SLV Duisburg

What SLV Duisburg does

SLV Duisburg (Schweißtechnische Lehr- und Versuchsanstalt Duisburg) is a German vocational training and inspection institution founded in 1928 and part of the GSI (Gemeinschaft für Schweißtechnische Internationalität) network of welding training centers across Germany. The organization delivers professional certification courses for welding supervision personnel across the full qualification ladder (Schweißpraktiker/SP through Schweißfachingenieur/SFI-IWE), non-destructive testing (MT, PT, RT, UT, VT), corrosion protection (FROSIO), and process-specific training in laser beam welding, resistance welding, soldering, and thermal spraying. It also operates a DAkkS-accredited inspection body (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020) and an accredited materials testing laboratory (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025), offering manufacturing supervision, damage analysis per VDI 3822, weld suitability testing, procedure qualification, metallography, corrosion testing, surface analytics, spectral analysis, and scanning electron microscopy.

The institution serves industrial customers in pressure equipment and plant engineering, railway and rail vehicle construction, surface technology and corrosion protection, steel and plant construction, shipbuilding and maritime technology, defense technology, aerospace, and energy. Its only named major partner is Deutsche Bahn for railway welding certification under VDV 609 and DIN EN ISO 15085-2. Distribution is multi-channel: in-person training at the Duisburg site, customized in-house training delivered at customer facilities, a corporate e-Learning platform for remote participation in welding supervision and NDT courses, and direct consulting for inspection, qualification, and certification engagements.

Revenue mechanics are split across professional training, accredited inspection and testing services, personnel and process certification, e-Learning subscriptions, and in-house training contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed and is quoted on a project basis. The institution also participates in publicly funded research consortia (CyberJoin for welding digitalization, NUFESTRA for AI-based quality assurance, NachhaltigH2 for hydrogen-related welding applications, RESSIS), positioning it at the intersection of regulated vocational education and applied industrial R&D. It has 52 employees, operates from Duisburg, Nordrhein-Westfalen, and is part of a multi-branch GSI/SLV network with locations across Germany.

Name

SLV Duisburg

Legal name

SLV Duisburg

Website

https://slv-duisburg.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

SLV Duisburg, part of the German GSI welding network, delivers accredited vocational training, inspection, and materials testing services for welding supervision personnel, non-destructive testing, and corrosion protection to industrial clients across rail, pressure equipment, shipbuilding, aerospace, defense, and energy sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Welding Training and Materials Testing

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAOADAF

Welding Inspection, QA/QC & NDT Prep Training (e.g., CWI)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Welding, Metalwork & Fabrication

SECONDARYEDAOADAG

Welding Codes, Safety & Compliance Training (AWS/ASME/OSHA)

Education/Vocational, Technical & Trade Education/Welding, Metalwork & Fabrication

SECONDARYEUAEAHAN

Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO)

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Energy Infrastructure & Services (EPC, O&M, Field Services)/Inspection, Testing & Certification (ITC) / NDT for Energy Infrastructure

SECONDARYEDANAIAM

Skilled Trades, Safety & Compliance Certification Prep (OSHA, HAZMAT, welding, electrical, HVAC)

Education/Tutoring & Test Preparation/Professional Certification & Licensure Exam Prep

Keywords

• Welding technology training
• Non-destructive testing
• Materials testing laboratory
• Welding certification services
• Corrosion protection training

Headquarters

HQ city

Duisburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Training and Continuing Education: Revenue generated from offering professional training courses in welding technology, welding supervision personnel, non-destructive testing, and corrosion protection. Courses range from short seminars to multi-month certification programs.
2. Inspection and Testing Services: Accredited inspection and testing services including manufacturing supervision, damage analysis, welding qualification testing, procedure testing, and comprehensive materials testing.
3. Qualification and Certification: Certification services for companies, personnel, welders, products, and processes according to relevant standards and regulations.
4. e-Learning Subscriptions: Online learning platform providing corporate e-Learning and individual course access for welding technology and non-destructive testing education.
5. In-House Training Services: Customized training delivered at customer facilities, providing specialized education tailored to specific company requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SLV Duisburg is a vocational training and continuing education institute for welding technology, non-destructive testing (NDT), and corrosion protection. It operates a DAkkS-accredited inspection body (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020) and an accredited materials testing laboratory (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025), and delivers certified training programs, in-house customized courses, an e-Learning platform, qualification and certification services, expert opinions, and applied welding research to industrial clients across multiple sectors.

