AFCO
AFCO (Aciers et Fers du Cotentin) is a French metal service center founded in 1986 in Valognes, Normandy, trading and fabricating steel products for naval, nuclear, and construction industrials, with laser/plasma cutting, galvanization, and a retail tool store for individual consumers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1986
- HeadquartersValognes, France
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
AFCO firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AFCO
- Legal name
- AFCO - ACIERS ET FERS DU COTENTIN
- Website
- https://afco-acier.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1986
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- AFCO (Aciers et Fers du Cotentin) is a French metal service center founded in 1986 in Valognes, Normandy, trading and fabricating steel products for naval, nuclear, and construction industrials, with laser/plasma cutting, galvanization, and a retail tool store for individual consumers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where AFCO is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Valognes
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
AFCO business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Steel and metal product sales: AFCO generates revenue primarily through the wholesale and retail sale of metallurgical products including steel beams, tubes, sheets, stainless steel, aluminium, and metal hardware. Products are sold in commercial dimensions or custom cut to specifications, available individually, in bundles, or by pallet.
- Metal fabrication and value-added services: Revenue from metal fabrication services including laser cutting, plasma cutting, bending, welding, and surface treatment (galvanisation, thermolacquer, painting). These services add value through custom processing of materials.
- Tool shop and hardware retail: Retail sale of tools, hardware, fasteners, welding equipment, personal protective equipment, and accessories from the on-site tool shop at Valognes.
- Industrial gas distribution (Air Liquide): Revenue from distribution of industrial gases including butane, propane, argon, oxygen, acetylene, helium, nitrogen, and food-grade gases as an Air Liquide Expert distributor.
- Equipment rental: Rental of beam lifting equipment (lève-poutre 600kg/3m) on a daily or extended basis.
- Transportation and delivery services: Delivery services using company-owned transport fleet including vans, flatbed trucks, trailers, and semi-trailers for delivering goods to customer premises or job sites.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
AFCO product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AFCO trades and distributes metallurgical products (steel beams, tubes, plates, stainless steel, aluminum, gratings, expanded metal, prefabricated buildings, cladding, roofing, gutters, and hardware) from a 6,500 m² facility in Valognes holding approximately 300 tonnes of permanent stock. The company provides in-house value-added services including fiber laser cutting (4000W), plasma cutting, CNC cutting and bending, custom metal fabrication and welding, hot-dip galvanizing (ISO 1461), surface treatment, Air Liquide industrial gas distribution, beam lifter rental, and delivery via its own transport fleet to professional and individual customers across the Manche department and mainland France.
Product overview
AFCO is an independent B2B steel and metal trading company based in Valognes, Manche, France, operating since 1986 with a 6,500 m² facility and permanent stock of approximately 300 tonnes. The company operates as a single integrated offering combining: (1) Core steel trading products including beams (UPE/UPN/HEA/HEB/IPE/IPN), tubes (construction, locksmith, square, rectangular, precision), plates (various dimensions up to 20mm thickness), perforated and tread plates, flat/round iron, reinforcement products for concrete, stainless steel (304L, 316L), and aluminum; (2) Secondary metal products including gratings, expanded metal, prefabricated buildings, roofing/cladding sheets, gutters, and hardware/accessories; (3) Value-added manufacturing services including laser and plasma cutting (up to 70mm thickness), CNC cutting and bending, custom metal fabrication and welding, hot-dip galvanizing (ISO 1461), powder coating and surface treatment; (4) Supporting services including gas distribution (Air Liquide expert), beam lifter rental, and transportation logistics. Products are available in commercial dimensions or custom-cut, sold individually or in bundles, with finishes including raw, galvanized, powder-coated, or zinc-plated.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Steel Beams (Poutrelles acier) Structural steel beams available in UPE, UPN, HEA, HEB, IPE, and IPN profiles for construction and structural applications, sold in commercial lengths or cut to specification.
- Steel Tubes (Tubes acier) Steel tubes in round, square, and rectangular formats including construction, locksmith, pickled-oiled, galvanized, and precision tube variants for industrial and construction use.
- Steel Plates and Perforated Plates (Tôles acier / Tôles perforées) Steel plates in dimensions from 1000x2000mm to 2000x12000mm and thicknesses from 1mm to 20mm, in hot-rolled, cold-rolled, galvanized, and anti-corrosion CORTEN finishes; perforated plates available in round, square, and oblong perforations for guardrails and similar applications.
- Flat/Round Iron and Concrete Products (Fer plat/rond - Produits à béton) Hot-rolled merchant products including flats, wide flats, equal and unequal angles, U-profiles, T-bars, rounds, squares, handrails, drawn rounds, beveled flats, plus concrete reinforcement products (welded mesh, rebar, chain links, structural reinforcements).
- Stainless Steel and Aluminium (Acier Inoxydable - Aluminium) Stainless steel products in tubes, rounds, squares, flats, angles, and plates in 304L and 316L quality grades, plus aluminium products in tubes, rounds, squares, flats, angles, plates, and tread plates.
