Scales acquires Adekma in France

Transport and project forwarding specialist Scales acquired fellow French lifting and handling company Adekma Levage.

Scales is a leading company in heavy-lift transport, industrial handling, and project logistics in France. Adekma operates in the West of the country.

Combined revenue of the new Scales-Adekma company will exceed €90 million, Scales said. Part of the transaction will see investor Fund For Nuclear 2, managed by Siparex, become a shareholder.

Scales has been going since 1946 and has been run by Thierry Costard for 34 years. It mainly works in critical industries, operating in multiple niche markets. Services include engineering design and operational execution. It has a fleet of around 320 machines for handling loads from 100 to more than 1,500 tonnes.

Two-thirds of Scales’ business is from the energy sector in France, West Africa and elsewhere.

Le Mans-headquartered Adekma was started in 2004 by Frédéric Blais. It offers specialized industrial handling and lifting services, operating from a network of 10 branches.

Core activities are lifting and handling operations, plus specialized transport, warehousing, and logistics. A training service is delivered through its dedicated entity, LM Formation. Its fleet consists of 564 machines and 203 vehicles.

The workforce in the new group will total 420 and it will have France’s largest industrial handling fleet.

Leading the way

Thierry Costard will lead the new group as chairman and majority shareholder, supported by two managing directors: Alexandre Ferrus for Scales and Julien Nicolet for Adekma.

Costard commented, “The creation of this new group will position us to meet the major industrial milestones of critical sectors over the coming decades, capitalising on the complementary strengths of our established group – Alexandre Ferrus and Julien Nicolet. Our ambition is to build a leading French player that preserves and delivers high-value technical expertise for the strategic sectors of our industry, both on the French mainland and in overseas territories.”

Speaking for the Fund for Nuclear Benoit Desforges and Romain Boisson de Chazournes, said, “This third investment by Fund For Nuclear 2 reflects our goal of backing companies whose expertise is recognised and expected by the major players in the nuclear industry and, more broadly, by critical industries. The combination of Scales and Adekma creates a cohesive and ambitious platform in the industrial handling segment, supported by highly committed teams. We are delighted to partner with Thierry Costard and the management team in this milestone transaction.”