The Apave Group strengthens its presence in Northern Europe with the acquisitions of Synfaring and ExTek in Norway

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Founded in 2018, Synfaring is a leading independent player in the Norwegian technical inspection and regulatory certification market. The company has established a strong reputation thanks to a comprehensive service portfolio that includes non-destructive testing (NDT), lifting equipment certification, engineering consultancy, and marine infrastructure compliance validation. Leveraging eight key accreditations and strategic locations along the western coast of Norway, Synfaring serves hundreds of clients, primarily across the aquaculture, energy, and maritime transport sectors.

Building on the strategic acquisitions of Baltic Control (2023), Trainor (2023), and OComp (early 2026), the Apave Group has reached a new milestone in its Northern European expansion with the integration of Synfaring and ExTek. These consecutive deals strengthen the Group’s expertise and local footprint, bringing its workforce to over 150 professionals in Norway, and and close to 250 across the wider Scandinavian region.

By establishing a solid presence around Bergen, Stavanger, and along Norway’s west coast, Apave is strengthening its local foothold and enhancing its ability to help clients manage risks acrand close to 250oss the Nordic region. This expanded footprint also unlocks new growth opportunities for the Group in these key markets.

In the region, Apave has established itself as the leader in CompEx training and certification. Trainor, recognised as one of Norway’s market benchmarks for e-learning - including CompEx-accredited courses - now expands its offering through ExTek’s expertise in CompEx-accredited, practical hands-on training and certification.

In traditional industrial sectors as well as within the Scandinavian "Blue Economy"—which encompasses aquaculture, energy, and shipping—operators face increasingly stringent safety and regulatory compliance requirements. The simultaneous integration of Synfaring and ExTek directly enhances Apave's capability to identify and manage risks, and to ensure compliance of critical infrastructure amidst these market shifts.

Apave now offers a comprehensive suite of services to regional industrial players, extending from facility certification and inspection to operator qualification in complex environments. The Group is thereby strengthening its value proposition for Northern European operators, ensuring the safety, reliability, and availability of their assets at every stage of their lifecycle.

“Joining Apave gives Synfaring a strong platform for the next phase of growth. We look forward to building on what we have created and developing our people, expertise and customer offering as part of a leading international group,” said Bjarte Fosse, Founder of Synfaring.

“We are very pleased to become a part of Apave Group. The combination of ExTek’s expertise, experience, and Trainor’s strong position and ambitions create an excellent platform for further growth and development. We see significant opportunities to strengthen our offering to customers, create new opportunities for our employees, and continue developing ExTek as part of a larger and highly capable organisation. I am looking forward to the next chapter together in Apave Group.” noted Gudveig Elin Undheim, Sales and Site Manager at ExTek