- Gratings, Expanded Metal, and Stair Treads (Grillages, Métal déployé, Caillebotis & Marches) Security fencing, fencing mesh, expanded metal sheets, pressed and electroforged gratings, and anti-slip stair treads available in raw or galvanized finish for industrial and construction applications.
- Prefabricated Building Kits (Bâtiments en kit) French-made prefabricated building kits with galvanized steel frame, available in 15 color options for covering and cladding sheets.
- Cladding and Roofing Sheets (Tôles bardage & Couverture) Steel roofing and cladding solutions including single-skin systems, sandwich panels with rock wool or polyurethane insulation, pre-painted sheets, and translucent polycarbonate sheets.
- Gutters and Downspouts (Chéneaux & Gouttières) Custom-made galvanized steel and stainless steel gutters integrated into construction, plus standard PVC gutters for rainwater collection.
- Hardware and Accessories (Quincaillerie & Accessoires) Hardware supplies including fixings, bolting, drill bits, welding rods, grinding/cutting discs, paint touch-up spray, cold galvanization, ironwork elements, door supports and rails, paints, and threaded rods.
- Laser and Plasma Cutting (Découpe Laser & Plasma) Custom laser cutting (4000W fiber, sheet format 3000x1500mm, up to 20mm steel, 15mm stainless steel and aluminum) and plasma cutting (sheet format 4000x2000mm, up to 70mm steel, 50mm stainless steel and aluminum) services for custom parts in small and large series.
- Cutting and Bending (Débit & Pliage) Custom cutting and bending services for profiles, tubes, beams, and plates using CNC equipment including numerical folding presses and guillotines (PROMECAM, AMADA, HACO, MULLER LANG, COLLY brands).
- Metal Fabrication (Fabrication métallique) Custom fabrication of welded metal parts including structural steel, gabions, doors, gates, stairs, railings, canopies, agricultural equipment, and other custom metalwork.
- Hot-Dip Galvanizing (Galvanisation à chaud) Hot-dip galvanizing service following ISO 1461 standard for complete rust protection of steel parts through immersion in zinc bath at 450°C, covering interior and exterior surfaces, edges, holes, welds, and perforations.
- Surface Treatment and Painting (Traitement de surfaces / Peintures) Surface treatment services including powder coating, liquid painting, sandblasting, shot blasting, and zinc plating delivered through subcontractors with logistics handled by AFCO.
- Industrial Gas Distribution (Service Gaz) Air Liquide expert distributor providing technical welding gases, food-grade gases, and industrial gases including butane, propane, argon, oxygen, acetylene, helium, and nitrogen.
- Beam Lifter Rental (Location de lève poutrelle) Rental of a 600kg capacity beam lifter (lève-poutre 600kg/3m) with 1.1-2.7m lifting height on a daily or extended basis for construction site use.
- Transportation Services (Transport) Delivery services using vans, flatbed trucks (6m), trailers (3.5T), 16T and 19T trucks with removable cranes (1.5T-2.8T lift capacity), and semi-trailers (12T capacity) throughout the Manche department and France on request.
- Tool Store (Magasin d'outillage) Retail tool store offering cutting tools, personal protective equipment, stainless steel hardware (304L, 316L, A2, A4), welding equipment, power tools, abrasives, and door/portal accessories from brands including HIKOKI, BETA, PHANTOM, KS TOOLS, GYS, Coverguard, and others.
Quantifiable outcome
- Stock renewed weekly via regular deliveries from partners, enabling consistent availability
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use AFCO
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
AFCO technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
AFCO partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Air LiquidecoreAFCO is an Air Liquide Expert distributor, providing a permanent stock of industrial and food-grade gases including butane, propane, argon, oxygen, acetylene, helium, and nitrogen. Air Liquide supplies the gas products which AFCO resells and distributes to customers in the Manche region.
- GYSminorGYS is a supplier of welding equipment and consumables. AFCO stocks and resells GYS welding stations and consumables at its tool shop in Valognes.
- HikokiminorHikoki is a supplier of power tools. AFCO stocks and resells Hikoki power tools at its tool shop in Valognes.
- BETAminorBETA is a supplier of hand tools and equipment. AFCO stocks and resells BETA tools at its tool shop, including tool shop accessories featured during open day events.
- Joris IdeminorJoris Ide is a supplier of building envelope products (cladding, roofing). AFCO sources building envelope materials from Joris Ide and was featured as a supplier partner during open day events.
- CoverguardminorCoverguard supplies personal protective equipment (PPE). AFCO stocks and resells Coverguard safety products at its tool shop.
- PhantomminorPhantom is a tool and hardware supplier featured during AFCO open day events. AFCO stocks Phantom products at its tool shop.
- BosseurminorBosseur is a tool and hardware supplier. AFCO stocks Bosseur products at its Valognes tool shop and was featured during open day events.
- JeltminorJelt is a supplier of hardware and accessories. AFCO stocks Jelt products at its tool shop and was featured during open day events.
