ICAR-CM2T

What ICAR-CM2T does

ICAR-CM2T is a French contract research and materials testing laboratory formed on June 17, 2020 through the merger of ICAR (refractories/thermal engineering) and CRITT CM2T (metallurgy), and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Société Française de Céramique (SFC). Headquartered in Moncel-les-Lunéville, France on a 2,500 m² platform billed as the largest European center dedicated to characterization of ceramic, refractory, and metallic materials at very high temperatures (up to 1700–1800°C), the company offers 150+ test references — most COFRAC-accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 — together with on-site supervision, custom industrial R&D, collaborative research programs, expert failure analysis (including judicial sapiteur work), and QUALIOPI-certified professional training.

The company's service portfolio is built around six integrated offerings: (1) Essais — laboratory characterization covering thermal conductivity, load creep/sag, dilation, refractoriness, hardness, corrosion, XRD, and a unique pure-hydrogen test capability at 1200°C; (2) Supervision — mobile refractory installation quality control delivered globally under API 936 and IRATA N1 credentials; (3) R&D Industrielle — bespoke materials and thermal engineering studies; (4) R&D Collaborative — multi-partner programs co-funded by BPI France (Société de Recherche Contractuelle label), FEDER, Région Grand-Est, and ADEME; (5) Expertise — failure analysis with sapiteur judicial capability; and (6) Formations — STR/STM course series (>2,000 professionals trained since 2004) complemented by numerical simulation (COMSOL Multiphysics, FACTSAGE) and surface treatment including Cold Spray deposition.

ICAR-CM2T generates revenue through professional-services fees: published training pricing ranges from €660 to €2,150 HT per participant, while laboratory testing, R&D, supervision, and expertise are quoted per project. Sales are B2B-direct to enterprise accounts across 12 industrial verticals — aerospace, refractory manufacturing, steel, glass, waste incineration, petrochemicals, cement, foundry, automotive, energy, chemicals, and industrial equipment — with named customers including Suez, Total, ExxonMobil, Petroineos, CNIM, E.ON, Alstom, ArcelorMittal, Saint-Gobain, Rio Tinto, Arkema, Solvay, and Mersen. Marketing is largely referral-, event-, and standards-network-driven through SFC and BNC, with no external equity or funding rounds disclosed.

Name

ICAR-CM2T

Legal name

ICAR-CM2T

Website

https://icar-cm2t.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ICAR-CM2T is a French COFRAC-accredited contract research laboratory — a subsidiary of the Société Française de Céramique — operating Europe's largest 2,500 m² platform for high-temperature (up to 1700°C) characterization, testing, supervision, R&D, failure analysis, and training of refractory, ceramic, and metallic materials for enterprise clients across 12 industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Moncel-lès-lunéville

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Laboratory Testing Services: Characterization testing of refractory, ceramic, and metallic materials at very high temperatures. More than 150 test references offered, most COFRAC accredited. Includes physico-chemical, mechanical, and thermal testing.
2. Industrial R&D Services: Custom R&D studies in materials science and thermal engineering, including design and construction of test equipment, experimental protocol development, and in-situ testing. Conducted for both SMEs and large industrial accounts.
3. Collaborative R&D Programs: Contract research activities under the 'Société de Recherche Contractuelle' label (BPI France). Engages in pre-competitive research with regional and European partners, co-funded by FEDER, Region Grand-Est, ADEME, and FUI programs.
4. On-Site Supervision: Mobile supervision services worldwide, providing expertise in refractory implementation for quality control on major industrial projects. Includes inspection, process supervision, and commissioning support.
5. Expertise and Failure Analysis: Expert analysis of damage and failures in refractory and metallic installations. Services include simple expert assessments, amicable arbitration between parties, and judicial expertise (sapiteur) for commercial disputes.
6. Professional Training: Specialized training courses on refractory materials and metallurgy. Offers inter-company sessions at their Lorraine facility and customized in-company programs. Training covers refractory materials, implementation, service life, and thermal calculation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICAR-CM2T operates the largest European center dedicated to the characterization of ceramic, refractory, and metallic materials at very high temperatures (up to 1700°C) on a 2,500 m² platform in Moncel les Lunéville, France. The company delivers six integrated service lines: materials testing (Essais), on-site refractory supervision, industrial R&D, collaborative R&D, failure analysis expertise (including judicial expertise), and professional training. It also offers specialized surface treatments (Cold Spray, flame spraying, projection-refusion) and numerical simulation using COMSOL and FACTSAGE.

Product overview

ICAR-CM2T offers a unified portfolio of materials testing and engineering services rather than a single software product. The core offering consists of six integrated service lines: (1) Essais (Materials Testing) for characterization at temperatures up to 1700°C, (2) Supervision for on-site quality control of refractory installations, (3) R&D Industrielle for custom industrial research, (4) R&D Collaborative for partnered research programs, (5) Expertise for damage and failure analysis, and (6) Formations for professional training. Supporting specialized capabilities include Surface Treatment Services using technologies like Cold Spray, and Numerical Simulation using COMSOL and FACTSAGE software. The company operates a 2500 m² laboratory platform and is the largest European center dedicated to ceramic, refractory, and metallic materials characterization at very high temperatures.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Essais (Materials Testing) Comprehensive materials characterization testing services for refractory, ceramic, and metallic materials at temperatures up to 1700°C. Includes thermal conductivity, refractoriness, load testing, dilation, hardness, and corrosion testing under ISO and EN standards. The majority of the 150+ test references are COFRAC-accredited. Targeted at industrial clients in aerospace, steel, glass, cement, petrochemicals, waste incineration, and other heavy-industry sectors.
• Supervision (On-Site Refractory Supervision) Mobile on-site quality control and supervision of refractory installation works for industrial clients worldwide. Includes technical support before, during, and after construction, materials control, and site inspection. Supervisors hold API 936 (refractory installation quality control in petrochemical furnaces) and IRATA (industrial rope access) certifications. Targeted at industrial owners, EPC contractors, and refractory installers.
• R&D Industrielle (Industrial R&D) Custom research and development services for industrial clients, including design and construction of test equipment, experimental protocol development, and characterization of materials for high-temperature applications and thermal industrial installations. Combines hands-on field experience, original investigation methods, and theoretical knowledge from strong academic partnerships. Targeted at SMEs and large industrial accounts.
• R&D Collaborative (Collaborative R&D) Applied research and development projects conducted in partnership with academic laboratories (Université de Lorraine), technical centers (CETIM, CTIF, CRITT TJFU, Cirtes, Institut de Soudure), and industrial partners (ArcelorMittal, Mersen), with co-funding from BPI France, FEDER, Region Grand-Est, and ADEME. Enables pre-competitive scientific ressourcement projects that contribute to sector competitiveness.
• Expertise (Damage & Failure Analysis) Expert analysis services for understanding damage and failure of refractory and metallic materials in industrial installations. Includes simple expert assessments, amicable arbitration between parties, and judicial expertise (sapiteur) supporting Court Experts in commercial disputes. Backed by several decades of accumulated experience and complemented by numerical simulation (COMSOL, FACTSAGE).
• Formations (Professional Training) QUALIOPI-certified professional training programs covering refractory materials (STR1: General Refractory Materials; STR2: Implementation; STR3: Service Life and Treatment of Used Refractories; STR4: Thermal Calculation) and metallurgy (STM1: Wear of Metallic Materials; STM2: Failure Analysis of Parts and Tools; STM3: Metallurgy of Cast Irons), plus on-demand courses (API 936 preparation, FCR Risk Awareness). Delivered as inter-company sessions at the Lorraine facility or as customized in-company programs. OPCO funding eligible.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 2000 professionals trained in refractory materials since 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments12 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CRITT TJFUcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Centre de Ressources Technologiques partner in collaborative R&D. Jointly involved in PERFECT (adaptive reloading with AI), H4FAM (additive manufacturing hybridization), and COREVA (thermoplastic composites from waste) projects, co-funded by FEDER and Region Grand-Est.
• CETIM (Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Technical partner in the COREVA project for developing thermoplastic composite semi-products from waste. CETIM handles formulation, fabrication, and prototype evaluation.
• CirtescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Research partner specializing in Stratoconception® additive manufacturing. Partner in PERFECT and H4FAM projects for hybrid additive manufacturing development.
• IS (Institut de Soudure)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Welding institute partner in PERFECT and H4FAM projects, contributing expertise in welding and recharging technologies for adaptive repair solutions.
• Holo 3coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Partner in the CORTHEMIS project for corrosion and thermal behavior of innovative materials, contributing to the development of new tooling geometries and surface solutions.
• CERFAVcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2023Partner in the CORTHEMIS project contributing to tooling durability and material solutions for intensive use applications in glass, foundry, and forge industries.
• CTIF (Centre Technique des Industries de la Fonderie)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Strategic partner in metallurgy and foundry R&D. Co-developer of PROMAPAL (innovative tooling by Stratoconception) and PADIECO (ADI heat treatment). CTIF contributes hot behavior analysis and simulation expertise.
• Université de LorrainemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Academic partner providing theoretical knowledge and research collaboration. Key contributors include Institut Jean Lamour (metallurgy) and LCME (environmental chemistry and methodology).
• ArcelorMittalmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Industrial partner in ADEME's LIS (Low Impact Steelmaking) project consortium. Also partner in CORTHEMIS project for tooling development and in PADIECO for ADI heat treatment.
• MersenmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Industrial partner in the ZIRCOSPRAY project (FUI-funded) for developing bimetal steel/zirconium or steel/tantalum plates using Cold Spray and brazing technology (CL CLAD® process). Investment of several million euros with a 3000+ m² workshop created.
• Société Française de Céramique (SFC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Parent organization and subsidiary relationship. SFC hosts the Bureau de Normalisation de la Céramique (BNC), AFNOR's delegated body for ceramics standards. ICAR-CM2T benefits from SFC institutional network and normalization activities.
• Irepa LaserminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Laser technology partner in collaborative R&D activities, contributing complementary surface treatment and laser processing capabilities.
• Critt MDTSminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Regional technology resource center contributing to collaborative R&D programs with complementary testing and development capabilities.
• AérialminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Regional partner contributing to collaborative R&D activities in materials science and characterization.
• CEA TECHmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Technical partner in CLEANSKY CO3 project for metallization of polymers and carbon fiber composites using Cold Spray technology for lightning protection on aircraft.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Intertek: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) provider with materials and product testing capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering industrial materials testing and quality assurance services with overlapping end-market exposure.
• ALS Limited: International testing services group with materials and asset testing capabilities across industrial markets. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering industrial materials and metallurgical testing services across overlapping verticals.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global testing, inspection, and certification services provider with industrial materials and asset testing capabilities. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering industrial materials testing and certification services with overlapping regulatory and quality frameworks.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification conglomerate with extensive materials and industrial asset testing capabilities. Comparable because it competes for industrial materials testing and certification work across many of the same heavy-industry verticals (steel, petrochemicals, energy).
• SGS: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company with broad industrial materials testing services. Comparable as a diversified incumbent offering overlapping materials characterization, failure analysis, and on-site inspection services across industrial sectors.

Direct peers

• CETIM (Centre Technique des Industries Mécaniques): French technical center for mechanical industries providing materials testing, R&D, and expertise services. Directly comparable as a French counterpart offering industrial materials characterization, R&D collaboration, and testing services to overlapping industrial customers.
• Bodycote: Global provider of heat treatment, materials testing, and metallurgical services. Comparable because it offers specialized thermal-processing and metallurgical services overlapping with ICAR-CM2T's high-temperature characterization and failure analysis work.
• Element Materials Technology: Global specialist in materials testing, characterization, and failure analysis for aerospace, energy, and industrial markets. Closely comparable as a focused materials-testing peer with similar lab-based characterization offerings and enterprise industrial customer base.

Regional players

• Institut de Soudure (IS Groupe): French welding and materials joining institute offering testing, inspection, and R&D services. Comparable as a French technical partner in the PERFECT and H4FAM collaborative projects and as a regional counterpart in metallurgical testing and surface treatment.

Emerging players

• Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research (ISC): German applied research institute specializing in silicate ceramics, glass, and high-temperature materials. Comparable as a publicly funded research organization performing materials characterization and R&D in refractory/ceramic domains with academic-industrial partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/icar---techniques-et-recherches-materiaux-refractaires

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 ICAR-CM2T