setec ism

What setec ism does

setec ism is a specialized French engineering and project management consultancy (bureau d'études techniques) operating since 1993 as a subsidiary of the independent setec group, headquartered in Juigné-sur-Loire, Pays de la Loire. The firm focuses exclusively on mobile structures (ouvrages mobiles) — engineering consultancy, design studies, and maîtrise d'œuvre services for locks, dams, floodgates, movable bridges (Scherzer, lifting, turning), port equipment (boat lifts, dry docks, floating dock doors), and theatrical stage machinery. Its core technical competencies span mechanical, hydraulic, electromechanical, and civil engineering, with differentiated methodologies in fatigue evaluation of aging mobile bridges, modular cofferdam design, and preservation of historic/classified mechanical structures.

The company's business model is project-based professional services, with revenue generated through technical studies, project management, and construction supervision delivered on long-cycle infrastructure programs. Clients are predominantly large French public and semi-public institutions — Voies Navigables de France (VNF), EDF, SNCF Réseau, Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR), Grand Port Maritime entities, ESID (Defense), and Opéra de Versailles — alongside iconic private clients such as Roland Garros Stadium and Fondation Cartier. Projects are won through competitive bidding, negotiated contracts, and direct engagement, with select international work (e.g., Faidherbe Bridge in Senegal). The firm operates in a small-team, high-expertise model (13 employees) and leverages a network of strategic partners (SAFEGE, ARCADIS, CAP Ingélec) and intra-group setec entities (setec Energie Environnement, setec LERM) to deliver multidisciplinary capacity beyond its core headcount.

Name

setec ism

Legal name

setec consultants

Website

https://ism.setec.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

setec ism is a French engineering consultancy specializing in mobile structures — locks, dams, movable bridges, port equipment, and stage machinery — delivering design studies and project management for public and private infrastructure clients across France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civil Engineering Consultancy (Mobile Structures)

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Construction Management & Delivery (EPCM/CMAR/Design-Build Oversight) (EUANALAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) for Civil/Steel Structures (EUAEAKAE)

Keywords

• Mobile structures engineering
• Hydraulic infrastructure design
• Movable bridge engineering
• Lock and dam engineering
• Stage machinery engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Juigné-sur-Loire

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Engineering and Project Management Services: Revenue generated through professional engineering services including technical studies, project management (maîtrise d'œuvre), and engineering consultancy for infrastructure projects. Services span from preliminary studies to execution studies and construction supervision.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

setec ism is a specialized engineering and design office (bureau d'études techniques) providing engineering studies, design, and project management (maîtrise d'œuvre) for mobile structures. Its core offerings cover hydraulic structures (locks, dams, floodgates), movable bridges (Scherzer, lifting, turning), port equipment (ship locks, dock doors, boat lifts), and theatrical stage machinery. Services span the full project lifecycle from preliminary studies through execution studies, construction supervision, diagnostics, and rehabilitation of heritage infrastructure.

