What Retis solutions does

Retis Solutions is a privately held French industrial group operating under a unified brand that combines the heritage of AFELEC (founded 1864) and DERVIEUX (founded 1920); the two operating SAS entities were brought under a single commercial umbrella in 2000 and formalised under the Retis Solutions brand in 2009. The group designs, manufactures, and installs cable-support equipment and accessories across three business verticals: Energy (fittings, connectors, earthing systems, insulators and underground-range products for low- and high-voltage distribution networks), Infrastructures & Telecom (free-standing lattice and monopod pylons from 10 to 60 metres, mounting accessories, reinforcement services and ballasted chassis for mobile-network rollouts), and Railway Systems (metallic catenary support structures, brackets, tubes and signage for tramway, trolleybus, metro and rail).

The underlying technology is industrial metal fabrication — hot-dip galvanised steel, aluminium and copper processing — executed at two production sites totalling 42,500 m² in Saint-Sulpice (Tarn, headquarters) and Echirolles (Isère), using automated laser cutting and robotic welding, with a stated 48-hour finished-product delivery window. The group holds ISO 9001 certification (renewed 2018, valid until July 2021) and integrates design, manufacture, installation and maintenance processes in-house, supported by two engineering departments with 15 qualified staff.

Retis monetises through one-time hardware sales and project-based installation services, priced via direct quote-based negotiation through dedicated commercial contacts for each vertical (Energy Distribution, Power Transmission, Rail & Special, Infrastructures & Telecom, Export). The go-to-market is enterprise field sales to large French utility, telecom and rail operators (including ENEDIS, EDF, SNCF, Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom, SPIE, ENGIE, EIFFAGE ENERGIE, COLAS RAIL and ETF), supplemented by trade-show activity (Middle East Electricity in Dubai) and a regional press footprint; exports account for 35% of group turnover across more than 30 countries, with a particular focus on Africa. Reported turnover was €29 million in 2016, and the company remains under family ownership led by President Patricia Cathalau.

Name

Retis solutions

Legal name

AFELEC et DERVIEUX

Website

https://retis-solutions.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1864

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Retis Solutions is a privately held French industrial group, formed from AFELEC (1864) and DERVIEUX (1920), that designs, manufactures and installs galvanised steel fittings, pylons and catenary supports for energy, telecom and rail infrastructure operators across 30+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Infrastructure Hardware

NAICS

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Plate Work and Fabricated Structural Product Manufacturing (33231)

SIC

Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Poles, Towers & Structures (wood/steel/concrete poles, lattice towers, monopoles, crossarms) (EUADADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medium-Voltage Distribution Components (MV breakers, disconnects, reclosers, MV terminations & joints) (IMAGAEAL), Cable Accessories & Joints/Terminations (splices, joints, terminations, link boxes) (EUADADAC), Cable Management & Support Systems (Trays/Ladders/Strut) (IMADAMAK)

Keywords

• Electrical infrastructure equipment
• Telecom pylon manufacturing
• Catenary support structures
• Power line fittings
• Rail catenary hardware

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-sulpice

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware product sales: Design, manufacture and sale of equipment for electric power lines, telecom pylons, and rail catenary support structures. Products include fittings, insulators, connectors, earthing systems, pylons, and accessories.
2. Installation and project services: Installation and implementation services for telecom pylons and infrastructure projects

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Retis Solutions designs, manufactures and installs hardware and metallic structures for electrical power distribution networks, telecom pylons and rail catenary systems. The portfolio includes galvanized steel fittings, connectors, earthing systems, insulators, lattice pylons, monopods, tubular masts and catenary support brackets. Operations span two French production sites in Saint-Sulpice and Echirolles under the AFELEC and DERVIEUX legal entities.

