GROUPE SM3I

What GROUPE SM3I does

GROUPE SM3I is a French independent industrial holding company headquartered in Chasseneuil-du-Poitou (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), founded in 2001 and reorganized under its current brand in 2013–2014. It operates through three wholly-owned operating subsidiaries structured around complementary competencies in industrial equipment and services: SMAI (storage, logistics, ergonomic workstations, and modular partitioning under the smai.fr domain); SODILEVE (lifting, elevation, ergonomic handling, and lifting-equipment maintenance under sodileve.fr); and METALINOX (industrial metalwork, boilermaking, and the proprietary LEAN CONCEPT modular aluminium profile system under metal-inox.fr). The group previously included CRYO'TECH (cryogenics), which separated administratively in January 2021, and absorbed the SODEFI distribution brand into METALINOX in August 2021. Its primary segment is French industrial manufacturing, with project work also done for the commercial/tertiary sector.

The group's product portfolio centers on custom-engineered, project-based industrial solutions: pallet racking with 60%-extraction drawers, overhead and jib cranes (EUROSYSTEM bridges), electric chain hoists (EUROCHAIN), rotating elevating tables, modular aluminium workstations, modular partitions, custom lifting attachments, industrial slides, and bespoke metalwork (tanks, carts, guardrails, urban furniture). Underlying technology includes an in-house integrated engineering bureau for design and optimization, the LeanConcept aluminium profile-and-connector modular system with 10 km of profiles and 30,000 connectors in stock, plasma-cut custom fabrication, and a "mobile software" tool referenced for turnkey park management.

Revenue is generated almost entirely through direct field sales to French industrial clients on a custom-quotation, project-by-project basis (one-time equipment/installation sales, professional services for installation and ongoing maintenance including decennial maintenance of lifting equipment, and custom metal fabrication). Distribution is exclusively domestic (France), delivered via dedicated technical-commercial teams at each subsidiary and individual subsidiary websites. Named enterprise reference customers include MECAFI (aerospace and high-precision mechanics, an 8,700 m² ÉOLIA factory installation of 32 lifting systems in collaboration since 2015) and AURA PLASTIC (54-drawer pallet storage and bridge-crane handling solution). Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the group's revenue and full headcount are not reported in the source material.

Name

GROUPE SM3I

Legal name

GROUPE SM3I

Website

https://groupe-sm3i.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GROUPE SM3I is a French industrial holding company operating three complementary subsidiaries — SMAI (storage/logistics), SODILEVE (lifting), and METALINOX (metalwork/LEAN CONCEPT) — that deliver custom-engineered industrial equipment and on-site services to French manufacturing clients on a project basis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chasseneuil-du-Poitou

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Sales and Installation: Direct sales of storage, lifting, and metalwork equipment with professional installation services for industrial clients
2. Maintenance Services: Decennial and regular maintenance services for lifting equipment, including inspection, repair, and refurbishment
3. Custom Metal Fabrication: Custom metal fabrication services including welded assemblies, security elements, and bespoke industrial solutions

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

GROUPE SM3I is a French industrial holding company composed of three complementary subsidiaries offering integrated mechanical and structural solutions to industrial clients. SMAI delivers space management, storage systems, and ergonomic workstations; SODILEVE provides lifting equipment, hoists, cranes, and maintenance services; METALINOX produces custom metalwork, boiler making, and modular aluminum furniture (LeanConcept). Together they deliver turnkey industrial solutions spanning storage, lifting, and metal fabrication for French industrial clients.

Product overview

GROUPE SM3I is a French industrial holding company composed of three complementary subsidiaries offering physical industrial products and services. SMAI specializes in space management, storage solutions, and logistics equipment including shelving systems (Rayonnage Tôlé Modulaire and Rayonnage Tôlé Parois), modular partitions, and ergonomic workstations. SODILEVE provides lifting and elevation solutions including overhead cranes, hoists, lifting attachments (apparaux de levage), and complete lifting park installation and maintenance services including ten-year maintenance programs. METALINOX delivers metalwork and boiler making services including custom industrial slides (Toboggan Industriel), rotating elevating tables, and the LEAN CONCEPT modular aluminum profile system for industrial furniture. The group also previously included CRYO'TECH for cryogenic cleaning. These complementary entities allow GROUPE SM3I to deliver complete industrial solutions from storage and lifting to metal fabrication.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SODEFI: Distribution brand of industrial equipment and supplies integrated into METALINOX
• LEAN CONCEPT

