SELM
SELM is a French specialist distributor, founded in 1994 and based in Brittany, that sells professional lifting, handling, and PPE equipment through a 60,000+ SKU e-commerce storefront and an on-site store, serving industrial, construction, logistics, and marine customers across France with custom engineering and VGP inspection services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1994
- HeadquartersTheix, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SELM does
SELM is a French specialist distributor and reseller of professional lifting, handling, and personal protective equipment (PPE), founded in 1994 and headquartered in Theix-Noyalo, Brittany. The company maintains an e-commerce-first catalog exceeding 60,000 SKUs spanning lifting accessories (slings, chains, cables, hooks, shackles, pulleys), lifting apparatus (electric and manual chain hoists, trolleys, jacks, magnetic lifters, balancers, dynamometers), materials handling equipment (platform trucks, hand trucks, stackers, winches, pallet trucks), load securing products (lashing straps, chain binders, and the patented TENSO tension recovery system distributed under partnership with PMS Industrie), and EPI (fall-arrest harnesses, lanyards, LEVAC Safety branded footwear). SELM is an authorized distributor for a roster of Tier-1 international brands including PETZL, TRACTEL, Crosby, KITO, VERLINDE, STAHL CraneSystems, CMCO-Columbus McKinnon, RUD, GUNNEBO, REMA, KRATOS SAFETY, MODULIFT, TECNOMAGNETE, PROBST, and DINI ARGEO.
The company operates a custom engineering bureau (bureau d'étude) that designs and fabricates bespoke lifting structures — gantry cranes, wall-mounted and articulated jib arms, modular spreader beams, and runway systems — with CE compliance documentation under the European Machinery Directive 2006/42/CE. It also runs a VGP (Vérification Générale Périodique) inspection service in Brittany and Loire-Atlantique, providing mandatory annual periodic inspections of lifting equipment and accessories under the Arrêté du 1er Mars 2004, with digital traceability and compliance documentation.
Revenue is generated through two streams: transactional product sales (one-time purchases of catalog items at publicly listed HT prices ranging from sub-€1 consumables to €20,000+ motorized gantry cranes) and professional services (VGP inspections and custom engineering studies). The go-to-market is product-led growth via the owned selm.fr storefront supplemented by an on-site physical store at Theix-Noyalo, phone-based consultative sales, and quote-based handling for engineered solutions. Target customers span industrial manufacturing, construction, logistics, maintenance services, and marine verticals — primarily French SMBs and individual professionals — with no disclosed enterprise anchors.
SELM firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SELM
- Legal name
- SELM
- Website
- https://selm.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1994
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- SELM is a French specialist distributor, founded in 1994 and based in Brittany, that sells professional lifting, handling, and PPE equipment through a 60,000+ SKU e-commerce storefront and an on-site store, serving industrial, construction, logistics, and marine customers across France with custom engineering and VGP inspection services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where SELM is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Theix
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SELM business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Product Sales (B2C/B2B E-commerce): SELM generates the majority of its revenue through direct sales of lifting, handling, and PPE equipment via its e-commerce platform (selm.fr) and on-site store. The catalog includes over 60,000 SKUs spanning accessories (slings, chains, hooks), apparatus (hoists, winches, carts), materials handling equipment, and custom fabrications. Transactions are typically one-time product purchases with pricing listed per unit (per meter, per piece, per unit).
- Professional Services (VGP Inspections & Engineering Studies): SELM provides paid professional services including Vérification Générale Périodique (VGP) annual mandatory inspections of lifting equipment and accessories, and custom engineering/design studies for bespoke lifting solutions. These services are billed separately from product sales and represent an additional revenue stream with recurring annual potential given VGP regulatory requirements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard per-unit retail pricing for catalog products |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
SELM product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SELM distributes and resells over 60,000 SKUs of professional lifting equipment, material handling products, load securing systems, and personal protective equipment (PPE) through its e-commerce platform selm.fr and an on-site retail store. The company complements its product catalog with an in-house engineering bureau that designs and fabricates custom lifting structures (gantry cranes, jib arms, modular beams) and provides mandatory VGP periodic inspection services for lifting equipment in the Brittany and Loire-Atlantique regions.
