Société du Grand PariscoreClient and strategic partner for materials valorization studies of tunnel excavation materials from the Grand Paris Express project, supporting circular economy objectives of the 43 million tonne excavation program.
- AFGC (Association Française du Génie Civil)minorProfessional association in civil engineering. Lerm participates in AFGC conferences (GC'2019, Colloque GC 2017) and contributes to working groups on concrete durability and digital technologies.
- SIM (Société de l'Industrie Minérale)minorProfessional society organizing technical congresses. Lerm participates and hosts technical days (Journée SIM 2017), contributing to professional development and industry visibility.
- SHM-FranceminorStructural Health Monitoring association. Lerm participates in annual SHM-France conferences on control and monitoring of structures.
- AFTESminorFrench Tunneling and Underground Engineering Association. Lerm participates in AFTES congresses related to underground structures and excavation.
- RILEM (International Union of Laboratories and Experts in Construction Materials, Systems and Structures)minorInternational technical association. Lerm participates in RILEM spring seminars on construction materials advances.
- IMGCminorIngénierie et Gestion des Ouvrages d'Art et de Génie Civil. Lerm participates in IMGC technical days on topics such as Grand Paris, external prestressing durability, and structural inspection.
- AQC (Agence Qualité Construction)minorPartnership on low-carbon concrete research. Lerm worked with AQC to produce documents on low-carbon concrete perspectives, recommendations, and best practices, supported by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.
- SAFE ClusterminorCompetitiveness cluster labeling the DIAMOND project, contributing to innovation in structural health monitoring.
- PNB (Pôle Nuclearité Bourgogne)minorCompetitiveness cluster in nuclear sector, labeling the DIAMOND project for corrosion monitoring solutions.
- Mer MéditerranéeminorCompetitiveness cluster for Mediterranean maritime sector, labeling the DIAMOND project.
- ElopsysminorCompetitiveness cluster in optics and photonics, labeling the DIAMOND project for sensor technologies.
- ATILH (Association Technique de l'Industrie des Liants Hydrauliques)minorTechnical association for hydraulic binder industry. Partner in PhD thesis on sediment valorization in hydraulic binders, combining industrial and academic research.
- ENSIL-ENSCI (Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Ingénieurs de Limoges)minorEngineering school partner in sediment valorization PhD thesis, contributing academic research expertise to materials science collaboration.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
setec lerm competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- SGS: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company offering construction materials testing, structural health monitoring advisory, and infrastructure asset integrity services. Comparable on the materials testing and infrastructure diagnostics axis but with global scale and far broader industry coverage than setec lerm.
- TÜV Rheinland: Global testing and certification body with construction materials testing, structural inspection, and infrastructure asset integrity services. Comparable to setec lerm in third-party accredited testing and Cofrac-equivalent certification work, but at significantly larger global scale.
- COWI: Major Danish engineering consultancy with significant bridge, tunnel, and infrastructure monitoring practices including the Great Belt Bridge and other major European crossings. Comparable to setec lerm in long-duration bridge monitoring engagements and infrastructure diagnostics.
- Bureau Veritas: Global TIC (Testing, Inspection, Certification) major with extensive construction materials testing, structural inspection, and asset integrity services. Comparable to setec lerm in laboratory testing and infrastructure diagnostics, but operates at vastly larger scale with a much broader service portfolio across multiple industries.
- Applus+ IDIADA: International testing, inspection, and certification group with construction and infrastructure divisions. Overlaps with setec lerm in laboratory materials testing and structural diagnostics for civil engineering, but at significantly larger scale and across more geographies.
- Soletanche Bachy: VINCI subsidiary and global leader in geotechnical and foundation engineering. Adjacent to setec lerm in geotechnical/site investigation work for Grand Paris Express and similar megaprojects, with overlapping instrumentation and monitoring capabilities.
- Eurofins Materials Science: Eurofins operates a global network of materials testing laboratories including construction materials (cement, aggregates, concrete). Directly comparable to setec lerm's Cofrac-accredited laboratory work, though Eurofins focuses on high-volume commercial testing versus setec lerm's specialist/expert positioning.
Emerging players
- Sisgeo: Italian manufacturer of geotechnical and structural monitoring instruments (inclinometers, piezometers, load cells, settlement sensors) used in dams, tunnels, and bridges. Comparable to setec lerm in the structural monitoring instrumentation category but focused on hardware supply versus setec lerm's full-service diagnostic + software model.
- Resensys: US-based IoT structural health monitoring company offering wireless sensors and cloud analytics for bridges, buildings, and pipelines. Comparable to setec lerm's Captae+Datae offering as a competing SHM IoT platform, though smaller and focused on US infrastructure markets.
Direct peers
- Sixense (VINCI Construction): Specialist subsidiary of VINCI dedicated to infrastructure monitoring, structural health monitoring, geotechnical instrumentation, and asset management. Direct competitor to setec lerm's Captae/Datae platform offering, with comparable service portfolio covering bridges, tunnels, and nuclear infrastructure across Europe.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
setec lerm social profiles
Digital presencesetec lerm financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
setec lerm leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
setec lerm funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
setec lerm 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 setec lerm
What does setec lerm do?
setec lerm provides materials control (laboratory testing of cements, additions, aggregates, concretes, and building stones), materials engineering (durability and formulation expertise), structural diagnostics and maintenance (non-destructive testing, sampling, and laboratory analysis), auscultation and monitoring (Captae® connected multi-parameter sensor systems for structural health monitoring), construction expertise (technical assistance for construction claims), and waste valorization consulting (circular economy advisory for excavation materials, sediments, and demolition waste). Services are delivered through a 3,000 m² Cofrac-accredited laboratory in Arles and on-site field investigations.
Is setec lerm a public or private company?
setec lerm is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was setec lerm founded?
setec lerm was founded in 1988. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is setec lerm based?
setec lerm is headquartered in Arles, France, in the Europe region.
How does setec lerm make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Laboratory Testing Services are the primary driver. The others are structural Diagnostics and Expertise, instrumentation and Monitoring Services, training Services and waste Valorization Consulting.
Who are setec lerm's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are SGS, TÜV Rheinland, COWI, Bureau Veritas, Applus+ IDIADA, Soletanche Bachy and Eurofins Materials Science. Emerging players are Sisgeo and Resensys. Sixense (VINCI Construction) is listed as a direct peer.
Does setec lerm have an API?
No public API is recorded for setec lerm.
What industry is setec lerm in?
setec lerm's product category is Construction Materials Engineering and Testing Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIACAL, Condition Monitoring & Reliability Services (Vibration/Oil Analysis/RCM). Its NAICS code is 54138 and its SIC code is 8734.