Products and services

• Rayonnage Tôlé Modulaire (TOM) Light-duty metal shelving system with modular design, composed of scales, beams, metal shelves, and feet, with capacity up to 400kg per level, for industrial storage applications.
• Rayonnage Tôlé Parois (TOP) Light-duty metal shelving with pressed sheet walls instead of traditional scales, offering a furniture-like appearance suitable for office and tertiary environments.
• Tiroirs à Palettes Pallet drawer systems with 60% extraction capability, designed for improved accessibility to stored loads on pallet racking for mold storage and industrial handling applications.
• Toboggan Industriel Industrial slide system for transferring packages between different levels of platforms or mezzanines, custom-designed with 3D planning and plasma-cut components.
• Apparaux de Levage Custom lifting attachment systems including spreader beams, vacuum lifting pads, and specialized clamps for cylindrical loads, designed for specific industrial lifting requirements.
• Tables Élévatrices Rotatives Rotating elevating tables with 400-1200mm platform, 400kg capacity, 360° rotation via ball bearing crown, and height adjustment from 450mm to 850mm.
• LEAN CONCEPT Modular Aluminum System Modular aluminum profile system with connectors for creating custom industrial furniture, workstations, workbenches, and conveying frames. Includes approximately 10km of profiles and 30,000 connectors in stock across three complementary product ranges.
• Cloisons Modulaires Modular partition systems for optimizing space without constructing new walls, available in 4 configurations with various fillings and colors.
• Postes de Travail Ergonomiques Ergonomic workstations designed to reduce musculoskeletal disorders, featuring work surfaces, drawers, tilted bins, perforated panels, and integrated conveying lines for assembly operations.
• Parc de Levage Complet Complete lifting equipment installation and maintenance service including overhead cranes, jib cranes, and chain hoists with ongoing technical support for industrial clients.
• Maintenance Décennale Ten-year general maintenance service for lifting equipment, involving complete disassembly, cleaning, inspection, and refurbishment to reduce malfunction risks.

Quantifiable outcome

• No particular anomalies detected since 2015 installations at MECAFI
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• MECAFIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Long-standing collaboration with MECAFI, the national leader in high-precision mechanics for aerospace and industry. SODILEVE equipped the ÉOLIA factory (8700 m²) with 32 lifting systems including EUROSYSTEM bridges and EUROCHAIN hoists. Since first potence installation, MECAFI has continued to rely on SODILEVE for ongoing maintenance.
• AURA PLASTICcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative project where SMAI and SODILEVE worked together to optimize mold storage and handling. SMAI installed 54 pallet drawers with 60% extraction, while SODILEVE installed EUROSYSTEM bridge with electric chain hoist. Combined solution reduced costs by avoiding separate structures.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Konecranes: Finnish global leader in lifting equipment, cranes, and material handling. Direct competitor to SODILEVE in lifting/cranes but operates as a broad incumbent serving ports, heavy industry, and manufacturing globally versus SM3I's French SME focus.
• Terex Material Handling (Demag): Global industrial lifting brand (Demag) within Terex, providing overhead cranes, hoists, and material handling equipment. Broad incumbent comparable to SODILEVE in lifting equipment but with global scale and full industrial crane portfolio.
• SSI Schaefer: Global provider of intralogistics, storage systems, racking, and material handling solutions. Directly comparable to SMAI through racking and storage product offerings, though operates at much larger scale with full warehouse automation capabilities.
• Jungheinrich: German global leader in forklifts, warehouse equipment, and intralogistics. Comparable through warehouse/storage equipment offerings and European industrial customer base, but operates as a broad incumbent with full forklift and automation portfolio versus SM3I's focused industrial storage niche.

Direct peers

• Kardex: European provider of automated storage solutions, material handling systems, and intralogistics. Direct peer to SMAI in the storage and shelving category, though Kardex focuses more on automated/vertical lift modules versus SM3I's traditional racking.
• Manitou: French-based global manufacturer of material handling, lifting, and aerial work platforms. Directly comparable through lifting equipment (cranes, hoists) and French industrial customer base, though Manitou operates at substantially larger scale.
• Hänel: German manufacturer of vertical lift storage systems and rotary racking. Comparable to SMAI through industrial storage solutions serving European manufacturing customers, with similar focus on space optimization and ergonomics.
• Treston: Finnish manufacturer of ergonomic workstations, industrial furniture, and modular workspace solutions. Directly comparable to METALINOX's LEAN CONCEPT product line, serving similar industrial customers seeking ergonomic assembly workstations.
• Bito-Lagertechnik: European manufacturer of storage solutions, shelving, bins, and material handling equipment. Comparable to SMAI's storage and shelving product portfolio, with overlapping industrial customer base across European manufacturing.
• Verlinde: French manufacturer of industrial cranes, hoists, and lifting equipment. Direct competitor to SODILEVE across overhead cranes, jib cranes, and electric chain hoists, with overlapping French industrial customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/groupesm3i
• Facebookfacebook.com/Groupe-SM3I-643329665779284
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-sm3i
• Instagraminstagram.com/groupesm3i

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries4 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 GROUPE SM3I