CROS

What CROS does

CROS is a family-owned French industrial equipment specialist headquartered in Échirolles (Grenoble metropolitan area), operating since 1953 with roots tracing to 1785. The company distributes, rents, and maintains compressed air systems (Atlas Copco GA, ZT, ZR, XAHS/XAS, DrillAir series), vacuum pumps, nitrogen generators (NGP90+), water pumping stations (Xylem/Flygt, LOWARA), mobile power generators (QAS, QES), and Marini hydraulic/pneumatic drilling equipment — covering three business poles: AIR & Vide Industriels, EAU & Systèmes de Pompage, and ÉNERGIE Mobile & Foration. Its proprietary CaReOS offering is an outsourced utility model (Essentiel/Expert/Premium tiers) bundling equipment provision, preventive/curative maintenance, 24/7 remote monitoring, and — at the Premium tier — energy performance and supply continuity guarantees, with contract durations up to 10 years cited.

The company serves industrial manufacturers, BTP (construction and public works) contractors, and territorial collectivities (municipalities, metropolitan areas) across the French Alpine arc (Isère, Savoie, Haute-Savoie, Drôme), reaching customers through direct field sales, technical consulting, and trade show presence (Solscope, Forum des Métiers). CROS monetizes through one-time equipment sales, time-based rental (daily/weekly/monthly), recurring maintenance subscriptions, and multi-year CaReOS service contracts; pricing is quote-based and project-specific with no public rates. Operational infrastructure includes an 11,000 m² site with 6,000 m² of buildings, 7,000+ product references in stock, 17 utility vehicles, and multiple test benches. The company holds €259,160 share capital, employs 70 collaborators, and operates as a SAS Société à Mission (first in Isère's industrial sector, October 2021), with employee shareholding available to staff with 3+ years tenure.

Name

CROS

Legal name

CROS Société à Mission

Website

https://cros.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1785

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

CROS is a family-owned French industrial equipment distributor, renter, and maintainer based in Échirolles, selling and servicing compressed air, vacuum, water pumping, mobile power, and drilling equipment for industrial companies, BTP contractors, and municipalities across the Alpine arc via direct field sales and its CaReOS usage-based outsourcing model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Equipment Services

NAICS

Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance (811310)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Pumps & Pumping Equipment (3561)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial Power & Energy Equipment Rental/Leasing (Generators, Light Towers, Compressors) (TLABAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hydraulic, Pneumatic & Fluid Power Systems MRO (Cylinders, Pumps, Valves, Hoses) (TLAKAHAI)

Keywords

• Compressed air systems
• Water pumping solutions
• Mobile power generation
• Drilling equipment rental
• Industrial equipment maintenance

Headquarters

HQ city

Échirolles

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales: Sale of new industrial equipment including compressed air compressors, vacuum pumps, water pumps and lifting stations, generators, and drilling equipment, including design, installation, and commissioning. Revenue is one-time, project-based, with significant custom integration.
2. Equipment Rental: Short and long-term rental of equipment including compressors, dryers, generators, pumping systems, and drilling machinery. Includes optional instrumentation, remote monitoring, and 24/7 emergency standby. Billing is time-based (daily/weekly/monthly).
3. Maintenance Services: Preventive and corrective maintenance contracts for all equipment types. Includes on-site troubleshooting, workshop repairs, performance testing on test benches, and regulatory inspection preparation for pressure equipment. Revenue is recurring through service contracts.
4. CaReOS Usage Offering: Three-tiered usage/outsourcing model (Essentiel, Expert, Premium) providing compressed air, water, or energy as a utility. PREMIUM tier guarantees energy performance and supply continuity 24/7/365. Revenue is recurring (annual/multi-year contracts) with performance-based elements.
5. Fonds de Dotation (Endowment Fund) Donations: CROS operates a philanthropic endowment fund created in 2011 that has invested ~605,000 EUR across ~60 projects supporting air, water, and environmental preservation initiatives in the Alpine territory. Funded by CROS and employee contributions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CROS sells, rents, and maintains industrial equipment across three integrated business poles — AIR & Vide Industriels (compressors, vacuum, nitrogen from Atlas Copco), EAU & Systèmes de Pompage (water pumping systems from Xylem, LOWARA, FLYGT), and ÉNERGIE Mobile & Foration (mobile generators and drilling equipment from Marini). Its proprietary CaReOS offering converts equipment ownership into a metered, recurring service billed per cubic meter of air or kWh pumped, with three tiers (Essentiel, Expert, Premium).

Product overview

CROS is a family-owned industrial equipment and services company offering three integrated business units: AIR & Vide Industriels (compressed air and vacuum systems), EAU & Systèmes de Pompage (water pumping solutions), and ÉNERGIE Mobile & Foration (mobile power and drilling equipment). The core offering is CaReOS, a usage-based service model that combines equipment deployment with maintenance, remote monitoring, and energy performance guarantees. The product portfolio spans compressors (Atlas Copco GA, ZT, ZR, GHS, XAHS, XAS, DrillAir series), nitrogen generators (NGP90+), water pumps (LOWARA, FLYGT), generator sets (QAS, QES series), drilling equipment (Marini MR-C, MR-A, MR-2 series), and modular containerized air production systems. CROS serves industries, construction firms, and municipalities through sales, rental, and maintenance services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CaReOS: Usage-based service offer for compressed air, water, and energy solutions, including maintenance, remote monitoring, and energy performance guarantees

