Cosea

What Cosea does

Cosea is a French industrial subcontracting company, founded in 1989 and headquartered in Viriat (Ain), that provides metal surface finishing and anti-corrosion coating services. The company operates three production sites across the Ain and Rhône departments (Viriat, Villefranche-sur-Saône, and Péronnas) with combined workshop space of approximately 7,300 m², plus 2,300 m² of storage capacity, and a proprietary fleet of 10 semi-trailers supporting exceptional transport. With 36 employees, Cosea is structured as a privately held SARL with €150,000 in capital, owned by management with no disclosed external investment.

The company's core offering is an integrated anti-corrosion treatment stack comprising shot blasting (grenaillage), thermal metallization (zinc, zinc/aluminum 85/15, aluminum), liquid paint, and electrostatic powder coating for ferrous and non-ferrous steel structures. Cosea holds ACQPA, OHGPI, and GEPI certifications, employs 14 ACQPA-certified inspectors, and conforms to NF A 91-201, NF EN ISO 12944, and NF T 34-550/600 standards — qualifications that enable work for nuclear (EPR reactor components, radioactive material handling), defense (tank components, protection plates, antenna systems), petroleum/offshore (hydraulic pumps, heat exchangers, offshore containers), and general industrial clients. Documented revenue is approximately €4 million annually, with more than 50% derived from nuclear, defense, and petroleum equipment sectors.

The business model is B2B enterprise sales via quote-based pricing and dedicated account management for 'grands comptes' clients, complemented by a B2B/B2C paint distribution counter and shipping service, a Re-Paint FERMOB circular-economy furniture partnership, and proprietary transport services. Cosea's strategic positioning rests on integrated in-house capability, certified quality assurance, multi-language documentation (French, English, German), and the ability to handle large and heavy components up to 40 tonnes — factors that create qualification-based switching costs for clients in regulated industries.

Name

Cosea

Legal name

Cosea

Website

https://cosea.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cosea is a French industrial subcontractor founded in 1989, operating three production sites in Ain and Rhône with 36 employees. It provides integrated anti-corrosion surface treatment — shot blasting, metallization, liquid paint, and powder coating — to nuclear, defense, petroleum/offshore, and general industry clients, generating approximately €4 million in annual revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Surface Treatment and Anti-Corrosion Coating Services

NAICS

Metal Coating, Engraving (except Jewelry and Silverware), and Allied Services to Manufacturers (332812), Coating, Engraving, Heat Treating, and Allied Activities (3328)

SIC

Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470)

akta.pro primary industry

Marine Coatings, Blasting & Corrosion Control (Hull, Tanks, Cathodic Protection) (TLAHAMAG)

Keywords

• Industrial surface treatment
• Anti-corrosion coatings
• Metallization services
• Industrial painting
• Shot blasting

Headquarters

HQ city

Viriat

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial surface treatment subcontracting: Core business: industrial subcontracting for anti-corrosion surface treatment of metal parts including shot blasting, metallization, liquid paint, and powder coating. Serves nuclear, petroleum, defense, and general industry sectors. More than 50% of revenue from nuclear, defense, and petroleum equipment sectors.
2. Paint distribution: Sales of industrial paints to professionals and individuals including small and large packaging, counter sales, aerosols, and EPI (personal protective equipment). Product shipping service.
3. Transport and logistics services: Fleet of 10 semi-trailers (flatbed, curtain-sided, low-loader, extensible), 2 tractors, 2 light utility vehicles (3.5 tonnes), 4 light vehicles. Permanent authorizations for exceptional transport (1st and 2nd category). Public merchandise transport service exclusively for industrial clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Cosea is an industrial subcontracting company that provides anti-corrosion surface treatment services for ferrous and non-ferrous metal components, including shot blasting (grenaillage), thermal metallization (zinc, zinc/aluminum, aluminum), liquid paint application, and electrostatic powder coating. The company serves high-specification industrial clients in nuclear, defense/armament, petroleum/offshore, and general manufacturing sectors through three production sites in Ain and Rhône, with complementary transportation, storage, and paint distribution services.

