Smartec

What Smartec does

Smartec SA is a Swiss specialist in fiber optic sensing solutions for geotechnical and structural health monitoring, headquartered in Manno, Switzerland, and operating as a subsidiary of Canadian parent Roctest Ltd. The company designs, manufactures, and supplies sensors, interrogators/reading units, and supporting software used to measure deformation, strain, temperature, and displacement across critical infrastructure — bridges, dams, tunnels, pipelines, mines, LNG terminals, chemical plants, nuclear facilities, and research installations such as CERN-LHC and ITER. Its technology stack spans five fiber optic modalities: SOFO long-gage interferometric sensing, Distributed Raman (DiTemp), Distributed Brillouin (DiTeSt), Fabry-Perot sensors, and MEMS-based GEOSTRING inclinometers, complemented by the SDB Software Package and mobile (Android) applications for data acquisition and management.

The business model is enterprise B2B hardware sales with complementary services: project-based, quote-based pricing in CHF/EUR/USD, EX WORKS delivery from Manno, 30-day payment terms, a standard one-year warranty, and optional multi-year extended warranty, professional training, and commissioning services. Go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales from Switzerland with a global network of authorized distributors, supplemented by industry events, technical webinars, multilingual training courses, and an extensive publications library. Primary customer segments include bridges and civil infrastructure, dams and water infrastructure, tunnels and underground structures, and oil/gas/chemical pipelines, with secondary segments in LNG/cryogenic storage, chemical plants, mining, nuclear, and heritage buildings. The company reports 1,200 completed projects across 30 countries over 28 years.

Smartec is a privately held niche specialist without disclosed external funding, public listing, or active M&A activity. The company operates within a multi-division Roctest platform that also includes Telemac, FISO, and Enomfra, leveraging shared R&D and distribution across geotechnical and structural instrumentation. Recent strategic activity has centered on product line extensions (GEOSTRING IPI, SOFO Lite), software/data tooling, and entry into adjacent verticals such as aviation maintenance via the ReMAP European Project.

Name

Smartec

Legal name

SMARTEC SA

Website

https://smartec.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Smartec SA is a Swiss supplier of fiber optic sensors and reading units used to monitor deformation, strain, and temperature in bridges, dams, tunnels, pipelines, mines, and nuclear facilities. Operating since 1996/1997 as a subsidiary of Roctest Ltd., the company has completed 1,200 projects across 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fiber Optic Geotechnical and Structural Monitoring Equipment

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515)

SIC

Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro primary industry

Sensor Fusion, Interface ICs & Modules (AFE/Readout/Packaging/Calibration) (HDAHALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial-Grade Sensors & Transducer Components (Discrete sensing elements, transducers, MEMS sensors) (IMAGAJAO), Sensors, MEMS & Imaging ICs (HDAHAAAG), Environmental Sensors (Temperature/Humidity/Gas/Air Quality) (HDAHALAD)

Keywords

• Fiber optic sensors
• Structural health monitoring
• Geotechnical instrumentation
• Distributed sensing systems
• MEMS inclinometers

Headquarters

HQ city

Manno

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Fiber Optic Monitoring Equipment Sales: Sale of fiber optic sensors, interrogators, reading units, and monitoring equipment for geotechnical and structural instrumentation applications.
2. Extended Product Warranty: Extended warranty services offered beyond the standard one-year warranty period for purchased products.
3. Technical Services and Training: Professional services including technical training, commissioning, and installation support for geotechnical and structural instrumentation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Smartec manufactures and supplies fiber optic sensors, interrogators, and reading units used for geotechnical and structural instrumentation. Its portfolio includes long-gage SOFO interferometric sensors, distributed Raman and Brillouin interrogators, Fabry-Perot sensors, and the GEOSTRING in-place MEMS inclinometer, complemented by supporting software for data acquisition and analysis. The company also delivers technical training, commissioning, and installation services for these monitoring solutions.

