GROUPE CB

What GROUPE CB does

Groupe CB is a French family-owned industrial group founded in 1896, headquartered in Leulinghen-Bernes (Pas-de-Calais), and operated through four business divisions: Les Granulats (aggregates extraction and production at nine quarries and six logistics platforms, including the 500-hectare Ferques open-pit quarry — the largest in France on a single site — producing approximately 10.5 million tonnes annually), Les Réfractaires (TRB Réfractaires, designing and installing refractory solutions for steel, cement, and foundry high-temperature processes, with nearly 80 years of domain expertise and products such as PUREBLOX 1400 and ECOFIB prefabricated parts), Les Minéraux (fine mineral processing and low-carbon fillers under the CB Green entity created in 2020), and Les Bois (glued laminated timber and engineered wood structures for construction). The group serves enterprise customers across construction, public works, steel, cement, foundries, and agri-food, with named references including ArcelorMittal, Saint Louis Sucre, and Grand Paris infrastructure projects supplied via a 17-year rail partnership with DB Cargo France.

The company makes money through direct one-time sales of aggregates, refractory products and installation services, fine mineral products, and engineered wood structures, complemented by transaction-fee multimodal logistics services (rail and river) through its Volta Transport subsidiary. Commercial reach spans approximately 30 countries, with 25% of revenue generated internationally, and operations are anchored by 50 industrial and commercial sites and roughly 650 employees. Distribution is supported by an in-house logistics network including the Terminal 2020 rail facility at Ferques and multimodal transport, and the company has built long-tenure enterprise relationships (e.g., 17 years with DB Cargo France, a multi-thousand-tonne blast furnace relining contract with ArcelorMittal Dunkerque). Recent strategic actions — including the April 2025 acquisition of Mt Savage Specialty Refractories in the United States, the 2024–2025 acquisitions of JAMES and COSYLVA in France, and a €60 million joint venture with Ecocem for a Dunkirk low-carbon filler plant — together with ISO 50001 certification at Ferques in 2026, indicate a deliberate expansion of the decarbonization, geographic, and product footprint while the group remains under fifth-generation family ownership (Franck and Gilles Poulain as shareholder-managers).

Name

GROUPE CB

Legal name

CBase

Website

https://groupecb.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1896

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Groupe CB is a 130-year-old French family-owned industrial group that extracts and transforms minerals into aggregates, refractory materials, fine minerals, and engineered wood for construction, public works, and high-temperature industries in approximately 30 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Construction Materials

NAICS

Nonmetallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying (2123), Other Concrete Product Manufacturing (327390)

SIC

Mining & Quarrying Of Nonmetallic Minerals (No Fuels) (1400), Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries (3990)

akta.pro primary industry

Recycled Aggregates & C&D Materials Processing (RCA, RAP, Glass Aggregate) (IMAKAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Concrete & Asphalt Recycling (RCA/RAP) (BPALAJAD)

Keywords

• Construction aggregates production
• Refractory materials manufacturing
• Industrial minerals processing
• Engineered timber structures
• Mineral transformation materials

Headquarters

HQ city

Leulinghen-bernes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Aggregates Sales: Extraction and production of natural and recycled aggregates sold to industries, construction companies, and public works contractors. Annual production approximately 10.5 million tonnes through 9 quarries and 6 logistics platforms.
2. Refractory Products and Services: Design, manufacture, and implementation of refractory solutions for high-temperature industries including steel, cement, and foundries. Nearly 80 years of expertise with integrated capabilities from design office to field teams.
3. Fine Minerals Processing: Conception, transformation, and valorization of fine minerals and low-carbon solutions for construction, industry, and agri-food sectors.
4. Engineered Wood Structures: Manufacturing of timber frames and glued laminated wood structures for durable and high-performance construction.
5. Transport and Logistics Services (Volta Transport): Multimodal logistics solutions including rail and river transport for aggregates and industrial materials, contributing to decarbonization efforts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Groupe CB is a family-owned industrial group specializing in the transformation and valorization of materials. The company operates four complementary business divisions: extraction and production of natural and recycled aggregates for construction and public works (approximately 10.5 million tonnes annually), innovative refractory solutions for high-temperature industries such as steel, cement, and foundries, fine mineral processing and low-carbon solutions, and manufacturing of glued laminated timber structures for construction.