Product overview

setec ism is a specialized engineering and design office providing comprehensive services for mobile structures and hydraulic infrastructure. The company offers a unified portfolio of engineering services organized around its core competencies: hydraulic structures (dams, locks, flood gates), mobile bridges (Scherzer, lifting, turning), port equipment (ship lifts, dry docks), and theatrical stage machinery. Services span the full project lifecycle from preliminary studies and design through execution studies, construction supervision, and technical expertise/diagnostics. The offering is structured as a service-based model rather than a software product platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mobile Structures Engineering (Ouvrages Mobiles) Engineering studies and design services for mobile structures including locks, dams, flood gates, mobile bridges, boat lifts, and passable footbridges. Service spans full project lifecycle from concept through execution studies. Targeted at public and private infrastructure operators.
• Hydraulic Structures (Barrages et Écluses) Specialized engineering for hydraulic infrastructure including dam gates, lock doors, flood evacuation systems, and associated mechanical operating systems. Targeted at waterway operators and hydroelectric companies.
• Mobile Bridges (Ponts Mobiles) Design and engineering of movable bridges including Scherzer bridges, lifting bridges, and turning bridges for road, rail, and combined-traffic applications. Targeted at transport authorities and port operators.
• Scenic Equipment (Équipement Scénique) Stage machinery engineering for theaters including fly systems, fire curtains, stage lifts, and associated control systems for performance venues. Targeted at cultural institutions and theater operators.
• Port Equipment (Équipements Portuaires) Engineering for port infrastructure including ship locks, flood gates, mobile gangways, boat lifts, and dry dock equipment. Targeted at port authorities and maritime infrastructure operators.
• Maîtrise d'Œuvre Project Management Services Complete project management services spanning preliminary studies (AVP), detailed design (PRO), execution studies (EXE), construction supervision (DET), and project acceptance (AOR). Targeted at public and private infrastructure clients requiring outsourced project ownership.
• Expertise and Diagnostics Services Technical expertise, condition assessments, and diagnostic services for existing hydraulic structures and mobile equipment to evaluate condition and recommend maintenance or rehabilitation. Targeted at infrastructure asset owners and operators.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successful delivery of over 100 major infrastructure projects across France and internationally

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• setec Energie EnvironnementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on hydraulic engineering projects where complementary expertise is required.
• SAFEGEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for infrastructure engineering projects. SAFEGE serves as project lead with setec ISM providing specialized mechanical and hydraulic engineering expertise as sub-contractor on various projects.
• ARCADISminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on large infrastructure projects requiring combined engineering capabilities.
• CAP IngélecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for electrical and control systems integration on infrastructure projects.
• setec consultantscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company within the setec group, an independent multidisciplinary engineering group owned 100% by its managers. The group provides the broader corporate and legal framework for setec ISM operations.
• setec tpicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent entity and subsidiary within the setec group structure. setec ISM operates as a subsidiary of setec tpi within the larger independent engineering group.
• BRLminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy partnership for water and infrastructure projects.
• DIATECminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering consultancy partnership for international projects.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ISL Ingénierie: French independent engineering consultancy specialized in hydraulics, river works, and maritime infrastructure. Comparable in serving French waterway authorities and offering specialized structural and hydraulic engineering services.
• Egis: French engineering group operating in waterways, hydraulic structures, and transport infrastructure. Directly comparable in mission, client base, and project management services for dams, locks, and movable structures.
• SAFEGE (Suez Consulting): Engineering consultancy specializing in water, environment, and infrastructure. Documented partner where setec ism serves as sub-contractor; comparable in hydraulic engineering and infrastructure project delivery.
• Coyne et Bellier (Tractebel): Specialist French hydraulic and dam engineering consultancy (now part of Tractebel). Strongly comparable in design of dams, hydroelectric facilities, and large hydraulic infrastructure for EDF, CNR, and similar clients.
• Artelia: Independent French engineering consultancy with overlapping capabilities in hydraulic infrastructure, dams, and water engineering. Comparable in serving French public clients and offering multidisciplinary engineering and project management services.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification firm with relevant infrastructure asset integrity and condition assessment practices. Comparable in technical diagnostics and structural assessment of industrial and infrastructure assets.
• Arcadis: Global design and engineering consultancy with water and infrastructure practices. Documented partner of setec ism on large infrastructure projects; comparable in serving hydraulic and bridge infrastructure clients.
• Tractebel (Engie Solutions): Large international engineering consultancy owned by Engie, with strong hydraulics and energy infrastructure practices. Comparable in serving EDF, hydroelectric operators, and hydraulic infrastructure clients, though much larger and broader in scope.

Regional players

• Haskoning (formerly Royal HaskoningDHV): International engineering consultancy with port, maritime, and hydraulic infrastructure practices. Comparable in mobile/port equipment engineering and water infrastructure design, though primarily operating outside France.
• SNCF Réseau Engineering (in-house): Internal engineering capability of French railway infrastructure manager — competitor for some bridge and railway movable structure mandates, though primarily an in-house function rather than external consultancy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/setec-ism

Compliance1 record

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 setec ism