HYDREO

What HYDREO does

HYDREO (legal entity: CHL – Constructions Hydromécaniques Lorraines SAS, predecessor ETS G. Viry founded 1977) is a French manufacturer of custom hydromechanical equipment for hydroelectric power plants, headquartered in Lorraine, France. Its product range covers dam and intake infrastructure — gates, valves, stop logs, trash-rack cleaners, and flap gates — spanning fabricated-unit weights from 300 kg to 80+ tonnes. Manufacturing is centralized in a 4,500 m² workshop equipped with 100+ tonne lifting capacity, enabling single-piece assemblies for large dam installations. The company is ISO 45001:2018 certified, a member of the FrenchFab network, and lists 1,000+ installations worldwide as a reference base. HYDREO also owns elléo, a brand addressing fish-friendly turbines and ecological hydromechanical equipment, extending into the small-hydro and environmental-mitigation segment.

The firm's business model is project-based, custom engineering-to-order (ETO) with revenue generated through long-cycle utility and EPC tenders for dam operators, utilities, and hydro developers. Customers are primarily large state-owned and regulated utilities and hydropower EPCs, with EDF and the Régie de Gaz et d'Électricité de Bonneville among named references. Pricing is per-project, contract-by-contract with multi-month to multi-year fabrication horizons; aftermarket service, refurbishment, and spare-parts work provide a recurring revenue overlay on the installed base.

Since 2016, HYDREO has progressively integrated with Hydro Power Plant (HPP), initially through a GIE joint commercial structure and culminating in HPP's September 2019 acquisition. The combination routes HPP's EPC and project-development pipeline — including African projects such as installations in the Democratic Republic of Congo — through HYDREO's heavy-lift fabrication capacity, giving the firm a channel it could not have built independently. The 2024 introduction of the Industeam Hydro group branding signals ongoing consolidation of hydro-engineering entities under a shared commercial platform, although ownership and capital-structure details remain undisclosed.

Name

HYDREO

Legal name

Constructions Hydromécaniques Lorraines SAS

Website

https://hydreo.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

HYDREO is a French manufacturer (CHL – Constructions Hydromécaniques Lorraines SAS) of custom hydromechanical equipment — gates, valves, stop logs, and trash-rack cleaners from 300 kg to 80+ tonnes — for hydroelectric dams, serving utilities and EPCs including EDF. Since 2019 it has operated within the HPP hydro group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Hydromechanical Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Agriculture, Construction, and Mining Machinery Manufacturing (3331), Construction Machinery Manufacturing (333120)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530), Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590)

akta.pro primary industry

Turbines, Generators & Hydromechanical Equipment Manufacturing (OEMs) (EUACAEAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Refurbishment (R&M/Life Extension) (EUACAEAG), Hydropower Turbines, Generators & Balance-of-Plant Equipment Manufacturing (EUAMAHAF), Hydropower Turbines & Electro-Mechanical Equipment (Turbines, Generators, Governors) (EUAMADAC), Hydraulic Power Units & Systems (HPUs, Manifolds, Integrated Circuits) (IMAHAGAB)

Keywords

• Hydromechanical equipment
• Hydroelectric gates
• Water control infrastructure
• Stop log systems
• Trash rack cleaners

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-nabord

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Custom Hydromechanical Equipment Sales: Design, manufacture, and installation of custom hydromechanical equipment including gates, valves, stop logs, trash rack cleaners, flap gates, and other equipment. Products are custom-manufactured for each project, ranging from 300 kg to 80 tonnes. Revenue is project-based with long sales cycles typical of industrial infrastructure projects.
2. Installation and Site Services: On-site installation, commissioning, and testing services for hydromechanical equipment. Manages all complex phases of installation following strict health, safety and environmental regulations.
3. Maintenance and Rehabilitation Services: Technical support, monitoring, remote control services, site rehabilitation, equipment assessment and refurbishment services for existing installations.
4. Subcontracting Manufacturing: Metal-welding, machining, and factory assembly services offered as subcontractor to other manufacturers including HPP for turbine components.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

HYDREO designs, manufactures, and installs custom hydromechanical equipment for hydroelectric power plants and fluvial infrastructure, including stop logs, flap gates, trash rack cleaners, gates, intake trash racks, and floating booms. Each piece of equipment is custom-built in the company's 4,500 m² Saint-Nabord workshop to project specifications, ranging from 300 kg to over 80 tonnes per unit with no limits on dimensions. The company also provides on-site installation, commissioning, maintenance, rehabilitation, refurbishment, and subcontracting manufacturing services.

