SMAI

What SMAI does

SMAI is a Chasseneuil-du-Poitou (Vienne, France)-based B2B provider of industrial metal racking and storage solutions, operating since December 2004 (some sources state 2005) as part of the Groupe SM3I alongside sister companies SODILEVE (lifting/handling), METALINOX (metalwork and boiler-making), and SODEFI (engineering studies). The product portfolio spans heavy-duty pallet racking (up to 9–20 tonnes for ultra-heavy systems), medium- and light-duty shelving, cantilever systems for long goods, modular industrial mezzanines (2–3 levels, 250–1000 kg/m² load), industrial modular partitioning with up to 57 dB acoustic insulation, dynamic FIFO/LIFO roller racking, pallet drawers for ergonomic high-pallet access, mobile shelving, and complementary accessories (stackable bins, safety equipment). All designs are validated to European standards including NF EN 15635 (rack safety/PRSES), Eurocode 3 (structural), NF EN 14122-3 (guardrails), ISO 12100 (machinery safety), and EIA-310.

The company runs a sales-led go-to-market: technical-commercial representatives perform on-site load studies and quote custom solutions, deliver turnkey installation, and maintain the asset post-sale via preventive maintenance contracts and NF EN 15635 audits. Revenue streams are split across new equipment sales, used-equipment buyback/resale (up to 50% savings), rental for temporary or trial deployments, and recurring maintenance services, all priced on a quote basis rather than through published tiers. Customers are primarily French industrial and logistics operators in the Grand-Ouest region (40 departments), with named enterprise references in aerospace (Safran), electrical equipment (Schneider Electric), automotive (Elringklinger, an auto-parts specialist with 4 km of installed racking), industrial construction (Chantiers Atlantique), material handling (Fenwick), and training (Aftral). FY2023 revenue was approximately 2.6 M EUR delivered by 12–13 employees across ~700 installation projects.

Name

SMAI

Legal name

SMAI

Website

https://smai.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SMAI is a French B2B specialist in industrial metal racking, mezzanines, modular partitioning, and dynamic storage systems, serving industrial and logistics operators across Western France with custom engineering, installation, maintenance, used-equipment, and rental services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Storage Solutions

NAICS

Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers (423840)

SIC

Partitions, Shelvg, Lockers, & Office & Store Fixtures (2540), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)

akta.pro primary industry

Warehouse Storage & Racking Systems (Pallet Racking, Shelving, Mezzanines) (IMAHABAD)

Keywords

• Industrial racking systems
• Warehouse storage solutions
• Metal shelving equipment
• Mezzanine platforms
• Cantilever racking

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

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. New Racking Equipment Sales: Sale of new industrial metal racking systems including heavy, medium-heavy, and light racking, cantilever systems, and modular platforms. Products designed for durability, heavy loads, and intensive use.
2. Used Racking Sales: Sale of pre-owned industrial racking with rigorous quality inspections, offering up to 50% savings versus new equipment. Includes transparent labeling with usage history, age, and condition.
3. Racking Rental: Flexible rental solutions for temporary storage needs or testing new systems without long-term commitment. Includes maintenance and professional installation.
4. Maintenance Services: Regular maintenance and inspection services for industrial racking, including audits, repairs, and long-term maintenance contracts for racking systems and platforms.
5. Installation Services: Professional installation of heavy and semi-heavy racks, custom projects, and turnkey solutions including site assessment, planning, and execution.
6. Used Racking Repurchase: Purchase of customers' old racking systems when they upgrade or redesign their storage, enabling asset recovery and circular economy practices.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SMAI manufactures, sells, and installs industrial metal racking and shelving systems for warehouses, workshops, and industrial sites. Its product range spans heavy, medium, and light shelving, cantilever racking, mezzanines/platforms, partitions, pallet drawers, dynamic shelving, and storage bins. The company also offers used racking, short-term rental, and on-site maintenance, inspection, and installation services to industrial customers across Western France.

