SmartEm

What SmartEm does

SmartEm GmbH, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Siershahn, Germany, develops, produces, and sells rescue and emergency equipment for fire departments, rescue services, industrial emergency teams, and emergency organizations. Its core product platform is the Carapace basket stretcher family — HDPE/aluminum rigid stretchers offered in single-piece (Carapace, Carapace+, Carapace Military) and two-piece (Carapace TWIN) configurations with up to 12-year service life and 350 kg load capacity — supplemented by an extensive modular accessory ecosystem (Carachasis wheeled chassis, Caraskid skids, Carasemita track wheel, Caralift lifting bridle, Carabouy float, Carabag carrying bags, patient safety belts, inlay mattresses). Beyond Carapace, the portfolio includes spineboards, emergency backpacks, first aid kits, rescue cloth, and rescue technology accessories.

The company's proprietary technology layer is SmartEm Cloud, an NFC/QR-code-based cloud product management platform that lets users scan equipment to access specifications, maintenance schedules, and certification intervals, enabling recurring SaaS-style engagement on top of one-time hardware sales. Products are developed in Germany, the company is ISO 9001 certified (audited by VQZ Bonn), and equipment complies with DIN EN 1865-1, DIN EN 1789, DIN 14827-1, and EU MDR (the Carachasis chassis is classified as a medical device, with installation restricted to the manufacturer or authorized distributors).

SmartEm operates a B2B-only model, selling exclusively to entrepreneurs and business customers via a login-based online shop and a network of representatives and channel partners across more than 18 European countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary); the website supports German, English, French, and Danish. Revenue is generated through one-time equipment sales, accessories and spare parts, and the SmartEm Cloud subscription, with mid-range unit pricing (e.g., Carapace Set at €1,779 gross). The company is privately held by CEO Nicolaj Wälli, based in Lenzburg, Switzerland, has 1-10 employees, has not raised institutional funding, and has received EU Regional Development Fund support (via the Innotop program) for sustainable product development.

Name

SmartEm

Legal name

SmartEm GmbH

Website

https://smartemergency.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SmartEm GmbH, based in Siershahn, Germany, designs, manufactures, and sells rescue equipment — anchored by its Carapace basket stretcher platform and SmartEm Cloud NFC/QR tracking — to fire departments, rescue services, industry, and emergency organizations across 18+ European countries via B2B online and channel sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Siershahn

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Rescue Equipment Product Sales: Direct sales of rescue equipment including basket stretchers, spineboards, emergency backpacks, first aid kits, and accessories through online shop. B2B model exclusively serving entrepreneurs and business customers.
2. SmartEm Cloud Subscription: Cloud-based product management and maintenance tracking service for equipment administration and certification compliance
3. Accessories and Spare Parts: Sales of replacement parts, carrying systems, and accessories for existing product lines

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SmartEm develops, produces, and sells innovative rescue equipment — including the Carapace basket stretcher family, spineboards, emergency backpacks, and first aid kits — for fire departments, rescue services, industry, and emergency organizations in 18+ European countries. The offering is complemented by SmartEm Cloud, a proprietary NFC/QR-code-based platform that enables customers to manage equipment maintenance schedules and certification intervals. All products are sold exclusively to entrepreneurs (B2B) and dealers.

Product overview

SmartEm GmbH develops and produces a comprehensive portfolio of rescue and emergency equipment primarily serving fire departments, rescue services, industry, and emergency organizations. The product range is organized around the Carapace basket stretcher platform — a range of rigid HDPE/Aluminum-frame patient transport stretchers available in multiple configurations (single-piece Carapace, two-piece Carapace TWIN, and military-spec Carapace Military) — supplemented by an ecosystem of modular add-ons and accessories (Carachasis chassis with wheels, Caraskid skids, Carasemita track wheels, Caralift lifting bridle, Carabouy float, Carabag carrying bags, Hyad-Bag waterproof storage, inlay mattresses, patient safety belts, splash guards, and spare wheels), as well as lifting bar carrying systems. Beyond the Carapace family, the portfolio includes Spineboards for spinal immobilization, Emergency Backpacks, First Aid kits, Rescue Cloth, and Rescue Technology accessories. The SmartEm Cloud platform provides cloud-based product management via NFC/QR code labeling, enabling users to track maintenance schedules and certification intervals for their equipment. The company is ISO 9001 certified and manufactures in Germany with product service lives of up to 12 years. The company also provides free performance specification templates (Leistungsverzeichnisse) for public procurement of its products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SmartEm Cloud: Cloud-based product management solution for tracking and maintaining rescue equipment using NFC/QR code scanning.
• Carachasis
• Caraskid
• Carapace