Product overview

Groupe CB is a family-owned industrial group with nearly 130 years of history, organized around four core business divisions: Les Granulats (extraction and production of natural and recycled aggregates for construction and public works), Les Réfractaires/TRB Réfractaires (innovative refractory solutions for high-temperature industries including steel, cement, and foundries), Les Minéraux (fine minerals and low-carbon solutions), and Les Bois (timber frames and glued laminated wood structures). The Group operates through subsidiaries including CB Green (low-carbon solutions, including CB2M limestone filler operations), Volta Transport (multimodal logistics with rail and river freight capabilities), and the PRIMA Architectural Park foundation. Key operational sites include Carrières du Boulonnais at Ferques (France's largest open-pit quarry), Carrières Blanc in Rhône-Alpes, and multiple refractory manufacturing facilities. Recent acquisitions include JAMES, COSYLVA, and Mt Savage Specialty Refractories (USA, April 2025). The Group supplies approximately 10.5 million tonnes of aggregates annually, operates 50 industrial and commercial sites worldwide with 650 employees, and generates 25% of revenue internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Les Granulats du Groupe CB: Extraction and production of natural and recycled aggregates for industries, construction and public works.
• TRB Réfractaires
• CB Green
• Volta Transport
• Carrières Blanc
• Carrières du Boulonnais
• PRIMA

Products and services

• Les Granulats du Groupe CB (Aggregates Division) Extraction and production of natural and recycled aggregates for industries, construction, and public works. The division operates 9 quarries, 6 logistics platforms, 1 rail terminal, and 1 industrial by-product processing plant, supplying nearly 10.5 million tonnes annually.
• TRB Réfractaires (Refractories Division) Development of innovative refractory solutions for very high-temperature environments worldwide. TRB designs, manufactures, and implements refractory products for steel, cement, and foundry industries, with nearly 80 years of expertise spanning from design offices and laboratories to workshops and field teams.
• Les Minéraux du Groupe CB (Minerals Division) Design, transformation, and valorization of fine minerals and low-carbon solutions for construction, industry, and agri-food sectors.
• Les Bois du Groupe CB (Wood Division) Manufacturing of timber frames and glued laminated wood structures for durable and high-performance construction.
• CB Green (Low-Carbon Solutions) Low-carbon solutions subsidiary including CB2M, a limestone filler production site in Ferques with over 16 years of accident-free operations, focused on circular economy and decarbonization.
• Volta Transport (Multimodal Logistics) Multimodal logistics subsidiary providing carbon-free transport and logistics solutions. Specializes in rail and river freight to reduce carbon footprints, serving the Group's aggregates division and external customers.
• Refractory Relining Services TRB's field installation services including complete relining of casthouse floors, tuyere platforms, slag granulation systems, slag runners, and slag pool walls for blast furnaces and industrial installations.
• Ferques Quarry Industrial Tourism Industrial tourism experience at France's largest open-pit quarry. Guided bus tours explore extraction sites, production processes, panoramic views, and environmental initiatives. Season runs April onwards with 5€ per person admission partially donated to conservation organizations.

Quantifiable outcome

• 10.5 million tonnes of natural and recycled aggregates produced annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and supporting.