Product overview
SELM is a French distributor and specialist in lifting, handling, and personal protective equipment (EPI), with 30+ years of expertise since 1994. The company operates a single-platform catalog architecture offering over 60,000 product references across 5 core categories: (1) Accessoires de levage — lifting accessories such as slings (chain, cable, textile), chains, cables, hooks, shackles, rings, and pulleys; (2) Appareils de Levage — lifting apparatus including electric and manual chain hoists, trolleys, jacks, weighing equipment, magnetic lifters, and balancers; (3) Matériels de Manutention — handling equipment such as platform trucks, hand trucks, bins, stackers, workshop cranes, winches, and scissors lifts; (4) Arrimage — load securing products including lashing straps, chain binders, interior truck equipment, and the patented TENSO tension recovery system; and (5) EPI — personal protective equipment including fall-arrest harnesses, lanyards, and LEVAC Safety branded safety footwear (Made in France). SELM also provides two complementary services: Fabrications Sur-Mesure / Bureau d'Étude for custom-designed lifting structures (jib cranes, gantry cranes, runway beams, lifting beams, modular aluminum crane systems), and Contrôle VGP for mandatory periodic inspection services. The company holds no public API, does not offer AI/ML capabilities, and integrates with no third-party software platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 60,000 product references maintained in permanent stock for rapid availability
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use SELM
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
SELM technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SELM partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered notable and core.
- PMS Industrie (TENSO System)notableSELM distributes the TENSO tension recovery system, a patented innovation by PMS Industrie featuring a progressive-release tensioner with an accumulator that automatically compensates for tension loss during cargo transport. SELM offers TENSO (LC 4,000 daN) and TENSO+ (LC 5,000 daN) configurations, both conforming to EN 12195-2.
- LEVAC Safety (Safety Footwear)notableSELM is a distributor of LEVAC Safety branded safety footwear, which is manufactured in Ardèche, France. LEVAC Safety shoes feature composite toe caps, textile anti-perforation soles, AIR TANE technology, and PU SPONGEX anti-fatigue insoles, conforming to EN ISO 20345:2022 + A1:2024.
- PETZLcoreSELM distributes PETZL brand personal protective equipment for work at height, including harnesses, lanyards, connectors, and fall arrest systems. PETZL is a leading brand in fall protection and work-at-height safety equipment.
- SECURAcoreSELM distributes SECURA brand PPE including connectors (EN-362), carabiners, and other fall protection components. SECURA products complement SELM's EPI catalog for work-at-height applications.
- TRACTELcoreSELM distributes TRACTEL brand lifting and fall protection equipment, including chain hoists, manual winches, and antichute kits. TRACTEL is a major international manufacturer of height safety and lifting equipment.
- CrosbycoreSELM distributes Crosby brand lifting hardware including shackles, hooks, swivels, and safety lifts. Crosby is a globally recognized manufacturer of rigging hardware with a full product line conforming to international safety standards.
- KITO (KITO Crosby)coreSELM distributes KITO and KITO Crosby brand chain hoists, lever hoists, and manual chain blocks. KITO is a leading Japanese manufacturer of chain hoists known for reliability and performance in industrial lifting applications.
- MODULIFT (Spreader Beams)notableSELM distributes MODULIFT modular spreader beams and bar extenders for lifting applications. MODULIFT offers configurable beam solutions for handling long, awkward, or fragile loads in industrial and construction environments.
- TECNOMAGNETE (Magnetic Lifters)notableSELM distributes TECNOMAGNETE brand electromagnetic lifting systems and magnetic lifters used for steel plate handling, lifting, and manipulation in industrial manufacturing environments.
- KRATOS SAFETYnotableSELM distributes KRATOS SAFETY brand personal protective equipment for work at height, including harnesses, lanyards, and fall arrest accessories. KRATOS SAFETY products are CE-certified and conform to relevant European safety standards.
- REMAcoreSELM distributes REMA brand lifting and materials handling equipment including hydraulic jacks, lift tables, lifting clamps, and beam clamps. REMA is a European manufacturer known for quality industrial handling equipment.
- VERLINDE (Eurochain, cranes)coreSELM distributes VERLINDE brand lifting equipment including the Eurochain aluminum modular crane system (monorail and double-beam configurations) and VERLINDE manual hoists. VERLINDE is a leading French manufacturer of industrial crane and lifting solutions.
- STAHL CraneSystemscoreSELM distributes STAHL CraneSystems brand industrial crane components and hoists. STAHL is a German manufacturer specializing in explosion-protected crane systems and hoists for demanding industrial environments.
- WARN Industries (Industrial Winches)notableSELM distributes WARN Industries brand industrial winches and hoists. WARN is primarily known for vehicle recovery winches but also produces industrial-grade lifting and pulling equipment.
