What SCALES does

SCALES is a French privately held heavy industrial transport and lifting services company founded in 1946 and headquartered in Saint-Ouen-l'Aumône. The company provides turnkey solutions spanning specialized heavy-lift transport, rigging, lifting (from sub-1,000 kg components to 1,000+ ton units), multimodal logistics and storage (100,000 sqm across four sites, with a 60,000 sqm river-berth multimodal hub), project forwarding via its OCTRA subsidiary, mechanical maintenance (SCALES Services), and internal engineering. Its competitive equipment base includes the LR11000 (largest French crawler crane at 500 tons), 200+ axle lines of SPMTs, 14 hydraulic gantries up to 1,100 tons, jack-up tower systems combinable to 1,000 tons, and unique girder bridge systems (550 and 225 tons) unique in France. SCALES holds CEFRI, ISO 9001:2015 (DNV GL), Complyworks GRC, and AEO certifications, and operates an in-house training center established in 2012, the first in the French sector.

The company serves industrial clients primarily in the nuclear, energy, manufacturing, and civil infrastructure sectors, with additional services for events/exhibitions and yachting. GTM is enterprise field sales targeting major industrial and nuclear infrastructure projects. Pricing is project-based, with custom quotations valid for up to three months and 1.5% monthly late-payment penalties. Following the July 2026 acquisition of Adekma, SCALES operates as a combined entity with 420 employees and €90 million in combined revenue, with minority backing from the France Nucléaire 2 Fund (managed by Siparex), positioning it for France's EPR2 nuclear reactor construction program targeting six new reactors at three sites starting in 2038.

Name

SCALES

Legal name

SCALES

Website

https://scales.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SCALES is a French heavy-lift transport, rigging, and industrial logistics company founded in 1946 that provides turnkey solutions for nuclear, industrial, and major infrastructure projects using Europe's largest owned fleet of SPMTs, crawler cranes, and unique girder bridge systems, serving clients across France and internationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Heavy Lift Transport and Industrial Logistics Services

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Construction Machinery & Equip (3531)

akta.pro primary industry

Heavy Machinery & Oversized Equipment (Cranes, Excavators, Presses) (TLACAIAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Site Delivery, Installation Support & On-Site Supervision (Door-to-Site) (TLACAIAM), Overhead (Bridge) Cranes (IMAHAJAC)

Keywords

• Heavy lift transport
• Specialized rigging services
• Industrial logistics solutions
• Heavy machinery moving
• Multimodal freight forwarding

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-ouen-l'aumone

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Specialized Transport Services: Heavy lift transport services using owned fleet of trailers and modular transport systems for oversized cargo movement across France and internationally
2. Lifting and Rigging Services: Specialized lifting operations using hydraulic gantries, crawler cranes, and rigging equipment for components exceeding 1000 tons
3. Equipment Rental with Operators: Rental of transport and handling equipment accompanied by qualified personnel for client operations
4. Logistics and Storage Services: Storage facilities and logistics services across 4 sites totaling 100,000 sqm, including multimodal logistics hub with river access
5. Project Forwarding and Commission de Transport: International freight forwarding, customs clearance, port operations, and multimodal transport coordination through OCTRA subsidiary
6. Training Services: Professional training programs for heavy lift transport and rigging, provided through internal education center recognized in 2012

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

SCALES provides specialized heavy-lift transport, lifting and rigging, industrial project forwarding, logistics and storage, and mechanical services for components ranging from under 1,000 kg to over 1,000 tons. Using an owned fleet of SPMTs, hydraulic gantries, the largest French crawler crane (LR 11000) and unique girder bridge systems, the company delivers turnkey industrial transport and handling projects across France and internationally.