• Mt Savage Specialty RefractoriesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2025American refractory manufacturer acquired by TRB Réfractaires in April 2025, strengthening presence in North America and consolidating the refractory offering worldwide. Led by CEO Mike and Sales Director Ryan.
• EDFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025EDF experts supported the Ferques site in launching a strategic energy optimization project in 2025, helping structure a comprehensive energy management approach including analysis of usage, consumption monitoring, equipment management, and team engagement for ISO 50001 certification.
• PA TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 April 2024Strategic partnership formalized in April 2024 for innovation in refractory materials and industrial coatings. PA Technologies specializes in coating of industrial equipment and their expertise complements TRB's refractory capabilities for cement, coke, steel, foundries, glass, and ferroalloy industries.
• Saint Louis SucremajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 15 April 2023Partnership for rail transport of limestone from Carrières du Boulonnais to Saint Louis Sucre's Etrépagny refinery for sugar production. Saves 300 tonnes of CO2 annually by replacing 950 trucks with rail transport.
• DB Cargo FrancemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor17-year partnership for rail transport of aggregates from Carrières du Boulonnais to construction sites including Grand Paris projects. DB Cargo France bulk corridor team transports aggregates supporting major infrastructure development.
• PA Technologies (Densit Taloché)coreTechnology or IntegrationPA Technologies developed Densit Taloché, an abrasion-resistant material used by TRB for slag granulation basins at ArcelorMittal. This coating solution has proven reliable and was selected for its performance in extreme conditions.
• Green Servers (Eco-Design)supportingOthersWebsite hosted on green servers distinguished by low electricity consumption, IT waste recycling, 100% renewable energy sources, and sustainable data center infrastructure.
• Conservatoire d'espaces naturels des Hauts-de-FrancesupportingOthersEnvironmental partner for the 'Chemins des Ducs' project studying Great Horned Owl populations at the Ferques quarry site. Also partner for biodiversity preservation initiatives.
• Conservatoire Botanique National des Hauts-de-FrancesupportingOthersBeneficiary of industrial tourism fees (5€ per visitor in 2026) supporting protection of sensitive flora and fauna at quarry sites.
• EcocemmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture partner for €60 million investment to create a high-quality filler crushing plant in Dunkirk, producing low-carbon cement alternatives. Represents significant commitment to decarbonization.
• Réseau Entreprendre Côte d'Opale (RECO)majorOthersFounding member and supporter of RECO, a business leader network created in 1997. Supports entrepreneurship and job creation with over €4.8 million in honor loans, supporting 303 companies and 2,900+ jobs created.
• Parc Naturel Régional des Caps et Marais d'OpalesupportingOthersPartnership for landscape preservation and sustainable development in the Marquise quarry basin region, including 30th anniversary celebrations of the Landscape Plan.
• Musée du Louvre-LenssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCultural partnership exploring synergies between PRIMA Architectural Park and the museum's future exhibition on 'Underworking Worlds', promoting cultural heritage and regional tourism.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Holcim: Global leader in aggregates, cement, and ready-mix concrete with extensive European quarry footprint; comparable because both operate large-scale aggregates businesses supplying infrastructure and public works customers, though Holcim also spans cement and concrete at much greater scale.
• Saint-Gobain: French-listed building materials and high-performance materials group with refractory and construction-material activities. Comparable to Groupe CB's diversified French industrial platforms and shared customer overlap in construction and industrial end-markets.
• CRH plc: Global building materials group with significant aggregates and concrete activities in Europe and the Americas; comparable in vertically integrated construction materials and distribution scale.
• Heidelberg Materials: Major European aggregates and cement producer with significant French operations (e.g., Calcia). Directly comparable in aggregates-based business model serving construction and public works; broader in cement and downstream building products.

Direct peers

• Vesuvius: Global engineered refractories and flow-control solutions supplier to steel, foundry, and glass producers. Comparable to TRB in serving high-temperature industrial customers with refractory linings and technical services.
• RHI Magnesita: Global leader in refractories serving steel, cement, and glass industries. Directly comparable to TRB Réfractaires in refractory manufacturing, technology, and customer segments, though at substantially larger scale and global footprint.
• Imerys: French-listed specialty minerals group producing industrial minerals for construction, refractory, and other end-markets. Closely comparable to Groupe CB's Fine Minerals and Refractories divisions, with overlapping customer base in cement, steel, and construction.

Regional players

• Compagnie des Sablières de l'Audomarois: Northern French sand and gravel quarry operator; comparable as a regionally focused aggregates producer serving construction and public works in northern France.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/groupe-cb

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries9 records

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 GROUPE CB