- MantionminorMantion supplies door and gate accessories. AFCO stocks Mantion products (handles, castors, rails) at its tool shop.
- KS ToolsminorKS Tools is a professional tool brand available at AFCO's tool shop in Valognes.
- DolexminorDolex is a tool and hardware brand available at AFCO's tool shop in Valognes.
- Van OmmenminorVan Ommen is a tool and hardware brand available at AFCO's tool shop in Valognes.
- NorailminorNorail is a nail and fastener supplier available at AFCO's tool shop in Valognes.
- Galvanisation sub-contractorscoreAFCO works with sub-contracting partners for hot-dip galvanisation services. Customers deposit raw steel fabrications at AFCO's collection centre, and AFCO arranges transport to galvanisation workshops (via covered truck) and return delivery. Pieces deposited before Friday evening are typically returned by the following Wednesday.
- Surface treatment sub-contractorsminorAFCO partners with sub-contracting companies for surface treatment services including thermolacquer (powder coating), liquid paint, sandblasting, shot blasting, and zinc plating. AFCO handles transportation of parts to and from the sub-contractors.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AFCO competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Fractory: Online sheet metal fabrication marketplace offering instant quoting for laser cutting, plasma cutting, bending, and finishing across Europe. Emerging digital competitor to traditional négoce cutting services, particularly for one-off and prototype work.
- Xometry Europe: Online on-demand manufacturing marketplace connecting buyers with fabrication suppliers (cutting, bending, CNC) across Europe. An emerging digital alternative to traditional régional négoces for customers seeking custom-cut parts without local stock relationships.
Direct peers
- Würth France: French subsidiary of the global tool and fastener giant, operating a network of trade-focused retail outlets selling tools, PPE, fixings, and consumables. Highly comparable to AFCO's newly opened tool shop and hardware retail business serving the same professional trades.
- Jacquet Metals: French-listed specialist distributor of stainless steel and nickel alloys serving industrial customers across Europe. Highly comparable in négoce-led model, B2B professional customer focus, and value-added cutting services; operates at significantly larger scale.
- Descours & Cabaud (DXC Group): Historic French industrial supplies and metals distributor (now part of DXC/Haudry) serving professional trades and industrial accounts across France. Closely comparable in mixed négoce/processing business model and trade-customer focus.
- Kloeckner Metals France: Kloeckner & Co's French subsidiary is one of the country's largest steel service centers, distributing and processing the same range of steel beams, tubes, plates, and stainless steel that AFCO trades. Closest direct comparable in product breadth, customer base (B2B professionals, industrial OEMs), and processing services.
Regional players
- Bricoman: French trade-focused home improvement retailer serving construction professionals and serious DIYers with building materials, tools, and hardware. Competes with AFCO's retail/tool-shop offering for small-quantity steel buyers and trades, though without custom cutting services.
Broad incumbents
- Thyssenkrupp Materials Services: European metals distributor with French presence offering carbon steel, stainless, and aluminum plus processing. Overlaps with AFCO in product categories and customer types but at much larger scale and broader portfolio.
- Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel: European steel trading subsidiary of Salzgitter AG distributing tubes, beams, and plates to industrial customers. Comparable in product range and négoce/processing model; serves industrial B2B customers at a continental rather than regional scale.
- ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions: Distribution arm of Europe's largest steel producer, offering broad steel and stainless product ranges plus processing services. Operates at vastly larger scale and broader geographic scope than AFCO; competes on price and stock depth in the same product categories.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AFCO social profiles
Digital presenceAFCO compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
AFCO financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AFCO leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
AFCO funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AFCO M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AFCO
What does AFCO do?
AFCO trades and distributes metallurgical products (steel beams, tubes, plates, stainless steel, aluminum, gratings, expanded metal, prefabricated buildings, cladding, roofing, gutters, and hardware) from a 6,500 m² facility in Valognes holding approximately 300 tonnes of permanent stock. The company provides in-house value-added services including fiber laser cutting (4000W), plasma cutting, CNC cutting and bending, custom metal fabrication and welding, hot-dip galvanizing (ISO 1461), surface treatment, Air Liquide industrial gas distribution, beam lifter rental, and delivery via its own transport fleet to professional and individual customers across the Manche department and mainland France.
Is AFCO a public or private company?
AFCO is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was AFCO founded?
AFCO was founded in 1986. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is AFCO based?
AFCO is headquartered in Valognes, France, in the Europe region.
How does AFCO make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Steel and metal product sales are the primary driver. The others are metal fabrication and value-added services, tool shop and hardware retail, industrial gas distribution (Air Liquide), equipment rental and transportation and delivery services.
Who are AFCO's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are Fractory and Xometry Europe. Direct peers are Würth France, Jacquet Metals, Descours & Cabaud (DXC Group) and Kloeckner Metals France. Bricoman is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Thyssenkrupp Materials Services, Salzgitter Mannesmann Stahlhandel and ArcelorMittal Distribution Solutions.
Does AFCO have an API?
No public API is recorded for AFCO.