SOLCERA

What SOLCERA does

SOLCERA designs, manufactures, and sells advanced technical ceramics (oxide and non-oxide), ceramic-to-metal assemblies, and glass-to-metal assemblies, plus transparent ceramic (Spinel-based) and infrared optical materials (CVD zinc sulfide, chalcogenide glasses, VITRONIT machinable glass-ceramic) for use in extreme environments characterized by corrosion, abrasion, high temperature, high pressure, cryogenic temperatures, vacuum, and ultra-high vacuum. The company serves defense (ballistic protection, optronic systems, transparent armor for helicopters and land vehicles), aerospace and space (electrical components, sensors, connectors, brazed assemblies for satellites and launch vehicles), nuclear energy (hermetic seals, feedthroughs, monitoring), optics and photonics (windows, lenses, prisms, IR optics), research (particle accelerators, scientific instruments), and agriculture (Albuz spray nozzles and accessories). Named customers and program references include MBDA, ArianeGroup (SYRACUSE 4A satellite launch), Nexter, Airbus Helicopters, and the French DGA, alongside a long-tail of industrial and agricultural accounts.

The business operates as a French SAS (SOLCERA GROUP SAS), independent since 2015 and tracing its ceramics heritage to predecessor Desmarquest over 200 years ago. Manufacturing and assembly occur at Evreux (headquarters, ceramics platform and R&D), Moissy-Cramayel (ceramic-to-metal and glass-to-metal seals, flash lamps, precision grinding), Vinhedo, Brazil (advanced ceramics and agricultural spray nozzles), and Jena-Maua, Germany (VITRON Spezialwerkstoffe GmbH, acquired October 2023), with a commercial office in Madrid (Solcera Iberica). Revenue is generated through quote-based B2B enterprise sales with a co-development, engineering-driven approach; go-to-market relies on direct sales, presence at major industry exhibitions (Paris Air Show, Eurosatory, Micronora, SPIE, Space Tech Expo), and cluster participation in Normandie AeroEspace (NAE) and Pôle Européen de la Céramique (PEC). Orfite is the reference shareholder and Bpifrance is identified as a financial partner; the company holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications through AFNOR.

Name

SOLCERA

Legal name

SOLCERA GROUP SAS

Website

https://solcera.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

SOLCERA manufactures advanced technical ceramics, ceramic-to-metal and glass-to-metal assemblies, and transparent and infrared optical materials, serving defense, aerospace, nuclear, optics, and agricultural spray nozzle customers from sites in France, Brazil, Germany, and Spain.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Évreux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Advanced Ceramics Products: Design and manufacture of advanced ceramic components for extreme environments including corrosive, high temperature, high pressure, cryogenic, and vacuum conditions. Products include windows, lenses, prisms, spray nozzles, and electrical components.
2. Ceramic-to-Metal and Glass-to-Metal Assemblies: Custom assembly solutions including hermetic seals, brazed components for aerospace applications (satellites, launch vehicles), and industrial applications.
3. Transparent Ceramics: High-performance transparent ceramic materials for defense ballistic protection (CERA4PROTECT, CERA4RESIST) and optical systems (CERA4VIEW).
4. Infrared Materials and Components: IR materials including CVD zinc sulfide and chalcogenide glasses, plus VITRONIT machinable glass ceramics from the VITRON subsidiary in Germany.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

SOLCERA designs and manufactures advanced technical ceramics, ceramic-to-metal and glass-to-metal hermetic assemblies, and transparent ceramic components for extreme environment applications. Products include oxide and non-oxide ceramic components, hermetic seals, brazed sub-assemblies, transparent Spinel-based ceramics for ballistic protection and optics, infrared materials, machinable glass-ceramics, and ceramic agricultural spray nozzles. Output is sold as custom-engineered hardware to defense, aerospace, nuclear, optics, and industrial customers in Europe and South America.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Albuz®: Spray nozzles brand for agriculture applications, celebrating 50th anniversary in 2021
• VITRONIT®
• CERA4PROTECT
• CERA4VIEW
• CERA4RESIST