Product overview

SCALES is a French heavy industrial transport and lifting company founded in 1946, operating as a single unified service provider rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. The company offers an integrated portfolio of nine core services: Special Lifting & Rigging (handling components from 1000+ tons down to under 1000 kgs), Heavy Lift Transport (200+ axle lines fleet), Industrial Projects (turnkey project management), Project Forwarding (customs/port/logistics), Engineering (internal technical support), Fair & Exhibition (event logistics), Logistics and Storage (100,000 sqm across 4 sites), Maintenance & Mechanical Services, and Education & QEHS (internal training center). The portfolio is unified through OCTRA subsidiary for transport engineering and project forwarding. The company recently acquired Adekma to strengthen capabilities for France's EPR2 nuclear reactor program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Special Lifting & Rigging Heavy lifting and rigging services for components ranging from over 1000 tons down to units under 1000 kgs, executed in complex environments and confined spaces. Uses 150 axle lines of SPMT, 14 hydraulic gantries up to 1100 tons, skidding systems up to 1000 tons, and the LR 11000 crawler crane.
• Heavy Lift Transport Specialized transportation services using a modern fleet of over 200 heavy duty axle lines, including unique girder bridge systems (550 and 225 tons), extra low bed, and telescopic trailers. Operations extend beyond France to Africa, French overseas territories, and Mediterranean countries.
• Industrial Projects Turnkey project operations for heavy and super heavy lift component transport, global project management, and multimodal transport services. Operates as a dedicated EPC for transport matters demanding high technical and QHSE added value.
• Project Forwarding Forwarding department services including import/export customs clearance, port activities, liner containerized or RoRo shipments, and final delivery. Strengthened by OCTRA integration for project forwarding and transport engineering.
• Engineering Technical support and transport engineering services including 2D or 3D transport, lifting, and rigging concepts with lashing and stability calculations. First French company in the sector to develop an internal engineering service with mechanical and civil engineers.
• Fair & Exhibition Handling assistance services for events serving sectors from art to yachting industry, with experienced riggers and specialized handling equipment for narrow and restricted environments. Includes long-term storage, customs clearance, and international shipping.
• Logistics and Storage Storage facilities at four locations (Pontoise, Montoir, Rennes, Le Havre) totaling 100,000 sqm of open and covered warehouses. The 60,000 sqm headquarters hub offers direct inland berth connected to Seine & Oise rivers and North Canal.
• Maintenance & Mechanical Services SCALES Services division offering mechanical repairs, maintenance, troubleshooting, and complex engine retrofit services. Based in Montoir de Bretagne with 20 staff, serving all domestic areas and French overseas locations.
• Education & QEHS Internal training center established in 2012, the first in the French sector, offering multi-month training programs for candidates with little schooling or career changers, plus Quality, Health, Safety, and Environment (QHSE) standards integration across all SCALES activities.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AdekmacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2026Acquired lifting and handling specialist based in Le Mans. Adekma's expertise in lifting and handling strengthens Scales' capabilities for the EPR2 nuclear reactor construction program, contributing to the combined entity's 420 employees and 90 million euros revenue.
• OCTRAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOCTRA is an integrated subsidiary of SCALES Group, providing project forwarding and transport engineering services. Located in Paris, OCTRA specializes in customs clearance, port operations, and international multimodal transport coordination, significantly strengthening SCALES' project forwarding capabilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Hansa Heavy Lift: German-headquartered heavy-lift shipping operator. Comparable to SCALES in the project cargo heavy-lift value chain, though focused on ocean transport rather than lifting/forwarding; complementary rather than fully overlapping.
• Fracht Group: Swiss-headquartered project freight forwarder with heavy lift specialization. Comparable to SCALES' OCTRA forwarding business and industrial project forwarding scope, with a broader international footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Terex Corporation: US-based manufacturer of lifting and material handling equipment, including crawler and rough-terrain cranes. Comparable to the equipment categories SCALES operates but from a manufacturer rather than service-provider standpoint.
• Liebherr: German/Swiss family-owned manufacturer of mobile and crawler cranes (including very large lattice-boom crawlers like the LR 11000 series operated by SCALES). Relevant as equipment OEM and broader market context rather than direct service competitor.
• Kuehne+Nagel: Global logistics incumbent with a project logistics / heavy lift division. Overlaps with SCALES' project forwarding and multimodal capabilities but as part of a vastly larger, diversified portfolio.

Direct peers

• Trans Global Projects (TGP): UK-based project forwarder and heavy lift specialist. Comparable to SCALES in multimodal project cargo, oversized transport, and integrated engineering-forwarding delivery for energy and industrial clients.
• deugro: German-headquartered project freight forwarder specializing in heavy lift, oversized cargo, and turnkey industrial logistics. Highly comparable to SCALES' project forwarding (OCTRA) and industrial projects offerings, particularly for energy and infrastructure projects.
• BigMove: UK-headquartered heavy haulage and specialist transport group. Comparable to SCALES in heavy/oversized road transport and modular axle-line operations, primarily serving European industrial clients.
• Sarens: Belgian heavy lifting and crane rental specialist with global footprint. Comparable to SCALES in crane fleet (including large crawler/lattice cranes) and modular transport services, serving similar nuclear, energy, and industrial EPC clients.
• Mammoet: Dutch-headquartered global leader in heavy lifting and engineered transport. Directly comparable to SCALES across SPMT operations, hydraulic gantries, and turnkey industrial project delivery, though at significantly larger international scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SCALES