Products and services

• CaReOS Usage Offering

Quantifiable outcome

• Energy savings of ~50% achieved by replacing 8x 11 kW vacuum pumps with 2x 24 kW variable-speed pumps; ROI < 3 years (vacuum production globalization project)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Atlas CopcocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLong-standing distributor and service partner for Atlas Copco equipment including industrial compressors (GA, ZT, ZR series), thermal compressors (XAS, XAHS), generators (QAS, QES), nitrogen generators (NGP series), and drilling equipment. CROS handles sales, installation, maintenance, and retrofit of Atlas Copco products across the Alpine arc. CROS was the first in France to perform complete retrofit of Atlas Copco thermal compressors.
• XylemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor for Xylem (formerly Flygt) water pumps and mixers, including the LL 3601 series submersible pumps. CROS installs, maintains, and overhauls Xylem/Flygt equipment for municipal and industrial water applications across the Alpine region.
• LOWARA (Xylem Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier and integrator of LOWARA pumps including multicellular pumps and GHV series pressurization units with HYDROVAR variable frequency drives. CROS uses LOWARA equipment in water pumping station installations for municipalities and industry.
• HYDROKARSTminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaboration on lifting and handling operations for installation of pumping equipment, notably the Flygt LL 3601 pump for a hydroelectric dam. HYDROKARST provides specialist lifting services in partnership with CICERON.
• CICERONminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner for lifting and handling operations on pumping station installations (e.g., FLYGT LL 3601 pump for hydroelectric dam), working alongside HYDROKARST and CROS for safe handling.
• PERENON SASminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerHandling and transport partner for pump removal and reinstallation (FLYGT LL 3601 for groundwater pumping on the Presqu'île de Grenoble).
• RTSminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartner company in emergency response to pipeline breakage at AQUAPOLE (Grenoble metropolitan wastewater treatment). CROS and RTS both received public acknowledgment from Grenoble Metro leadership for their reactivity and professionalism.
• BIA ELECminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborated with CROS on supplying and installing a QES 125 (150 kVA) generator for the Mairie des Deux Alpes Palais des Sports emergency power backup.
• XYLEM (supplier)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSubcontractor and collaborator on temporary pumping installation at Péage de Vizille canal maintenance project, with 24/7/7 standby service.
• BEKOminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of high-performance energy-efficient dryers (BEKO FRLv2900c, BEKO FRAv2300c) and flow measurement equipment (BDL BEKO data loggers) used in CROS compressed air and nitrogen installations.
• Marini (drilling equipment)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of drilling equipment including MR series hydraulic and pneumatic drills (MR-A 120, MR-A 150, MR-2 PN, MR-C 90, MR-C 30, MR-C 20P, etc.), slides, hydraulic hammers, and accessories. CROS configures, sells, rents, and provides start-up services for Marini drilling equipment across France.
• DrillAirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSupplier of high-pressure DrillAir H23 compressors designed specifically for drilling, with optimized energy consumption (22.1 m³/min at 260 kW, max 20 bar).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves14 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Loxam: France's largest equipment rental company with a national branch network. While Loxam's primary focus is construction equipment, its power, compressor, and aerial divisions compete with CROS on rental of generators, compressors, and pumping equipment at a much larger scale.
• Kiloutou: Major French equipment rental operator with broad coverage. Its modular energy, pumping, and compressor rental offerings overlap with CROS's rental business in the Alpine arc, albeit at much larger national scale and with broader product breadth.
• SPIE Industrie: SPIE is a major French industrial services group providing multi-technical services including compressed air, pumping, and energy performance contracts. Competes with CROS's CaReOS usage model and maintenance services for industrial customers and collectivities across France.
• Atlas Copco France: Atlas Copco is CROS's primary OEM partner (compressors, generators, nitrogen generators, drilling equipment) and also operates its own French direct sales and service network. As both supplier and competitor, Atlas Copco represents the same product categories served by CROS but at national/international scale with broader digital tooling.

Direct peers

• Xylem Water Solutions France: Xylem (parent of Flygt) is both a CROS partner (Flygt submersible pumps) and a competitor with direct sales and service in France. Xylem's broader portfolio (pumps, mixers, treatment) competes with CROS's EAU pole for industrial and municipal water management projects.
• Kaeser Kompressoren: Kaeser is a direct competitor in the sale, rental, and servicing of industrial compressed air equipment across Europe. Competes with CROS on the AIR pole through its own French distribution and service network, with comparable rotary screw and variable-speed compressor offerings.
• KSB S.A.S. (France): KSB manufactures and services pumps, valves, and related systems for industrial, municipal, and energy applications. Operates direct sales and service across France competing with CROS's water pumping business, including in municipal water and wastewater.
• Sulzer France: Sulzer manufactures and services pumps and rotating equipment with a French service footprint. Competes with CROS in industrial and municipal pumping projects, including retrofit and aftermarket services that mirror CROS's refurbishment capabilities.

Emerging players

• BWT France: BWT specializes in water treatment and pumping solutions for industrial, municipal, and commercial applications. Competes with CROS's EAU pole on water treatment, UV, and pressure boosting projects across France.
• Engie Solutions: Engie Solutions provides outsourced energy and utility services including compressed air and heat/cooling networks to industrial customers. Represents a scaled, vertically integrated competitor to CROS's CaReOS utility-outsourcing model, with stronger balance sheet for multi-year performance contracts.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 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 CROS