Products and services

• Advanced Ceramics (Céramiques Avancées) Technical and advanced ceramic components (oxide and non-oxide) designed and manufactured for extreme environments including corrosive, abrasive, high temperature, high pressure, electrical insulation, cryogenic, vacuum, and ultra-high vacuum conditions. Customers include industrial, energy, nuclear, optics, and research buyers.
• Ceramic-to-Metal Assemblies (Céramique-Métal) Hermetic ceramic-to-metal assemblies and brazed components for aerospace, defense, and nuclear applications requiring reliable seals and electrical connections under extreme conditions including high temperature, vibration, and ultra-high vacuum.
• Glass-to-Metal Assemblies (Verre-Métal) Glass-to-metal sealed assemblies for flash lamps and precision applications requiring hermetic sealing and thermal resistance.
• CERA4PROTECT Ballistic protection solutions using advanced transparent ceramics (Spinel-based) for defense applications including helicopters, land vehicles, and security systems.
• CERA4RESIST High-performance transparent ceramic armor materials providing light and ultra-resistant ballistic protection for defense applications.
• CERA4VIEW Transparent ceramic solutions for advanced optics and photonics applications including windows, lenses, and prisms.
• Transparent Ceramics (Spinel-based) High-performance transparent ceramic materials based on nanostructured Spinel (density 3.48) for defense, security, and protection applications including ballistic protection, optronic systems, pods, optical imaging, sensors, and countermeasure systems.
• Albuz Agricultural Spray Nozzles Ceramic spray nozzles and accessories for agricultural applications, particularly pesticide spraying, distributed under the Albuz brand.
• AlbuzTec Technical Spray Nozzles Technical spray nozzle solutions for precision agriculture applications, marketed under the AlbuzTec sub-brand.
• VITRON Infrared Materials and Components Infrared materials manufactured by the VITRON subsidiary including CVD zinc sulfide and chalcogenide glasses, plus special glass melts for infrared optics applications across aerospace, defense, and nuclear markets.
• VITRONIT Machinable Glass Ceramic Machinable glass-ceramic product line (VITRONIT) from the VITRON subsidiary for engineering and medical markets.

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SKW SchwarzminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 10 October 2023Munich-based law firm SKW Schwarz advised SOLCERA GROUP SAS on the acquisition of VITRON Spezialwerkstoffe GmbH.
• NAE (Normandie AeroEspace)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNormandie AeroEspace cluster is a center of excellence gathering over 140 operators including big industrial groups, SMI/SME, research laboratories and universities. NAE has over 20,000 employees and 3 billion EUR turnover. SOLCERA participates in NAE-organized events including Paris Air Show pavilion.
• PEC (Pôle Européen de la Céramique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean ceramics cluster based in Limoges and Toulouse, recognized as an expert in France, representing the ceramics sector. Leads network of 140 actors to promote innovation capacity.
• La French FabminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench industry accreditation network created in October 2017 to federate French companies and promote French industries throughout the world.
• Région NormandiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNormandy region with exceptional geographical position and innovative economy. Strong supporter of SOLCERA's development and international expansion.
• French Defense Innovation Agency (AID)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on SPINELLE Defense Technology Project for development of cutting-edge transparent armor material. Project involves cooperation with Nexter, Airbus Helicopters, and DGA.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• Kyocera: Kyocera is a global Japanese conglomerate whose Fine Ceramics division supplies advanced ceramic components for semiconductors, aerospace, and industrial customers — a much larger incumbent with overlapping but broader product portfolio versus SOLCERA.
• II-VI (now Coherent): Coherent (formerly II-VI) is a global supplier of engineered materials and laser/optics components including IR materials (ZnS, ZnSe, chalcogenides) — directly comparable to SOLCERA's VITRON subsidiary IR materials portfolio.
• Saint-Gobain: Saint-Gobain is a French-listed global leader in building and high-performance materials with ceramic and refractory product lines serving construction, industry, and aerospace — comparable as a French broad incumbent operating in ceramics-adjacent segments.

Emerging players

• Surmet Corporation: Surmet is a US specialist in transparent ceramics (spinel, ALON) and ceramic coatings for defense and optical applications — directly competing with SOLCERA's Spinel-based CERA4PROTECT and CERA4VIEW product lines.

Direct peers

• Superior Technical Ceramics: Superior Technical Ceramics is a US custom manufacturer of technical ceramic components for aerospace, defense, semiconductor, and industrial customers — a smaller but functionally comparable peer to SOLCERA's custom ceramic component business.
• CoorsTek: CoorsTek is one of the world's largest technical ceramics manufacturers serving semiconductor, aerospace, defense, and industrial customers with oxide and non-oxide ceramics, assemblies, and engineered components — a close functional peer to SOLCERA's advanced ceramics platform.
• Morgan Advanced Materials: Morgan Advanced Materials is a UK-listed specialist in advanced ceramics, carbon, and composites supplying aerospace, defense, energy, and industrial customers with engineered components and assemblies — comparable to SOLCERA in customer mix and product breadth.
• Mersen: Mersen is a French-listed industrial specialist in advanced materials (including carbon/graphite and certain ceramics) and electrical components for energy, electronics, and transportation — comparable as a French advanced-materials peer serving similar industrial end markets.
• Schunk Group: Schunk is a German specialist in technical ceramics (including transparent and structural ceramics) and carbon-based solutions serving automotive, electronics, and industrial markets — closely comparable to SOLCERA's ceramic component and assembly offerings.
• CeramTec: CeramTec is a leading German manufacturer of advanced technical ceramics, including transparent ceramics, ceramic-to-metal assemblies, and substrates for defense, medical, and industrial applications — directly comparable to SOLCERA across most product lines and end markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutu.be/D37xH_3Wjmg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/solcera
• Xx.com/Solcera3

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SOLCERA