GHM

What GHM does

GHM is a French foundry established in 1837, headquartered in Sommevoire, Haute-Marne, operating as a SASU under the Agora Makers group. It manufactures cast iron and aluminum urban equipment spanning public lighting luminaires, cast iron masts and crosses, urban furniture (benches, bins, planters, bollards, drinking fountains), statuary, water features (including Wallace fountains), sports lighting infrastructure, LAC trolleybus catenary supports, and telecommunications poles. Its technical platform combines a proprietary Strium casting process with electric furnaces (60% lower CO2 versus traditional foundries), Smart-Ready Zhaga D4i predispositions, and the Wizard telemanagement platform (integrated via the Nexiode acquisition). The cast iron products are engineered for 100+ year lifespans using 75%+ recycled raw materials, with heritage design reproduction capabilities (Guimard metro entrances, Chenonceaux silhouette) and modern product launches (CELLA, ELODEA).

The company serves French municipalities, local authorities, and public administrations as its primary customer base, with secondary segments in transport infrastructure (RATP), heritage restoration (Châteauroux Métropole, Voyage à Nantes), sports facilities, and increasingly private individuals via the GHM Exclusive design-edition storefront. GTM is sales-led through 18 regional commercial agencies covering every metropolitan French region, supplemented by seven named overseas partners for French overseas territories, prescription/specifier desks for tertiary and national markets, and a recurring event-driven motion (Light + Building, Salon des Maires, Global Industrie).

Revenue is generated primarily from hardware sales to public-sector buyers via project-based tenders, complemented by professional services (installation, restoration, consultation), and an emerging subscription/recurring layer through the WIZARD telemanagement and connected lighting modules. Notable customers include RATP (Guimard metro entrance modernization), the Paris 2024 Olympics Media Village, Métropole du Grand Nancy (electric trolleybus project), Ville de Charleville-Mézières (Roger Salengro sports complex), and Châteauroux Métropole (BALSAN industrial heritage site). The UTOPIES study attributes 1,188 supported jobs and 86.8 M€ of wealth generation to GHM's French activity, though direct company revenue is not disclosed.

Name

GHM

Legal name

GHM SASU

Website

https://ghm.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1837

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

GHM is a historic French foundry (est. 1837) designing and manufacturing cast iron and aluminum urban equipment, including public lighting, street furniture, masts, and statuary, sold primarily to French municipalities and local authorities through a network of 18 regional agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Urban Infrastructure Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Commercial, Industrial, and Institutional Electric Lighting Fixture Manufacturing (335132), Electric Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (3351), Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323)

SIC

Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640), Metal Doors, Sash, Frames, Moldings & Trim (3442), Miscellaneous Furniture & Fixtures (2590)

akta.pro primary industry

Railings, Stairs & Accessibility Features (Outdoor) (HSAPALAL)

Keywords

• Cast iron foundry
• Public lighting
• Urban furniture
• Smart lighting solutions
• Heritage restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

Sommevoire

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices26 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Urban furniture and lighting product sales: GHM generates revenue primarily from the manufacture and sale of cast iron and aluminum urban furniture, public lighting luminaires, masts and crosses, sports equipment, street furniture, statuary, water features, and telecommunications poles. Products are sold to municipalities, local authorities, and public administrations across France and internationally.
2. Professional services (installation, restoration, consultation): GHM provides complementary services including installation of lighting infrastructure, restoration of heritage monuments and fountains (e.g., Bourg-en-Bresse, Orléans), technical consultation for public space projects, and expertise in heritage preservation.
3. Smart lighting and connected solutions: Revenue from connected lighting solutions including Wizard telemanagement, presence detection systems, and Bluetooth control modules, which are offered as integrated features with luminaires or as standalone services for existing installations.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

GHM designs, manufactures, and sells cast iron and aluminum urban equipment including public lighting luminaires, masts and crossarms, urban furniture (benches, bins, planters, bollards), water features such as Wallace fountains, statuary, and transport infrastructure (tram catenary supports, metro entrances). The company also offers a connected/smart lighting ecosystem featuring Wizard telemanagement, presence detection modules, and Bluetooth/ZigBee/DALI/Zhaga-D4i interoperability. A heritage design replica line is sold via the GHM Exclusive e-commerce platform to private collectors.

Product overview

GHM is a historic French foundry (est. 1837) producing cast iron and aluminum urban equipment as part of the Agora Makers group. The product portfolio centers on Smart Lighting solutions (Smart Lighting/Eclairage Connecte) encompassing luminaires (CELLA, KERIS-6, Beauregard, Chenonceaux, Catalina, Xeon, Rafa, etc.), poles and masts, and smart control modules (WIZARD telemanagement, CA2P/CA5 dimming calculators, detection sensors). Supporting product lines include urban furniture (benches, bins, planters, bollards), water features (Wallace fountains, decorative fountains), statuary, transport/mobility infrastructure, sports furniture, telecommunication poles, and design edition replicas. The connected lighting ecosystem integrates with Nexiode (acquired 2024) for IoT management, Kuzzle (acquired 2026) for hypervision, and supports standard protocols (DALI, Zigbee, Zhaga, D4i, GPS, Bluetooth) for interoperability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• GHM France: The French operating entity of GHM, the foundry of excellence brand focused on cast iron urban equipment including luminaires, masts, urban furniture, and statuary.
• GHM Exclusive
• GHM Smart Lighting

Products and services

• Luminaires (public lighting fixtures)
• CELLA Luminaire
• KERIS-6 LED Projector
• Mâts et crosses (poles and crossarms)
• Mobilier urbain (urban street furniture)
• Mobilier sportif (sports furniture)
• Statuary and sculptural elements
• L'eau dans la ville (water features and fountains)
• Transports et mobilités (transport infrastructure)
• Smart Lighting (Éclairage Connecté)
• Telecommunication poles
• Design Edition (heritage replicas)