Product overview

COSEA is an industrial surface treatment and coating company offering integrated anticorrosion services through complementary processes: shot blasting (Grenaillage) for surface preparation, metallization (zinc/aluminum) for base protection, liquid paint and powder coating for finishing. The company provides ancillary services including transportation fleet (10 semi-trailers), storage facilities, paint distribution retail, and specialized FERMOB furniture re-painting. With 36 employees across 3 production sites in Ain and Rhône departments, COSEA serves high-tech sectors including nuclear, defense, petroleum/offshore, and general industry, generating approximately 4 million euros in annual revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Grenaillage (Shot Blasting) Shot blasting service projecting steel shot abrasive onto metal surfaces to modify surface structure, clean components, and create optimal roughness for coating adhesion. Used as surface preparation step before metallization or painting for industrial clients.
• Métallisation (Metallization) Application of zinc, zinc/aluminum, and pure aluminum coatings using flame or electric arc spray guns to provide long-lasting corrosion protection of metal structures. Performed per NF A 91-201 standard using MARGARIDO electric arc equipment for high-specification industrial clients.
• Peinture Liquide (Liquid Paint Application) Liquid paint application including standard epoxy/urethane primer systems and high-durability anticorrosive systems for high-tech industrial clients (nuclear, defense, petroleum) meeting stringent technical specifications and multi-language documentation requirements.
• Peinture Poudre (Powder Coating) Electrostatic polyester powder coating application with oven curing, providing UV-resistant and mechanically performant finishes for ferrous and non-ferrous metals in various textures and colors.
• Industrial Transport Services Proprietary fleet of 10 semi-trailers (flatbed, curtain-sided, low-loader, extensible), 2 tractors, 2 light utility vehicles (3.5 tonnes), and 4 light vehicles. Operates under permanent 1st and 2nd category exceptional transport authorizations and provides public merchandise transport exclusively for industrial clients.
• Industrial Storage Services Multi-site storage capacity totaling 2,300 m² including an 800 m² secured closed storage building in Bourg-en-Bresse zone CENORD, plus outdoor covered storage at Viriat (900 m²) and Péronnas (600 m²) sites.
• Re-Paint FERMOB (Furniture Renovation) Specialized re-paint service under partnership with FERMOB and Re-Paint offering durable renovation of metal outdoor garden furniture to its original colors, positioned as a circular economy offering that reduces carbon footprint.
• Paint Distribution (Distribution Peinture) Retail and professional distribution of industrial paints including small and large packaging, counter sales, aerosols, and personal protective equipment (PPE), with a product shipping service available to professionals and individuals.

Quantifiable outcome

• More than 50% of revenue from high-specification sectors (nuclear, defense, petroleum)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Re-Paint FERMOBminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with FERMOB garden furniture brand to offer re-paint renovation service. Cosea acts as partner for renovating metal furniture items, contributing to circular economy and reducing carbon footprint. Service allows customers to restore FERMOB furniture to original colors.
• OHGPI (Office d'Homologation des Garanties de Peinture Industrielle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndependent organization created in 1958 that homologates industrial paint guarantees. Performs technical analysis and delivers impartial opinions on guarantees provided by companies and paint manufacturers. Homologates over one million square meters of work annually. Cosea is a member enabling access to paint guarantee homologation services.
• ACQPA (Association pour la Certification et la Qualification en Peinture Anticorrosion)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization that certifies quality of high-durability paint systems, personnel qualifications, and inspector certifications. Systems must meet 'haute durabilité' class per NF EN ISO 12944 and NF T 34-550/34-600 standards. Cosea has 14 ACQPA-certified inspectors.
• GEPI (Groupement des Entrepreneurs de Peinture Industrielle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederation created in 1953 representing most companies dedicated to industrial anti-corrosion painting. GEPI represents and promotes the profession, intervenes in regulatory domains including fascicule 56 (public procurement), and supports maintenance activities.
• Plus que PROminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetwork of Best Companies in France based on customer feedback and experience. Cosea holds attestation of membership, which serves as a marketing credential.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Jotun: Norwegian global coatings company with a dominant marine and offshore protective coatings portfolio. Comparable to Cosea on the petroleum/offshore anti-corrosion side of the business, particularly for offshore equipment surface treatment, but operates as a paint manufacturer rather than a subcontractor.
• AkzoNobel: Global paints and coatings major whose International Paint and Protective Coatings divisions serve marine, offshore and industrial anti-corrosion markets comparable to Cosea's petroleum and offshore segment. A broad incumbent whose downstream applicator partners often compete with Cosea.
• Hempel: Danish marine and protective coatings manufacturer with a strong French presence. Overlaps with Cosea in high-durability industrial and offshore anti-corrosion coatings, including standards aligned with ISO 12944, but competes from the coatings manufacturer side rather than application subcontractor.
• Bodycote: UK-listed provider of heat treatment and surface treatment services to aerospace, automotive and industrial customers. Comparable to Cosea as a contract surface treatment provider serving regulated industrial clients, but at significantly larger scale and with broader geographic reach.
• Aalberts Industries: Dutch-listed industrial services group providing surface treatment, heat treatment and coating services across Europe, including France. Directly comparable business model (subcontracted industrial surface treatment) at much larger scale, representing a potential consolidator or benchmark for Cosea's growth trajectory.
• Axalta Coating Systems: Global industrial coatings company serving industrial OEMs, refinish and commercial vehicle markets. Overlaps with Cosea on liquid and powder coating for industrial metal components, though Axalta is a manufacturer rather than a French regional applicator.
• Teknos Group: Finnish privately-held industrial coatings manufacturer with a strong European footprint in protective and powder coatings. Comparable to Cosea on industrial anti-corrosion and powder coating end-markets, with relevant French and European customer overlap, though operating as a coatings manufacturer rather than applicator.
• Sika AG: Swiss specialty chemicals company active in construction and industrial coatings, sealing and bonding. Adjacent comparator given Cosea's building/construction segment for gates, railings and structural metalwork, though Sika is significantly larger and broader in scope.
• PPG Industries: US-listed global coatings company supplying protective and marine coatings for offshore, nuclear and industrial customers that overlap with Cosea's client base. Comparable in end-market exposure rather than service model, as PPG is a coatings manufacturer rather than an applicator.

Direct peers

• Galva Union: French industrial metallization and surface treatment specialist offering shot blasting, zinc/aluminum metallization and anti-corrosion painting for industrial clients. Directly comparable to Cosea in service mix, French geographic base and ACQPA-style certification requirements, with similar scale and subcontractor business model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cosea