What Manut-LM does

Manut-LM is a French machinery manufacturer founded in 1987 and headquartered in Ancenis, specializing in vacuum-based lifting tube (tube de levage) manipulators used for ergonomic handling of heavy loads in industrial settings. The company's core technology uses aspiration to create negative pressure inside a flexible tube, contracting it to lift loads without physical effort from operators; its portfolio includes the Master Plus manipulator line (with 80kg and 180kg tilting options and up to 270kg maximum capacity), specialized grippers such as the Pince à carrelage for tile handling, a range of jib cranes and overhead bridges, and GM-series mobile handling stackers for bins, coils, drums, and cartons. All products are custom-engineered and manufactured in-house at the 2,500m² Ancenis facility.

The business operates a direct enterprise sales model with technical sales engineers conducting on-site ergonomic studies and demonstrations using mobile demo trucks and a 150m² showroom at headquarters. Revenue is generated through hardware sales of custom-engineered solutions combined with professional services including pre-sale consulting, installation via a certified installer network, operator training, and after-sales maintenance; pricing is quote-based with FIPU subsidies covering up to 70% of costs for eligible French companies. The company serves seven primary verticals—construction, woodworking, logistics, general industry, food processing, chemicals/pharma, and wine/spirits—with construction as the primary segment and more than 8,000 solutions installed worldwide.

Since 2022, Manut-LM has operated as a subsidiary of Piab Group within its Lifting Automation division alongside the TAWI brand, gaining access to international distribution while maintaining its French manufacturing identity. The company was previously led by founder Christophe Duchemin until Eric Gruau's 2013 takeover, after which revenue grew from €3.1M (2013) to €6M (2017). Recent product transitions have shifted some legacy EASY/ERGO lines to TAWI-branded equivalents, indicating deeper integration with the parent's portfolio.

Name

Manut-LM

Legal name

MANUT-LM

Website

https://manutlm.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Manut-LM is a French manufacturer of vacuum-based lifting tube manipulators and ergonomic material handling equipment, serving construction, logistics, woodworking, and industrial sectors across more than 8,000 installations worldwide, now operating as part of Piab Group's Lifting Automation division alongside the TAWI brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Material Handling Equipment Manufacturing (33392), Overhead Traveling Crane, Hoist, and Monorail System Manufacturing (333923), Industrial Truck, Tractor, Trailer, and Stacker Machinery Manufacturing (333924)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)

akta.pro primary industry

Hoists (Electric, Manual & Pneumatic) (IMAHAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Bulk Material Handling Systems (Belt Conveyors, Feeders, Stackers, Reclaimers) (IMAHABAH)

Keywords

• Vacuum lifting equipment
• Material handling solutions
• Ergonomic manipulators
• Industrial jib cranes
• Pneumatic lifting systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Ancenis

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Material Handling Equipment Sales: Sale of vacuum lifting tube manipulators, cranes, and handling equipment. Products include Master Plus manipulators, jib cranes, overhead cranes, and custom-designed handling solutions. Revenue from one-time hardware sales with optional installation services.
2. Professional Services: Pre-sale consulting (ergonomic studies, workplace analysis), installation services through certified installer network, operator training, certification (APAVE), and after-sales support including hotline maintenance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Manut-LM designs, manufactures, and installs custom-engineered vacuum lifting tube manipulators, jib cranes, overhead bridges, and mobile handling stackers for industrial customers. Equipment handles loads from 50kg up to 270kg across sectors including construction, woodworking, logistics, manufacturing, food processing, chemicals/pharma, and wine/spirits. Solutions are delivered with ergonomic pre-sale analysis, certified installation, operator training, and after-sales maintenance.

Product overview

Manut-LM is a French manufacturer specializing in vacuum-based lifting tube handling solutions. The product portfolio is organized around three main categories: (1) Lifting Tube Manipulators including the MASTER Plus line with tilting options (80kg and 180kg capacities) and specialized grippers like the Pince à carrelage for tile handling; (2) Support Equipment including jib cranes (satellite, triangulated, kit/rail, compact) and overhead cranes for mounting manipulators; and (3) Mobile Handling Stackers (GM series) for bins, coils, drums, and cartons. All products are designed and manufactured in-house at Ancenis (44), with custom engineering available per client specifications. Since 2022, Manut-LM has been part of Piab Group, integrating into the Lifting Automation division alongside TAWI brand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Quantifiable outcome

• Eliminates TMS risk from manual lifting of heavy loads
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments7 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Piab GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Manut-LM joined Piab Group in 2022, integrating into the Lifting Automation division alongside TAWI brand. This strategic union provides synergies in technology, global reach, and shared expertise in vacuum-based lifting solutions. Manut-LM maintains its French manufacturing identity while benefiting from Piab Group's international resources.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aero-Lift: German specialist in vacuum tube lifting technology with a near-identical product architecture (pneumatic tube lifters, jib cranes); even distributes through Manut-LM in France, indicating direct technology and market overlap.
• Dalmec: Italian industrial manipulator specialist producing pneumatic and electric handling arms for repetitive load movement, directly competing with Manut-LM in European manufacturing and food/beverage verticals.
• Schmalz: German market leader in vacuum handling technology, offering vacuum lifters (VacuMaster), tube lifters, and jib cranes directly overlapping with Manut-LM's manipulator and crane portfolio across European industrial customers.
• Binar Handling: Swedish manufacturer of intelligent lifting solutions including vacuum tube lifters, jib cranes, and ergonomic manipulators serving Nordic and European industrial customers with comparable applications.
• TAWI: Sister brand within Piab Group's Lifting Automation division; manufactures vacuum-based lifting tube manipulators, jib cranes, and stackers with a similar product architecture and customer base in industrial handling.
• Anver Corporation: North American manufacturer of vacuum lifting systems, tube lifters, and jib cranes serving industrial material handling customers with overlapping applications in panel, drum, and carton handling.
• Gorbel: US manufacturer of jib cranes, bridge cranes, and ergonomic lifting devices including vacuum lifters; comparable in product mix and serves construction and industrial customers seeking ergonomic handling solutions.

Broad incumbents

• Piab Group: Parent company of Manut-LM since 2022; a global leader in vacuum automation offering a much broader portfolio (vacuum conveyors, ejectors, gripping systems) that contextualizes Manut-LM as a specialist within a larger industrial automation group.
• Konecranes: Global heavyweight in lifting equipment, overhead cranes, and material handling solutions; competes indirectly with Manut-LM's overhead crane and jib crane offerings but serves far larger industrial accounts.

Emerging players

• Guldmann: Danish specialist in hoists and lifting solutions primarily for healthcare/care sectors; uses overlapping pneumatic lifting tube technology, representing a related but adjacent niche that demonstrates the broader applicability of the underlying tech.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Manut-LM