APTH

What APTH does

APTH-BVT (legal entity operating under the APTH and BVT brands) is a French private company specializing in training, consulting, and auditing services for the dangerous goods transport sector. Formed from the merger of BVT (Bureau de Vérifications Techniques) and APTH (Association pour la Prévention du Transport d'Hydrocarbures), the company operates as a subsidiary of Groupe Apave, a diversified risk management conglomerate. APTH-BVT delivers 34 distinct training programs covering all major transport modes — ADR road transport, IATA-DGR air transport, IMDG maritime transport, and CSTMD safety advisor certification — supported by 23 specialized trainers and a government-approved testing laboratory for UN regulatory packaging homologation and periodic GRV inspections.

The company's underlying technology consists of a Ministry of Transport-approved physical testing laboratory conducting UN regulatory testing of dangerous goods packaging, alongside regulatory compliance assessment tools including a free online IATA DGR Knowledge Assessment Tool that allows prospects to self-evaluate readiness before enrolling in formal training. The Centre Technique du Creusot provides hands-on practical training infrastructure for road risk and dangerous goods handling. APTH-BVT holds accreditations from national and international authorities, enabling it to issue recognized certifications required for commercial dangerous goods transport across multiple regulatory regimes.

APTH-BVT's business model is professional services-based, generating revenue through (1) classroom and practical training programs including initial certification, refresher courses, and specialized certifications for tankers, petroleum products, and Class 1 explosives; (2) laboratory testing and homologation services for dangerous goods packaging; and (3) CSTMD safety advisor examination preparation. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and requires direct inquiry. The go-to-market combines direct enterprise B2B engagement with event-driven acquisition (Paris-Le Bourget 2025, ADR Study Days 2027) and a community-led partnership with Truckrs, a digital platform for road transport professionals. The company serves approximately 1,100 clients in France and internationally, training 8,500 personnel annually with a 94% average exam success rate, under the leadership of Directeur Général Frédéric Chavanne.

Name

APTH

Legal name

APTH-BVT

Website

https://apth.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

APTH-BVT, a subsidiary of Groupe Apave, provides accredited training, certification, and UN packaging homologation services for dangerous goods transport across air, road, and maritime modes, serving approximately 1,100 clients and training 8,500 professionals annually in France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Dangerous Goods Transport Compliance Training

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Remains & Medical Specimens Forwarding (TLACAJAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regulatory Compliance Audit Support & Documentation (Emissions/Safety/Environmental) (TLAKANAO)

Keywords

• Dangerous goods transport training
• ADR road transport certification
• IATA DGR air transport training
• IMDG maritime dangerous goods
• UN packaging homologation testing

Headquarters

HQ city

Nanterre

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: Classroom and practical training programs for dangerous goods transport across air (IATA), maritime (IMDG), and road (ADR) modes. Includes initial certification, refresher courses, and specialized certifications (tankers, petroleum products, Class 1 explosives).
2. Laboratory Testing and Homologation: UN regulatory testing of dangerous goods packaging and periodic control of GRV (large bulk containers). Provides official homologation approvals required for commercial transport.
3. Safety Advisor Services: Training for CSTMD (Conseiller à la Sécurité Transport Marchandises Dangereuses) certification - prepares professionals for the mandatory safety advisor examination.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

APTH-BVT provides professional training, certification, and laboratory testing services for the safe transport of dangerous goods across air (IATA-DGR), road (ADR), and maritime (IMDG) modes. Its offerings include 34 structured training programs for drivers, shippers, freight forwarders, and safety advisors, plus a Ministry of Transport-approved testing laboratory performing UN regulatory packaging homologation and periodic GRV inspections. The company serves approximately 1,100 clients and trains 8,500 personnel annually through 23 specialized trainers.

Product overview

APTH-BVT, a subsidiary of Groupe Apave, offers a comprehensive portfolio of training and testing services for dangerous goods transport across all transport modes (air, road, maritime). The core offerings include ADR road transport training, IATA-DGR air transport training, IMDG maritime training, CSTMD safety advisor certification preparation, and a Ministry-approved testing laboratory for UN packaging homologation and periodic GRV inspections. The company also provides supplementary training programs for road risk prevention, lithium battery shipping, and aviation refueling. APTH-BVT serves approximately 1,100 clients and trains 8,500 personnel annually through 23 specialized trainers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Formation Transport Routier (ADR)

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• TruckrsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBVT is described as a partner of Truckrs, a Nantes-based start-up operating a digital platform for connecting road transport professionals. This partnership aims to bring innovation to the road transport sector through digital collaboration tools.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• SGS: World-leading TIC company providing testing, inspection, and certification across transport and industrial sectors. Comparable to APTH-BVT as a broad incumbent with regulatory testing capabilities and training-adjacent services, but at vastly greater scale and scope.
• Intertek: Global TIC company providing testing, inspection, and certification across multiple industries including hazardous goods and transport. Comparable to APTH-BVT for its accredited testing and compliance services, though Intertek serves many more verticals and geographies.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC services provider offering accredited testing, certification, and training for transport and industrial safety. Comparable to APTH-BVT for its regulatory testing and certification services, though it operates across many sectors and geographies rather than specializing in DG transport.
• Bureau Veritas: Global Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) major with established dangerous goods and transport compliance services. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering accredited testing and certification that overlaps with APTH-BVT's laboratory and training scope, though operating across many industries rather than specializing in DG.
• TÜV SÜD: International TIC firm offering testing, inspection, certification, and training services including hazardous materials and transport safety. Comparable to APTH-BVT for its accredited dangerous goods testing and training capabilities within a much broader service portfolio.
• Groupe Apave (parent): APTH-BVT's parent conglomerate and a major French TIC group offering risk management, inspection, and certification across many domains. Comparable as the broader organization whose portfolio overlaps with APTH-BVT's services and that shares branding and distribution infrastructure.
• RINA: Italian-based certification and engineering company active in marine, transport, and energy safety. Comparable to APTH-BVT for maritime and transport safety certification expertise (relevant to its IMDG training), though its scope spans many other industrial sectors.
• DEKRA: German-based TIC and certification organization with strong automotive, transport, and hazardous materials safety practices. Comparable to APTH-BVT for its accredited dangerous goods handling, transport safety training, and testing services, though it serves a broader portfolio of industries.

Emerging players

• Safe Transport Training (STT) / Safeload: European specialists offering dangerous goods and ADR/IATA training programs to transport operators. Comparable to APTH-BVT for its narrow focus on DG training delivery, though typically operating at smaller scale and without APTH-BVT's accredited in-house testing laboratory.
• DGM Global: Specialist dangerous goods training, consulting, and compliance services firm operating across Europe. Comparable to APTH-BVT as a focused DG compliance provider offering training and consulting, though smaller and serving multiple European jurisdictions rather than France-centric operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6ZiAcm5IwpJ8rHFf2USoTA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/apth
• Instagraminstagram.com/apave_officiel/?hl=fr

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 APTH