Products and services

• Carapace basket stretcher (single-piece) Single-piece basket stretcher (Schleifkorbtrage) made of HDPE with extra-strong aluminum frame, removable and washable mattress, four patient safety straps, folding footrest, and 350 kg load capacity; designed for fire departments and rescue services.
• Carapace + basket stretcher with removable wheels Single-piece Carapace basket stretcher equipped with removable wheels for improved mobility during rescue operations.
• Carapace Set (stretcher with skids and detachable wheels) Single-piece basket stretcher bundled with removable skids (Kufen) and detachable wheels, including a Smart NFC-Cloud serial number label for product management.
• Carapace TWIN two-piece basket stretcher Two-piece basket stretcher designed for easier patient loading and transport in confined spaces, composed of two separable sections.
• Carapace TWIN + two-piece stretcher with removable wheels Two-piece basket stretcher with removable wheels, combining the split-frame design with enhanced mobility for rescue operations.
• Carapace TWIN Set (two-piece stretcher with wheels and skids) Two-piece basket stretcher with removable wheels and skids, offering the most comprehensive configuration for the Carapace TWIN platform.
• Carapace Military basket stretcher Military-specification single-piece basket stretcher designed for harsh field conditions; available at price on request.
• Carachasis wheeled chassis for Carapace stretcher Chassis with detachable, puncture-proof foam-core wheels for the Carapace basket stretcher, enabling easy patient transport in tunnels and confined spaces. Classified as a medical device under EU MDR.
• Caraskid skid set for Carapace stretcher Set of two skids with four matching polyamide counter-bearings, reducing ground friction and protecting floors during stretcher transport and extending service life.
• Carasemita track wheel for Carachasis chassis Track wheel compatible with the Carachasis chassis (SE-0017), serving as an alternative to studded wheels for rail or track transport scenarios.
• Caralift adjustable lifting bridle Adjustable lifting bridle for basket stretchers used in rope rescue and lowering operations; connects via aluminum eyelets for safe suspended transport.
• Carabouy floating/buoyancy aid Floating body / buoyancy aid for the Carapace basket stretcher, enabling safe water rescue and patient transport on water surfaces.
• Carabag I carrying bag for Carapace stretcher Single-piece carrying bag for the Carapace basket stretcher, enabling compact transport and storage.
• Carabag I Waterproof carrying bag Waterproof single-piece carrying bag for the Carapace basket stretcher, protecting against water ingress during transport and storage.
• Carabag II backpack carrying system Two-piece protective cover with integrated backpack carrying system for the Carapace basket stretcher, allowing hands-free transport over longer distances.
• Caraamplex lifting bars (carrying handle system) Carrying handle system for the Carapace basket stretcher, enabling improved manual handling and transport by rescue personnel.
• Spineboards Rigid spinal immobilization boards for safe patient transport following suspected spinal injuries, available in standard and specialized configurations.
• Emergency Backpacks Specialized emergency response backpacks containing first aid supplies and rescue equipment for rapid deployment by emergency services.
• First Aid kits and supplies First aid kits and supplies for motor vehicles, company medical facilities, and general first-response use.
• Rescue Cloth Specialized rescue cloth used for patient handling and transfer during emergency operations.
• Patient Safety Belts (incl. single, set-of-three, set-of-four configurations) High-strength jacquard webbing patient safety straps with GFK snap-lock buckles in multiple color options and bundle sizes for complete patient restraint on basket stretchers.
• Spare wheel for Carachasis chassis Replacement puncture-proof foam-core wheel for the Carachasis chassis, ensuring continuous availability of rescue equipment.
• SmartEm Cloud Cloud-based product management platform that allows customers to scan SmartEm products with an NFC smartphone or QR-code reader to access product information, manage equipment, and track maintenance and certification intervals.
• Performance Specification Templates (Leistungsverzeichnis) Free downloadable tender specification templates (Leistungsverzeichnisse) for public procurement of SmartEm rescue equipment, compliant with DIN EN 1865-1 and DIN EN 1789 standards.

Quantifiable outcome

• Products validated through endurance testing at International Fire Academy running ~200 courses annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Stampfli Medical AGcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSwiss representative of SmartEm GmbH. Stampfli Medical AG sells SmartEm products including basket stretchers and accessories to customers in Switzerland.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Ferno (Ferno Group): Ferno is a global leader in EMS and rescue equipment, including basket stretchers, spineboards, and immobilization devices — directly competing with SmartEm's Carapace and spineboard lines for fire/EMS customers worldwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/smartemgmbh
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartem-gmbh
• Instagraminstagram.com/smartem_gmbh

Compliance5 records

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 SmartEm