The international group Apave announced the acquisition of DEKRA‘s railway activities, including testing services, specialized laboratories, and certification, through its railway subsidiary CERTIFER.
The transaction encompasses DEKRA Rail operations in the Netherlands and the company’s railway business in Taiwan, reinforcing Apave’s growth strategy within the sustainable mobility and railway transport sector.
DEKRA Rail Brings Railway Safety Expertise
Headquartered in the Netherlands, DEKRA Rail is recognized for its expertise in railway regulatory services such as:
- Notified Body (NoBo).
- Designated Body (DeBo).
- Assessment Body (AsBo).
Additionally, the company operates specialized laboratories and provides trilogy services, calibration, and materials testing for railway operators, manufacturers, and infrastructure managers.
The company has approximately 70 specialized employees and expertise in railway asset optimization through life cycle analysis and advanced maintenance strategies.
In Taiwan, DEKRA’s railway teams have developed capabilities in Independent Verification and Validation (IV&V) services for railway and metro projects.
Apave Strengthens Its AMPLIFY 2030 Strategy
The acquisition aligns with AMPLIFY 2030, Apave’s new five-year strategic plan aimed at expanding its presence in high-tech and sustainable mobility markets.
The group seeks to consolidate capabilities related to railway interoperability, digitalization, and transport decarbonization.
The integration of DEKRA Rail will enable expansion of railway TIC services (Testing, Inspection and Certification) throughout the entire value chain, from design and inspection to infrastructure and rolling stock maintenance.
CERTIFER Will Expand Operations in Europe
For CERTIFER, the operation represents a strategic step to expand its railway testing activities and strengthen its presence in regions such as Benelux and DACH (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland).
Following the integration, CERTIFER will have one of its largest operational centers in the Netherlands, with more than 100 employees distributed between Noord-Scharwoude and Utrecht.
Philippe Maillard, CEO of Apave Group, stated that the incorporation of DEKRA Rail consolidates the group as a strategic partner for the international railway sector.
“This acquisition will enable the Group to strengthen its capacity to support railway sector stakeholders in addressing the growing challenges of regulation, interoperability, digitalization, and sustainability,” Maillard noted.
International Expansion in Railway TIC Services
Nicolas Castres Saint Martin, president of CERTIFER, emphasized that the operation is aligned with the ambition to make the company a global leader in TIC services for the railway sector.
For his part, Jean-Paul van Hengstum, managing director of DEKRA Rail, noted that the integration will accelerate the company’s development while maintaining high standards of technical independence and safety.
Apave currently has more than 18,500 employees in nearly 60 countries and recorded revenues close to 1.9 billion euros in 2025, offering inspection, certification, testing, consulting, and technical training services for multiple industries.
Source and photo: https://www.apave.com/