Product overview

SMAI is a specialized provider of industrial metal shelving and storage solutions operating as part of the SM3I group. The product portfolio centers on a comprehensive range of metal shelving systems (heavy-duty, medium-duty, light-duty, cantilever, and ultra heavy-duty from 9-20 tonnes) complemented by modular industrial platforms/mezzanines that multiply floor space by 2-3x, and industrial modular partitioning walls with acoustic insulation up to 57dB. Key add-on modules include pallet drawers for ergonomic access to high-stored pallets, dynamic shelving systems with gravity-fed rollers for FIFO/LIFO inventory management, and LeanConcept roller rail systems. The offering also encompasses mobile storage, lateral archiving, and a full range of accessories (stackable bins, safety equipment). Services include custom shelving design, professional installation, preventive/corrective maintenance, used equipment buyback (up to 50% savings), and flexible rental options. The company serves industries including automotive parts, woodworking, plumbing, hardware, production, and logistics across Western France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• METALINOX: Part of the Groupe SM3I conglomerate alongside SMAI, providing metalworking and boiler-making services
• Sodileve

Products and services

• Heavy shelving / Heavy racking
• Medium shelving / Medium racking
• Light shelving / Light racking
• Cantilever racking
• Industrial platforms / Mezzanines
• Industrial partitions
• Pallet drawer
• Dynamic shelving
• Storage bins
• Used racking
• Racking rental
• Installation, maintenance, and inspection services

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 50% cost savings with used equipment compared to new
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SODILEVEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSODILEVE is part of the SM3I group and provides lifting, elevation, and handling assistance solutions. They complement SMAI's dynamic racking with potence systems and lifting tables for load movement without effort, enhancing productivity while respecting storage zone safety standards.
• METALINOXcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMETALINOX is part of the SM3I group and handles metal work and fabrication. They provide custom design and manufacturing capabilities for specialized racking solutions and components, including custom pallet drawer prototypes and spiral staircases for industrial platforms.
• SODEFIcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSODEFI is part of the SM3I group and provides engineering study capabilities. They conduct needs analysis and prototype development for custom storage solutions, enabling SMAI to offer tailored engineering for specialized customer requirements.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SSI Schaefer: German-headquartered global supplier of industrial storage and racking systems including pallet racking, shelving, and dynamic/automated solutions. Overlaps directly with SMAI's racking and dynamic racking offerings while also serving as a benchmark for warehouse-integration scale.
• Manorga: French industrial shelving and racking manufacturer with a broad product range (pallet racking, cantilever, mezzanines) competing in the same French B2B market segment as SMAI, especially in Western and Northern France.
• BITO Storage Systems: German manufacturer of shelving, pallet racking, bins, and order-picking solutions with established French distribution. Closely mirrors SMAI's catalog of industrial racking, bins, and ergonomic accessories.
• Groupe Peyrot: French manufacturer/distributor of industrial shelving and storage solutions serving French industrial customers with similar product categories (pallet racking, light/medium racking, accessories) and comparable regional sales model.
• Mecalux: Spanish-founded global manufacturer of metal racking, pallet racking, cantilever, and mezzanines with a strong presence in France. Directly comparable product range and B2B industrial customer base to SMAI, but operating at much larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Knauf Industries: Large diversified industrial group active in construction and building materials with adjacent storage and partitioning offerings. Comparable at the industrial-partitioning level but not focused on pallet racking.
• TGW Logistics Group: Austrian-headquartered provider of integrated warehouse logistics including racking, automation, and software. Comparable at the storage-system level but operates much more broadly into automated fulfillment than SMAI.
• Dematic: Global supplier of intra-logistics solutions including pallet racking alongside automated storage, conveyors, and WMS. Comparable racking product line but bundled into much larger warehouse-automation projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/smai86
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UClq6Uz5kQGCMgI2gFZzZ7mA
• Facebookfacebook.com/smairayonnage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/smai86

Compliance5 records

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 SMAI