Quantifiable outcome

• 80%+ average energy savings on LED luminaire projects combined with Wizard telemanagement
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

AI capability3 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• MubeflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Agora Makers announced a strategic partnership with greentech company Mube to deploy a new generation of vegetation-integrated lighting masts. The solution combines lighting, biodiversity, and urban services with minimal ground footprint and measurable environmental impact of up to 50 kg of CO2 absorbed per year. GHM manufactures the masts while Mube provides the vegetation technology. The partnership aims to deploy at scale across urban renaturation projects.
• KuzzlecoreTechnology or Integration · 20 March 2026Kuzzle joined the Agora Makers group, bringing an open and interoperable hypervision platform. Kuzzle connects urban equipment, manages data, and supervises operational workflows. This enables GHM to offer unified Smart City solutions from hardware to software. The Strasbourg project already demonstrates metropolitan-scale telemanagement capabilities.
• NexiodecoreTechnology or Integration · 28 February 2024Agora Makers (GHM's parent group) acquired Nexiode, an innovative company founded in 2015 specializing in IoT products and connected solutions for intelligent management of urban and sports lighting. The acquisition followed years of collaboration between Eclatec and Nexiode. Nexiode develops the Wizard telemanagement platform that GHM integrates into its lighting products, enabling bidirectional remote control, real-time monitoring, and energy optimization of lighting networks.
• RivalenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHM and Eclatec participate in a collective of lighting sector actors convened by Rivalen (a mission-driven company specializing in RSE support for the lighting sector). The collective produced a white paper on sustainable luminaire design, manufacturing, and operation, positioning GHM as a committed actor in responsible industry transformation.
• RATP (Régie Autonome des Transports Parisiens)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGHM collaborated with RATP to design a new range of metro entrances for the 'Accès 2023' project, 120 years after the original Guimard entrances. GHM (heir to the Val d'Osne foundry, historical supplier of Paris Métropolitain) designed the new entrances in contemporary filiation with the historic Guimard style. Studio Aurel Design Urbain was the design architect.
• IngéropminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGHM collaborated with Ingérop to dimension cast iron supports for the Nancy 100% electric trolleybus project. GHM provided LAC (trolleybus line equipment) supports in cast iron with exceptional mechanical qualities, aesthetics, and durability, while Ingérop handled the engineering dimensioning.
• Métropole du Grand NancyflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGHM-Eclatec collaborated with the Métropole du Grand Nancy's lighting department on the 100% electric trolleybus project. The collaboration exemplifies the 'designer manufacturer' philosophy, where foundry expertise serves innovation and sustainability.
• Osmose IngénierieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerGHM collaborated with Osmose Ingénierie (Gabriel Sanglier and Victor Mussard) on the Roger Salengro sports complex lighting project in Charleville-Mézières. Osmose Ingénierie provided technical expertise that contributed to the project's success.
• Agora Makers (Parent Group)coreOthersGHM is a member of Agora Makers, a leading urban development group combining brands including Ghm, Eclatec, Metalco, Bellitalia, CityDesign, and My Equivia. The group is focused on innovation and sustainability in urban public spaces. Agora Makers provides GHM access to complementary capabilities including Eclatec lighting technology, Bellitalia's water features, and hypervision software via Kuzzle.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Hess: German manufacturer of cast aluminum and cast iron outdoor luminaires, bollards, and urban furniture. Closest peer to GHM in terms of heritage cast-metal aesthetic, municipal customer base, and integration of lighting with urban furniture portfolios.
• Schreder: Belgian-headquartered outdoor and urban lighting specialist serving municipalities worldwide. Direct competitor to GHM's urban luminaire business, with comparable focus on public lighting, heritage aesthetics, and increasingly smart city control systems.
• Ragni: French outdoor lighting specialist with strong positions in municipal and roadway lighting. Direct competitor to GHM within the French public lighting tender market, with overlapping smart lighting and LED luminaire offerings.
• AEC Illuminazione: Italian heritage outdoor lighting manufacturer specializing in cast iron and aluminum public luminaires and urban furniture. Comparable product mix and customer base to GHM across southern European municipal markets.
• WE-EF Leuchten: German outdoor lighting manufacturer with focus on architectural and urban luminaires, including heritage-styled cast metal fixtures. Comparable in municipal segment focus and growing emphasis on smart city control integration.
• Bega: German premium outdoor lighting manufacturer known for high-quality architectural and urban luminaires. Comparable technical product positioning and municipal/cultural customer profile, including heritage-sensitive installations.

Broad incumbents

• iGuzzini: Italian architectural and outdoor lighting brand owned by Signify. Competes with GHM in premium architectural lighting for public spaces and transport infrastructure, with significantly broader product breadth and international reach.
• Zumtobel Group / Thorn Lighting: Austrian lighting group with Thorn Lighting outdoor division. Competes with GHM in European municipal, road, and architectural outdoor lighting; broader portfolio and stronger IoT platform but less heritage cast iron specialization.
• Signify (Philips Lighting): Global lighting leader and owner of Philips, Color Kinetics, and Interact (telemanagement). Major competitive threat to GHM in the smart connected lighting segment, with vastly larger R&D, IoT platform, and global installed base.
• Siteco (a Signify company): European outdoor and street lighting brand within the Signify portfolio. Direct overlap with GHM in municipal roadway, urban, and architectural outdoor lighting across the DACH and broader European market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ghm-international
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ghm/posts/?feedView=all

Compliance1 record

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 GHM