Product overview

Smartec offers a comprehensive portfolio of fiber optic solutions for geotechnical and structural monitoring. The core offering includes the GEOSTRING MEMS inclinometer system and DiTeSt/DiTemp reading units for distributed Brillouin and Raman sensing. The SOFO (Structural Oprimization Fiber Optics) technology platform provides long-gage fiber optic interferometric sensors, complemented by FISO Fabry-Perot sensors. Supporting software includes SDB Software Package for data acquisition and management, PROFIL Manager for inclinometer data, and mobile applications (DP BOX READER, PROFIL Reader, GTecLink). The product line supports applications across bridges, dams, tunnels, pipelines, buildings, mining, and nuclear facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GEOSTRING – In Place MEMS Inclinometer String of closely spaced MEMS sensors designed for real-time continuous and unattended monitoring of lateral displacement of soil, rock, and structures. Sold to geotechnical and structural monitoring professionals.
• DiTeSt Dual Reading Unit

Quantifiable outcome

• 1200 successful geotechnical and structural fiber optic monitoring projects completed worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ReMAP European ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Smartec is proud to contribute to the new ReMAP European Project, paving the way to a big step forward in European aviation maintenance. This strategic partnership involves collaboration on research and development of structural health monitoring solutions for the aviation industry.
• Roctest Ltd. (Parent Company)coreOthersRoctest Ltd. is the parent company of Smartec. Roctest develops and manufactures geotechnical and structural instruments and soil/rock testing equipment. Smartec operates as a subsidiary providing fiber optic solutions for structural health monitoring.
• FISO, Telemac, Enomfra (Sister Companies)minorOthersSmartec operates alongside FISO, Telemac, and Enomfra as subsidiaries under Roctest Ltd. Telemac provides geotechnical and structural instruments since 1947. Enomfra provides hydrogeological and geotechnical services including investigations, monitoring and testing.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• OSMOS Group: Specialist in structural health monitoring for bridges, buildings, and civil infrastructure using optical and fiber optic sensors plus data analytics — competing directly with Smartec's SOFO-based bridge monitoring deployments.
• Campbell Scientific: Manufacturer of data loggers and measurement systems widely used in geotechnical, structural, and environmental monitoring — sells complementary hardware and competes for the same engineering monitoring budgets as Smartec.
• Luna Innovations: U.S.-based fiber optic sensing company that designs and manufactures distributed fiber optic strain, temperature, and acoustic sensors plus interrogators for structural, pipeline, and aerospace monitoring — directly overlapping Smartec's core product categories and customer base.
• Acellent Technologies: Provider of structural health monitoring solutions for aerospace, civil, and energy infrastructure using sensor networks and diagnostic software — competes in the SHM market where Smartec positions its SOFO platform and ReMAP aviation work.
• Optics11: European fiber optic sensing specialist offering interferometric and distributed sensing systems for structural health monitoring, geotechnical, and underwater applications — a head-to-head competitor in Smartec's primary bridge/dam/tunnel monitoring niche.
• FOS&S (Fiber Optical Sensing Systems): Belgian/Dutch fiber optic sensing vendor focused on structural health monitoring and pipeline integrity, providing distributed strain and temperature sensing products that compete with Smartec's DiTeSt/DiTemp interrogators.
• Geokon: Leading U.S. manufacturer of geotechnical and structural instrumentation (inclinometers, extensometers, strain gauges, piezometers) used in dams, tunnels, and mines — competes with Smartec's GEOSTRING MEMS inclinometer and shares the same end customers.

Broad incumbents

• Kinemetrics: U.S. structural and seismic monitoring company serving dams, bridges, and critical infrastructure with strong-motion and structural monitoring systems — overlapping with Smartec's dam safety and structural health monitoring segments.
• Kistler Group: Large Swiss-headquartered industrial measurement specialist offering sensors and systems for pressure, force, strain, and acceleration — a broader incumbent that overlaps with Smartec's strain and vibration measurement use cases.
• HBK (Hottinger Brüel & Kjær): Global test, measurement, and structural monitoring powerhouse covering sensors, data acquisition, and SHM systems — competes at the broader portfolio level with Smartec on structural and infrastructure monitoring tenders.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdccz9zE3m0XRDx4KmFPW7Q/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smartec-sa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

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 Smartec