Product overview

HYDREO is a French manufacturer of hydromechanical equipment for hydroelectric power plants and fluvial infrastructure. The company offers a portfolio of five main product categories: Stop Logs (Batardeaux), Flap Gates (Clapets), Trash Rack Cleaners (Dégrilleurs), Gates (Vannes), and Other Equipment (log booms, intake trash racks, lock gates). All products are designed, manufactured, and assembled in Hydreo's 4500m² workshop in Saint-Nabord, France, with over 50 years of heritage originating from ETS G.Viry (1977). Products range from 300 kg to 80 tonnes, available in steel or stainless steel, with no height or width limits. The company provides services including subcontracting manufacturing, hydromechanical expertise, rehabilitation, maintenance, and feasibility studies. Since June 2019, HYDREO has been part of the HPP group, combining turbine and hydromechanical equipment expertise for 100% French-made solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Stop Logs (Batardeaux) Removable safety devices for water control, customized for each site and operating conditions. Available in configurations including temporary worksite, floating, single-walled, double-walled, braced, cellular, and self-waterproof/retractable/with suction cup designs for hydroelectric operators and major utilities.
• Flap Gates (Clapets) Gates designed, manufactured, and installed on rivers or maritime works, ranging from fish-pass regulation gates to 50-tonne gates with a weight range of 30 kg to 80 tonnes. All accessories supplied including control systems, floats, hydraulic power units, cylinders, and regulation systems, for hydroelectric operators and fluvial infrastructure owners.
• Trash Rack Cleaners (Dégrilleurs) Entirely designed and manufactured in HYDREO's workshop, from light installations for fish farming to equipment over 20 tonnes. Types include hydraulic (DHA, DHB), mechanical (DM), telescopic rack (powered), fish farming models, and special configurations, used by hydroelectric operators and fish farming facilities.
• Gates (Vannes) All types of gates from canoe pass to first-stage structures, ensuring regulation and obstruction of water flows for water level management. Weight range: 300 kg to 80 tonnes. Configurations include standard vertical-lift, special, relief, security/guard/flood/regulating, segmental sluice, fixed-wheel, with hydraulic/manual/electrical controls, for hydroelectric and water management operators.
• Other Equipment Includes protection log booms/floating booms for pre-treatment of floating waste (12m length elements), intake trash racks with fish-friendly designs, and customized lock gates, for hydroelectric and fluvial infrastructure operators.
• Installation and Site Services On-site installation, commissioning, and testing services for HYDREO hydromechanical equipment. Manages all complex phases of installation following strict health, safety, and environmental regulations, for hydroelectric power plants and fluvial infrastructure operators.
• Maintenance and Rehabilitation Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ installations completed worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• elléocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Acquired jointly with HPP, elléo is the sole French manufacturer of fish-friendly (ichtyocompatible) hydrodynamic screws. This partnership strengthens the group's offering in environmentally sustainable hydro power equipment.
• GIE HPP-Hydreo (Economic Interest Group)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Economic interest group formed between HPP and HYDREO to create a 100% French manufacturing solution combining turbine and hydromechanical equipment expertise. This partnership preceded the full acquisition and represented a strategic collaboration for complete hydro power plant solutions.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Voith Hydro: Global leader in hydropower equipment (turbines, generators, and hydromechanical auxiliaries). Competes with HYDREO on utility-scale gates, valves, and stop logs as part of broader full-scope hydropower packages.
• ANDRITZ Hydro: One of the world's largest suppliers of hydro turbines, generators, and hydromechanical equipment, including gates and trash rack cleaning systems. Directly comparable on hydromechanical product lines and utility customers.

Direct peers

• Elléo: Sole French manufacturer of fish-friendly hydrodynamic screws; acquired jointly by HPP and HYDREO in 2018. Sister entity within the HPP group serving the same utility customers with adjacent environmental-compliance technology.
• Kossler Maschinenbauwerke: Austrian manufacturer of steel structures and hydromechanical equipment for hydropower plants. Comparable custom manufacturing focus and customer base of mid-sized European hydro operators.
• DSD NOELL GmbH: German manufacturer of hydromechanical steel structures (gates, valves, trash racks) for hydropower and waterway infrastructure. Direct competitor in custom heavy steelwork for European utilities.
• IREM SpA: Italian manufacturer specializing in hydromechanical equipment for hydroelectric and fluvial infrastructure (gates, valves, trash racks, stop logs). Closely comparable niche specialist serving European utilities.
• ZECO S.r.l. Italian manufacturer of large custom steel gates, penstocks, and hydromechanical components for hydropower plants. Comparable scale, custom manufacturing model, and product portfolio to HYDREO.
• HPP (Hydro Power Plant): Parent company and French hydro turbine manufacturer; acquired HYDREO in 2019 to combine turbine and hydromechanical capabilities under one French group. The closest comparable on product scope, customer base, and end market.

Regional players

• Tianjin Kailide Hydraulic Machinery: Chinese manufacturer of large-scale hydraulic gates, stop logs, and trash rack equipment for hydropower and water conservancy projects. Comparable product scope but primarily serves Chinese and Asian utility customers rather than the European market HYDREO addresses.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hydreo-engineering-sas

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 HYDREO