Mersen


Mersen, previously called Carbone Lorraine, is a French international company in electrical power and advanced materials. It is based in 35 countries across the globe with 53 production facilities. The company also has 15 Research and Development centers. In 2018, the firm recorded sales of 879 M€, an increase of + de 10% compared to 2017. They work with more than 6900 people all around the world. In 1937,, the company was admitted to Bourse de Paris. Mersen is listed on Euronext Paris, and is present on the CAC Small index.

History

Mersen, previously named Carbone Lorraine, was created in 1891 by the Compagnie lorraine de charbons pour l’électricité in Pagny-sur-Moselle, where the Group still owns a plant. In 1937, it merged with Le Carbone, a company based in Gennevilliers, where the Group kept and operated the original plant.La Compagnie lorraine de charbons pour l’électricité was founded in Meurthe-et-Moselle in1891. It first manufactured motors, dynamos and lighting lamps before producing « carbons » for electric lighting. At the same time, Le Carbone, founded in 1892 in Paris, produced brushes for electric motors. In 1893, Charles Street, an engineer at Le Carbone, discovered and patented the process of carbon graphitization which allowed the manufacture of synthetic graphite. He patented his idea under the title « Continuous electric furnace system »
During the 80s, Groupe Pechiney acquired a majority stake in Carbone Lorraine and financed an expansion and diversification process. The company expanded beyond its core production of graphite brushes, starting to manufacture carbon–carbon disc brakes for racing motorcycles and developing specific components for nuclear and aerospace industries
In addition, it acquired a number of competitors such as Ferraz, one of the biggest manufacturers of fuses and electrical protection systems. Then, it took the control of Stackpole, which led it to become one of the world leaders in graphite production.
In 1995, Pechiney sold 21% of its stake to Paribas Affaires Industrielles. In the following years, Carbone Lorraine strengthened its position by making acquisitions in Europe and in the United States, in particular in 1999 the acquisition of the Gould-Shawmut Protection Electrique division; enabling it to become a leader in power semiconductor protection. Paribas sold its Carbone Lorraine shares on the market in 2005.
In May 2010, the General Shareholders' Meeting approved the change of name of the group proposed by management. Carbone Lorraine became Mersen. This name is a tribute to Marin Mersenne, a 17th century mathematician and philosopher, and is also the acronym for Material, Electrical, Research, Sustainable, ENergy.

Acquisitions

DateSocietyExpertise/Business
2020Acquisition of GAB NeumannSpecialist in graphite and silicon carbide heat exchangers
2019Acquisition of Advanced Graphite Materials ItalySpecialist in graphite and carbon fiber insulation
2018Acquisition of FTCapDesigner and manufacturer of capacitors
2018Acquisition of IdealecDesigner and manufacturer of laminated bus bars
2018Acquisition of the remaining capital of CirprotecSpecialist in lightning and overvoltage protection
2016Joint venture, named Hatan Electrical Carbon, with Harbin Electric Carbon in ChinaPlayer on the railway market
2015Acquisition of ASPSpecialists in overvoltage protection
2014Majority stake in CirprotecSpecialists in lightning and overvoltage protection
2011Acquisition of EldreSpecialists in laminated busbars
2010Purchase of a majority shareholding in YantaĂŻStrengthening in solar energy
2010Acquisition of a majority shareholding in BoostecSilicon carbide specialist
2008Acquisition of CalcarbWorld n°2 in rigid carbon felts
2008Acquisition of Xianda and Mingrong Electrical Protection Anticorrosion equipement and Electrical protection and control
2006Acquisition of R-ThetaSpecialists in power electronics
1999Acquisition of a division of the Gould-Shawmut groupSpecialists in electrical protection
1991Acquisition of Stackpole’s assets Electrical and high temperature applications
1985Acquisition of FerrazManufacturer of industrial fuses  

Products and services

Mersen is organized in two segments: Advanced Materials segment and Electrical Power segment
Advanced Materials segment represents 55% of total sales. It includes 3 activities around carbon-based materials:
Electrical Power segment represents 45% of total sales. It includes 2 activities related to electricity markets:
Mersen serves 5 main markets: Energy, Electronics, Chemicals and pharmaceuticals, Transportation and Process Industries.

Energy

Mersen develops equipment used in energy production and distribution.
Solar energy: Ultra-pure graphite equipment, graphite parts for polysilicon ingot drawing furnaces.
Wind energy: Signal transmission systems, brushes and brush-holders, fuses and cooling devices.

Electronics

Equipment for the production in silicon or silicon carbide of LEDs and semiconductors, power electronics equipment necessary for the conversion of power energy.

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals

Equipment adapted to highly corrosive chemical processes, in particular for phosphoric acid, chlorine-soda, pharmaceutical active ingredients, isocyanates, acid manufacturing and specialty chemicals.

Transportation

Railway industry: equipment for the distribution of energy to motors and auxiliaries
Aeronautics: Components that reduce weight, fuel consumption and total cost of use.
Electric vehicles: Ultra-fast fuses, bus-bars and cooling devices for high-end electric vehicles and heavy vehicles.

Process industries

Range of products for process industries: metallurgy, high-temperature furnace industry, sintering processes, glass industry, rubber and plastics industry and pulp and paper industry.

Governance

Executive committee

The Group is led by a Board of Directors. The operational management is under the responsibility of a CEO who relies on an executive committee.
Luc Themelin is Mersen’s Chief Executive Officer since May 11, 2016. He was Chairman of the Management Board between August, 2011 and May 2016. He joined the Mersen group in 1993 as a Research and Development engineer. He was appointed Director of the Braking Division in 1998 and Director of the High Temperatures Division in 2004.
Thomas Baumgartner is Mersen’s CFO since March 2010. He was a member of the Management Board between August 2011 and May 2016.
Gilles Boisseau is Group Vice President, Electrical Power since May 2015.
Christophe Bommier is Group Vice President, Technology, Research, Innovation and Business Support.  He was a member of the Management Board between August 2011 and December 2015.
Thomas Farkas is Group Vice President, Strategy & Development since 2006.
Jean-Philippe Fournier is Group Vice President, Operational Excellence since September 2013
Eric Guajioty is Group Vice President, Advanced Materials since January 2016.
Estelle Legrand is Group Vice President Human Resources since May 2010, after serving as Deputy Vice President between September 2009 and May 2010.
Didier Muller is Group Vice President, Asia and Latin America. He was a member of the Management Board between August 2011 and December 2015.

Board of Directors

Olivier Legrain, is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and also an independent member.
Isabelle Azemard, is a representative of Bpifrance Investissement.
Pierre Creusy, is an employee representative.
Michel Crochon is an independent member.
Carolle Foissaud is an independent member.
Magali Joëssel, permanent representative of Bpifrance Investissement.
Denis Thiery is an independent member.
Ulrike Steinhorst is an independent member.
Chairman: Denis Thiery
Members: Michel Crochon, Carolle Foissaud, Magali Joëssel
Chairman: Ulrike Steinhorst
Members: Isabelle Azemard, Pierre Creusy, Olivier Legrain, Denis Thiery

Global footprint

In 2019, the compagny generated a turnover of 950 M€, an increase of 8 % compared to 2018.
Percentage of turnover by region, in 2019:
Present in 35 countries and on four continents, Mersen has 53 industrial sites around the world, including: