CHARPENTE CENOMANE - Société à Mission

What CHARPENTE CENOMANE - Société à Mission does

Charpente Cénomane is a French Société à Mission founded in July 1995 by Jean-Claude Baudin, headquartered in Requeil, Sarthe, and operating as a family-owned timber construction specialist. The company designs, prefabricates, and installs load-bearing timber structures, ranging from traditional hand-crafted timber framing and historical monument restoration to modern wood-frame buildings and modular off-site construction under its ZAG3 sub-brand. It serves a diversified client base of public-sector bodies, architects, social housing operators, private developers, and individual homeowners, with installations delivered across France and into Belgium by twelve dedicated site teams.

Operationally, the company runs an integrated design-to-install model: structures are engineered in-house using CADWORK 3D CAD and ACORD BAT structural calculation software, then cut on automated CNC lines including a Hundegger K2i, Speed Cut, and Mach Diffusion B4 machines, before being erected on site. Production is housed across 4,500–4,800 m² of workshop and office space on a 3-hectare site, with the firm having cut over 20,000 m³ of timber frames cumulatively. It positions itself as a prime 'Gros Œuvre Bois' (structural timber) contractor, taking accountability for the structural envelope rather than acting as a subcontractor.

Revenue stands at €13M (2021 disclosed), with 70–72 employees, individual contracts up to €4.9M, and a roster of more than 50 active clients. Competitive positioning rests on stacked certifications (Qualibat, PEFC since 2008 — the first French timber framer to obtain it, Charpente 21, AFCOBOIS, EPV), MOF and 'Compagnon charpentiers' craftsmen, and a sustainability-driven corporate mandate (Société à Mission, carbon neutrality by 2030, ADEME partnership on a timber sector label). No external funding rounds have been taken; growth has been funded organically across nearly three decades of continuous operation.

Name

CHARPENTE CENOMANE - Société à Mission

Legal name

Charpente Cénomane

Website

https://charpentes-bois.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Charpente Cénomane is a French family-owned Société à Mission, founded 1995, that designs, prefabricates, and installs heritage and modern timber structures for public clients, architects, social housing providers, and homeowners across France and Belgium.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Timber Construction Services

NAICS

Prefabricated Wood Building Manufacturing (321992), Nonresidential Building Construction (2362), Commercial and Institutional Building Construction (236220), Custom Architectural Woodwork and Millwork Manufacturing (337212)

SIC

Prefabricated Wood Bldgs & Components (2452), General Bldg Contractors - Residential Bldgs (1520), General Bldg Contractors - Nonresidential Bldgs (1540), Millwood, Veneer, Plywood, & Structural Wood Members (2430)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Modular & Prefabricated Home Construction (IMAFABAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Historic Preservation & Conservation Planning (BPAHAKAH)

Keywords

• Timber construction services
• Prefabricated wood framing
• Structural timber engineering
• Modular wood buildings
• Historical monument restoration

Headquarters

HQ city

REQUEIL

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Construction Projects: Primary revenue from timber construction projects including public buildings, collective housing, individual houses, extensions, historical monument restoration, and event structures. Projects range from private homes to large public infrastructure with contract values reaching 4.9 million euros.
2. Readymade Components: Sale of prefabricated timber components ('Charpente prête à poser') to other construction professionals. Components include traditional timber frames, wall panels, and structural elements.
3. Design and Engineering Services: Internal engineering bureau provides eco-design and structural engineering services including environmental and thermal envelope calculations. Services often bundled with construction projects but also offered separately.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Charpente Cénomane designs, prefabricates, and installs structural and architectural timber elements for public buildings, collective housing, individual homes, extensions, and historical monuments. The company operates an integrated offering combining in-house structural engineering (CADWORK 3D design and ACORD BAT calculations), CNC-machined off-site prefabrication in climate-controlled workshops in Sarthe, and on-site assembly through a network of 12 installation teams across France.

Product overview

CHARPENTE CENOMANE offers a portfolio of wood construction products and services centered around timber framing and structural wood work. The core offering includes Charpente du 3ème millénaire (traditional wood frame construction designed via computer with numerical machining), Maison ossature bois (prefabricated wood frame houses), and ZAG3 modular construction system (3-module prefabricated houses delivered in 60 days). The company also provides charpente bois traditionnelle (traditional, industrial, and glued laminated timber framing), Gros oeuvre Bois (complete structural wood work as main contractor), and in-house engineering services through its Bureau d'études using CADWORK for 3D modeling and structural calculations. Manufacturing capabilities include Hundegger K2i and Speed Cut CNC machining centers. Quality is ensured through an 8-step control process from wood inspection through final assembly verification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Charpente du 3ème millénaire: Traditional timber frame roofing brand entirely designed by computer using DAO software, dimensioned using the latest material resistance calculation software. 100% reliable, certified compliant with current standards and DTU.
• ZAG3

Products and services

• Charpente du 3ème millénaire Traditional wood frame construction entirely designed by computer using DAO software and dimensioned with structural analysis software. Features tenon and mortise assemblies produced by numerical machining centers, certified compliant with current standards and DTU regulations. Targeted at building owners, architects, and construction professionals.
• Maison ossature bois (Wood frame houses) Prefabricated wood frame house construction using OSB structural sheathing, weather-resistant barriers, and natural wood siding options (Red Cedar, Larch, treated Northern Spruce). Components are prefabricated in workshops and transported for on-site assembly. Targeted at individual homeowners (Particulier).
• ZAG3 Construction modulaire Modular wood construction system consisting of three factory-prefabricated modules including walls, floors, insulation, cladding, windows, electrical systems, and heating. Delivered in 60 days, transported by 4 trucks and assembled on site in 1 day using PPM. Targeted at individual homeowners seeking rapid-delivery timber homes.
• Charpente bois traditionnelle Traditional wood framing using traditional techniques, industrial fermette trusses, and glued laminated timber (lamellé collé). Designed via CAD and manufactured using CNC machining centers for precision. Targeted at public and private building owners and architects.
• Gros oeuvre Bois (Rough construction wood) Complete wood structural work capability allowing the company to act as sole prime contractor for complex building envelopes, coordinating multiple lots including wood construction, frame covering, exterior joinery, and insulation. Targeted at public building owners and developers seeking a single-contractor envelope solution.
• Bureau d'études (Design and engineering services) In-house engineering bureau providing 3D modeling with CADWORK, structural calculations using ACORD BAT, environmental and thermal envelope calculations, and eco-design services. Offered alongside construction projects and separately to construction professionals.
• Charpente prête à poser (Readymade timber components) Prefabricated timber components sold to other construction professionals, including traditional timber frames, wall panels, and structural elements ready for on-site installation. Targeted at construction professionals and other charpentiers.
• Restauration Monuments Historiques (Historical monument restoration) Specialized restoration of historic timber structures including cathedrals, churches, castles, and manor houses, using traditional joinery techniques alongside modern engineering, in coordination with monument historical architects (ACMH).

Quantifiable outcome

• Carbon neutrality target by 2030
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, notable and minor.

• ADEMEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency for Ecological Transition. Partnered with Charpente Cénomane for carbon footprint assessments (Bilan Carbone). ADEME collaborated on environmental impact measurement methodology for construction projects.
• PEFC FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. Charpente Cénomane was the first timber construction company in France certified PEFC in 2008, establishing chain of custody for certified wood sourcing.
• Construction Bois 21coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry quality initiative. Charpente Cénomane is a signatory of the Charpente 21 quality charter, the first quality label for timber construction in France.
• Fibois Pays de LoirecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional wood construction industry organization for the Pays de la Loire region where the company is headquartered.
• Fédération Française du BâtimentmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Building Federation. Industry association membership for building sector professionals.
• QualibatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench construction qualification organization. Multiple Qualibat certifications held (8621-2323-2363-2364-2392-2342-1442-2342-2382) proving technical competency.
• AFCOBOIScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench timber construction association. Signatory of AFCOBOIS quality charter for timber construction excellence.
• Good Planète FoundationnotableStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental foundation founded by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. Charpente Cénomane built structures for 'Des Forêts et des Hommes' exhibition at Palais Royal in 2011 (International Year of Forests).
• C.N.D.BminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational Wood Construction Bureau. Industry organization for timber construction sector.
• UNICEF FranceminorOthersListed as a partner organization on the company website.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Piveteau Bois: French prefabricated timber framing manufacturer with CNC production and design-build execution across housing, public, and commercial projects. Closely comparable business model, scale, and customer set to Charpente Cénomane.
• Simonin SAS: French timber construction company producing prefabricated frames, glulam structures, and wooden buildings for residential and commercial markets. Comparable product mix, scale, and geography to Charpente Cénomane.
• Mathis Construction Bois: French structural timber construction firm offering prefabricated frames, glulam, and wood building envelopes across commercial, public, and residential segments. Direct head-to-head competitor on French public and private timber construction tenders of comparable scale.

Emerging players

• Woodeum: French developer and constructor specializing in multi-story CLT timber housing; both a listed customer of Charpente Cénomane and an adjacent peer expanding into prefabricated timber mid-rise construction. Comparable on technology, market segment, and France footprint.

Broad incumbents

• Binderholz: Austrian family-owned integrated timber group producing CLT, glulam, and prefabricated building components across Europe. Comparable in timber manufacturing technology and prefabricated building systems; larger and geographically broader.
• Bouygues Bâtiment: Major French general contractor with timber building capabilities and sustainability offerings; competes for the same large public and commercial contracts (e.g., Mairie de Paris, cultural institutions) as Charpente Cénomane. Comparable on customer set and timber products, with far broader portfolio.
• Arbonis (Groupe Saint-Gobain): Subsidiary of Saint-Gobain focused on engineered timber solutions for residential, commercial, and multi-story construction in France and Europe. A larger, parented competitor with comparable prefabricated timber offerings and broader resources.
• Stora Enso (Building Solutions): Nordic forestry and engineered wood giant producing CLT and prefabricated timber building systems sold across Europe. Adjacent competitor and ecosystem participant for the same prefabricated timber building market.
• Eiffage Construction Bois: Large French general contractor with a dedicated timber-framing and prefabricated wood division competing for public infrastructure and commercial contracts. Comparable on contract types and customer base but materially larger and broader.

Regional players

• Martinsons (Holmen): Swedish manufacturer of glulam frames, CLT, and prefabricated building systems; now part of Holmen. Comparable in prefab timber building technology, but primarily operates in Sweden/Nordics rather than France.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCxLoyGp8OvfM
• Facebookcharpentes-bois.com/actualites-charpente/facebook.html
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/charpente-cenomane

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 CHARPENTE CENOMANE - Société à Mission