Product overview

SLV Duisburg is a branch of GSI (Gemeinschaft für Schweißtechnik International) offering a comprehensive portfolio of vocational training, accredited inspection, and materials testing services for the welding and joining technology industry. The core offerings include classroom and e-learning based continuing education programs for welding supervision personnel (Schweißfachingenieur, Schweißtechniker, Schweißfachmann), accredited inspection services per DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020, and an accredited materials testing laboratory per DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025 providing non-destructive and destructive testing. The portfolio is complemented by qualification and certification services, expert opinions, welding technical support, and applied research projects in digitalization and hydrogen technology. The organization serves multiple industries including pressure equipment, steel construction, rail vehicles, shipbuilding, defense technology, automotive, aerospace, and energy technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Training and Continuing Education (Aus- und Weiterbildung) Vocational training and continuing education programs covering welding supervision personnel (Schweißfachingenieur, Schweißtechniker, Schweißfachmann, Schweißwerkmeister, Schweißpraktiker), non-destructive testing (MT, PT, RT, UT, VT), corrosion protection, and process-based welding training including laser beam welding, soldering, and resistance welding. Targeted at industrial personnel and companies needing certified welding qualifications.
• e-Learning in Welding Technology Online learning platform providing welding supervision and NDT courses (e.g., SFI/IWE, ST/IWT, SFM/IWS, SP/IWP, welding constructor, PT, VT, corrosion protection specialist) with corporate e-Learning and individual access options for remote learners.
• Accredited Inspection Body (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020) DAkkS-accredited inspection services including manufacturing/construction supervision (Fertigungs-/Bauüberwachung), damage analysis per VDI 3822, weld suitability testing, and procedure testing for industrial clients requiring recognized quality assurance.
• Accredited Materials Testing Laboratory (DIN EN ISO/IEC 17025) Accredited materials testing services including non-destructive testing, plastic testing, destructive testing, metallography, corrosion testing, surface analytics, spectral analyses, and scanning electron microscopy (REM) for industrial quality assurance.
• Qualification and Certification Services Certification services for companies, personnel, welders, products, and processes including supplier audits, manufacturer certification, and internal audits to verify compliance with industry standards.
• Expert Opinions (Gutachten) Judicial and extrajudicial expert opinions for legal proceedings and dispute resolution related to welding, materials, and damage analysis.
• Welding Technical Support (Schweißtechnische Unterstützung) Consulting services including welding trials, feasibility analyses, and mechanization and automation consulting to support industrial clients' welding process development.
• Research and Innovation Applied research projects (CyberJoin, NUFESTRA, NachhaltigH2, RESSIS) covering digitalization, AI-based quality assurance, hydrogen welding technology, and contract research services for industry partners.

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• bbz SiegenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLV Duisburg has established a cooperation with bbz Siegen for welding specialist (SFM) training and courses in non-destructive testing (ZfP), enabling expanded course offerings and regional accessibility for students in the Siegen area.
• Deutsche BahncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLV Duisburg provides specialized training and certification services for Deutsche Bahn in railway welding applications, addressing the specific requirements of VDV 609 and DIN EN ISO 15085-2 standards for rail vehicle construction and maintenance.
• GSI (Gemeinschaft für Schweißtechnik International)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLV Duisburg operates as part of the GSI network, which includes multiple SLV locations (Berlin-Brandenburg, Fellbach, Hannover, München, Saarbrücken) and numerous BZ and SK training centers across Germany, enabling coordinated training programs and cross-location certification recognition.
• CyberJoin Research ConsortiumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLV Duisburg participates in the CyberJoin publicly funded research project focused on joining technology, contributing to innovation and knowledge transfer between industry and research institutions.
• NUFESTRA (ZIM Innovation Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLV Duisburg participates in the NUFESTRA ZIM innovation network focused on AI-based quality assurance in welding technology, collaborating with industry partners for knowledge transfer and technology development.
• NachhaltigH2 Research ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSLV Duisburg participates in the NachhaltigH2 research project on sustainable hydrogen applications in welding technology, contributing to the development of training for H2-related welding requirements.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Applus+ IDIADA: Applus+ is a global TIC group providing industrial inspection and NDT services overlapping with SLV Duisburg's accredited testing laboratory and inspection body offerings. Operates across energy, oil & gas, and industrial sectors with similar accredited testing capabilities but at a much larger scale.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC incumbent offering industrial inspection, welding qualification, and NDT services alongside broader marine, offshore, and construction verification. Directly comparable to SLV Duisburg on shipbuilding, offshore, and pressure equipment inspection verticals but operates at much larger international scale.
• Element Materials Technology: Global materials testing and product qualification services company operating accredited laboratories with overlapping NDT, metallography, and corrosion testing capabilities. Competes with SLV Duisburg's accredited materials testing laboratory for industrial clients, particularly in aerospace, defense, and energy.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) incumbent operating industrial materials testing and welding-related certification services at much larger scale. Provides accredited inspection body and laboratory services overlapping with SLV Duisburg's materials testing portfolio, but as part of a far broader multi-industry TIC portfolio.
• TÜV SÜD: Major German-based TIC provider offering industrial materials testing, welding inspection, and personnel certification services across multiple industries. Overlaps with SLV Duisburg on pressure equipment, rail, and plant engineering inspection but at significantly larger scale and global reach.
• DEKRA: One of the world's largest TIC organizations, providing industrial inspection, materials testing, and certification services including welding-related qualifications. Strong overlap in pressure equipment, automotive, and industrial customer segments, though DEKRA's portfolio extends well beyond welding into automotive, IT, and broader compliance.

Direct peers

• SLV Hannover: Sibling SLV branch of GSI providing parallel welding supervision courses, NDT training, and accredited inspection/laboratory services in northern Germany. Operates under the same DIN EN ISO/IEC 17020 and 17025 accreditations and serves overlapping industrial customers.
• SLV Berlin-Brandenburg: Another GSI network branch offering the same combined training, inspection, and testing portfolio in eastern Germany. Direct overlap in service catalog, certifications (SFI/IWE, NDT), and target verticals (pressure equipment, rail, defense).
• SLV München: Sibling SLV branch within the same GSI network, offering an essentially identical portfolio of welding training, inspection, and materials testing services. Same parent organization and accreditation framework, competing for German B2B customers across the same verticals.

Others

• DVS - Deutscher Verband für Schweißen und verwandte Verfahren e.V. German Welding Society — the industry association that defines welding standards (DVS 2715, etc.) referenced by SLV Duisburg's courses. Acts as an industry body rather than a direct competitor, but DVS's regulatory and standards-setting role directly shapes the demand for the certifications SLV Duisburg delivers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gsi-slv-duisburg

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 SLV Duisburg