- DINI ARGEO (Weighing & Force Measurement)notableSELM distributes DINI ARGEO brand dynamometers and digital weighing/force measurement devices used in lifting applications to monitor loads and ensure safe working limits are not exceeded.
- PROBST (Material Handling Tools)notableSELM distributes PROBST brand material handling tools including vacuum lifters, tube grippers, brick and paver handlers, and coil lifters. PROBST specializes in mechanical handling solutions that reduce manual labor and improve safety.
- GUNNEBO Industries (Lifting Hardware)coreSELM distributes GUNNEBO Industries lifting hardware including shackles, hooks, and eyebolts. GUNNEBO Industries is a global manufacturer of industrial lifting and construction hardware.
- RUD (Lifting Points)coreSELM distributes RUD lifting points, eye bolts, and load-securing hardware. RUD is a German manufacturer known for high-quality lifting attachment points for industrial applications.
- CMCO - Columbus McKinnoncoreSELM distributes CMCO (Columbus McKinnon) brand chain hoists, electric hoists, and crane components. CMCO is a global leader in lifting and construction hardware for industrial applications.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights5 records
SELM competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Grainger: Global MRO industrial distributor with a broad catalog including lifting, rigging, and PPE categories. Comparable as a large-scale B2B industrial distributor, though significantly broader in scope and operating primarily through catalog/online channels.
- Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification heavyweight offering VGP and lifting-equipment inspection services in France. Competes with SELM's VGP business and overlaps on regulatory compliance services, but operates at much larger scale and broader service scope.
- DEKRA: Global testing, inspection, and certification organization with significant French operations in industrial equipment inspection and certification. Competitor in the VGP/inspection services market that SELM serves, though DEKRA's scope is far broader.
Direct peers
- Manutan: French-headquartered B2B distributor of equipment and supplies with a substantial lifting, handling, and PPE catalog serving European SMB and enterprise customers. Closest direct peer to SELM in business model and customer base, with larger scale and broader geographic reach.
- Würth: Global B2B industrial distributor with strong presence in France, distributing lifting equipment, fastening, PPE, and workshop supplies through a direct-sales model. Comparable as a multi-category industrial B2B distributor serving professional trades, though significantly larger and broader in scope.
- Rubix (formerly Brammer): European industrial MRO and maintenance products distributor with a meaningful lifting, rigging, and materials handling portfolio. Comparable as a specialist B2B distributor serving industrial customers, with broader geographic and product coverage than SELM.
- SOCOTEC: Major French testing, inspection, and certification firm that competes directly with SELM's VGP inspection services across France. Comparable as a regulatory-compliance-driven service provider serving the same industrial customer base, though with much broader service scope.
- Apave: French inspection, certification, and technical services company performing VGP-equivalent inspections and regulatory compliance audits. Direct competitor for SELM's VGP service line, with national coverage and broader testing capabilities.
Others
- Columbus McKinnon (CMCO): Global manufacturer of lifting and rigging equipment whose brands (CMCO, Crosby, KITO) SELM distributes. Adjacent competitor as a manufacturer that could disintermediate SELM, and a key supplier relationship for the French market.
Regional players
- Kraus Hebetechnik: Germany-based specialist distributor of lifting equipment, crane systems, and materials handling products. Comparable as a regional specialist distributor with similar product focus and customer base, though operating primarily in the DACH region.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
SELM social profiles
Digital presenceSELM compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance26 records
SELM financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SELM leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
SELM funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SELM M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SELM
What does SELM do?
SELM distributes and resells over 60,000 SKUs of professional lifting equipment, material handling products, load securing systems, and personal protective equipment (PPE) through its e-commerce platform selm.fr and an on-site retail store. The company complements its product catalog with an in-house engineering bureau that designs and fabricates custom lifting structures (gantry cranes, jib arms, modular beams) and provides mandatory VGP periodic inspection services for lifting equipment in the Brittany and Loire-Atlantique regions.
Is SELM a public or private company?
SELM is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was SELM founded?
SELM was founded in 1994. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is SELM based?
SELM is headquartered in Theix, France, in the Europe region.
How does SELM make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Product Sales (B2C/B2B E-commerce) is the primary driver. The others are professional Services (VGP Inspections & Engineering Studies).
Who are SELM's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Grainger, Bureau Veritas and DEKRA. Direct peers are Manutan, Würth, Rubix (formerly Brammer), SOCOTEC and Apave. Columbus McKinnon (CMCO) is listed as an others. Kraus Hebetechnik is listed as a regional player.
Does SELM have an API?
No public API is recorded for SELM.