Product overview

Retis solutions is a French industrial group offering specialized solutions across three core business areas: Energy (distribution and transmission equipment for high and low voltage electrical networks), Infrastructures & Telecom (design, manufacture and installation of telecom pylons and structures), and Railway Systems (metallic support structures for catenary lines). The product portfolio comprises a unified platform of galvanized steel solutions including fittings, connections, earthing systems, pylons, and catenary supports. Products are manufactured at two facilities in Saint-Sulpice (Tarn) and Echirolles (Isère) and serve major utility and telecom operators in France and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Distribution Solutions (Solutions Energie) Design, manufacture and marketing of equipment for electric power lines including aerial, underground and mixed networks for low and high voltage distribution. Sold to electrical distribution utilities such as ENEDIS and EDF.
• Infrastructures & Telecom Solutions Design, manufacture and installation of power line pylons and structures for telecom networks with integrated processes from design through maintenance, including free-standing lattice pylons, monopods, tubular masts, antenna mounting accessories, ballasted chassis and above-ground platforms. Sold to mobile operators such as ORANGE, Free, SFR and Bouygues Telecom.
• Railway Catenary Support Solutions (Solutions Ferroviaire) Design, manufacture and marketing of metallic structures for supporting catenary lines for tramways, trolleybuses, metro systems and rail transport, including mechanical-soldered brackets, catenary tubes and signage structures. Sold to rail infrastructure operators and contractors such as SNCF, COLAS RAIL and ETF.
• Free-standing lattice and monopod pylons (Pylônes treillis tripodes autoportants et monopodes) Tripod and monopod lattice pylons from 12 to 60 metres high manufactured and installed for telecom operators.
• Tubular masts (Monotubes) Tubular structures from 10 to 45 metres high for telecom network support.
• Pylon reinforcement services (Renforcement pylônes) Reinforcement services for angle and tubular steel pylons including element replacement, soldering and structure encasing.
• Catenary tubes (Tubes caténaires) Catenary tubes including guy-rope tubes and crimp tubes for overhead rail line equipment.
• Mechanical-soldered brackets (Ferrures mécano-soudées) Mechanical-soldered brackets for rail catenary support systems supplied to tramway, metro and rail infrastructure operators.
• Avifauna protection equipment (Protection avifaune) Bird protection caps and accessories designed to prevent birds from accessing electrical infrastructure, supplied to utilities such as ENEDIS with LPO endorsement.

Quantifiable outcome

• 42,500 sq. metres production and storage capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Novarc Networks / MALTEPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 6 July 2023Training partnership where Retis Solutions Export team visited MALTEP for a day of training on earthing and lightning protection topics. This collaboration reinforced ties between the two Novarc Networks companies and promoted knowledge sharing.
• ENEDIS / Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux (LPO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAvifauna protection partnership where Retis Solutions provides bird protection capots (capots avifaune) manufactured for ENEDIS, with support from Ligue de Protection des Oiseaux. Products distinguish themselves by quality and ease of installation.
• SAF Helicoptères / LimaGolf AeropiXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for 4G pylon installation project for FREE at Peisses (73). SAF Helicoptere and LimaGolf AeropiX contributed to showcasing Retis Solutions mounting team expertise.
• EHD / SEPACminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for implantation of a new electric power line in New Caledonia. Collaborative project for electrical infrastructure development.
• Réseau Entreprendre OccitanieminorOthersRetis Solutions hosted members of Réseau Entreprendre Occitanie for a discovery visit. The network supports entrepreneurship in the Occitanie region.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Preformed Line Products: Manufacturer of formed wire products, line hardware and wildlife protection systems for power transmission, distribution and telecom networks. Direct overlap with Retis' line hardware, fittings and avifauna product lines.
• MacLean Power Systems: US-based manufacturer of steel lattice structures, pole line hardware and connectors for the electric utility and communications industries. Comparable product scope (fittings, towers, hardware) and similar end-customers (utilities, telecom carriers).
• Arteche: Spanish manufacturer of electrical equipment for power systems, including instrument transformers, relays and substation components, with exposure to rail and utility customers. Comparable European mid-cap industrial peer serving overlapping utility and rail end-markets.
• Vossloh AG: German rail infrastructure specialist supplying rail fastening systems, switch systems and concrete ties, with overlap into overhead catenary components via its Vossloh Switch Systems business. Comparable to Retis' Railway Systems vertical serving operators like SNCF.
• Sicame Group: French-headquartered global manufacturer of equipment and accessories for power transmission and distribution — including line hardware, connectors, earthing systems, insulators and bird-protection products. Most directly comparable peer to Retis Solutions' Energy T&D business unit, with similar customer base (e.g., ENEDIS) and overlapping product categories.
• De Angeli Prodotti: Italian manufacturer of hardware and fittings for overhead transmission and distribution lines, including vibration dampers, spacers and conductor accessories. Direct competitor on line hardware SKUs sold to European utilities.
• AFL (Aflglobal): Manufacturer of telecom infrastructure including fibre optic cabling, hardware, closures and tower/pole products for carriers and network operators. Comparable to Retis' Infrastructures & Telecom division and the pylon/monopole product range.

Broad incumbents

• Prysmian Group: World's largest cable manufacturer with a broad portfolio that includes cable accessories, joints and terminations for power T&D. Larger and broader than Retis, but adjacent in the same value chain for utility infrastructure projects.
• Nexans: Global cable and connectivity manufacturer with significant exposure to power grid projects including accessories and systems. Comparable customer base and project-driven revenue model, though much larger and more diversified than Retis.
• Hubbell Incorporated: Large US-listed diversified manufacturer of electrical products including utility hardware, connectors and enclosures through its Hubbell Power Systems division. Larger and broader than Retis, but directly competes on line hardware and grid components.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights3 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Retis solutions