What KAEFER France does

KAEFER France (KAEFER SAS) is a French industrial services provider specializing in thermal insulation, scaffolding, surface protection, passive fire protection, asbestos removal, interior fitting, engineering and design, rope access, and metalwork. The company traces its origins to 1883 when Samuel Wanner founded WANNER & Cie in Paris; it was acquired by German group KAEFER SE & Co. KG in 2001 and rebranded from KAEFER WANNER to KAEFER in 2024 to align with the parent group's identity. Headquartered in Courbevoie (Tour Alto), KAEFER France operates 11 regional agencies across France with a centralized logistics base in Tancarville housing 16,000 tons of scaffolding equipment, and employs over 1,800 people including 800+ nuclear-qualified workers, 220+ asbestos removal specialists, 80+ surface protection applicators, and 50+ metalwork specialists. The company's proprietary K-RMI (Reflective Metallic Insulation) system, developed 100% in-house, uses stainless steel housing with air blades to limit heat transmission and is deployed on critical nuclear equipment such as primary pumps and reactor vessel covers.

The company serves four vertical segments: Industry (chemical, petrochemical, refineries, oil & gas, LNG terminals, food processing, pharmaceutical, cement, steel, automotive, aerospace, defense, energy), Nuclear (power production, fuel processing, decommissioning, research), Naval (civil and military shipbuilding), and Building (tertiary and industrial construction). Named enterprise customers include EDF, Framatome, Orano, Naval Group, Total, Solvay, ArcelorMittal, Sanofi, Chantiers de l'Atlantique, and the CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique). Revenue is generated through professional services contracts via direct enterprise field sales and project engagement, with custom quoting per project scope. The company holds ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environment), ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety), and ISO 37001 (anti-corruption) certifications, the EcoVadis Medal 2024, QUALIBAT 1413 certification, and SBTi-validated climate targets.

KAEFER France generated €218 million in revenue and is positioned as a core operating subsidiary within the KAEFER Group, which generates €2.5 billion in revenue across 25+ countries with 35,000+ employees globally. The company's competitive position is anchored in nuclear sector certifications and qualified personnel, regulatory compliance expertise, proprietary insulation technology (K-RMI), and a 140-year operational heritage. The French entity contributes approximately 8.7% of the group's global revenue and operates as a vertically integrated service provider with engineering, design, installation, and maintenance capabilities across complex industrial environments.

Name

KAEFER France

Legal name

KAEFER SAS

Website

https://kaeferwanner.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Short description

KAEFER France is an industrial services provider offering thermal insulation, scaffolding, surface protection, passive fire protection, asbestos removal, and engineering for the nuclear, industrial, naval, and building sectors across France, serving enterprise clients including EDF, Framatome, Orano, Naval Group, and Total with 1,800+ employees and 11 regional agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Services

NAICS

Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)

akta.pro primary industry

Insulation, Scaffolding & Access Services (ISA) (IMAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Protection Systems Contracting (Sprinklers, Alarms, Suppression) (IMAFALAD), Nuclear Plant EPC & Construction (EUAEAAAC)

Keywords

• Industrial insulation services
• Scaffolding services
• Passive fire protection
• Asbestos removal services
• Surface protection coatings

Headquarters

HQ city

Courbevoie

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Industrial Services: KAEFER generates revenue through providing specialized industrial services including thermal insulation, scaffolding, surface protection, passive fire protection, asbestos removal, interior fitting, engineering and design, rope access work, and metalwork. Services are provided to industrial, nuclear, naval, and building clients for new installations, extensions, renovations, and maintenance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KAEFER France provides integrated industrial services including thermal insulation (calorifugeage and frigorifugeage), scaffolding design and installation, surface protection (anticorrosive coatings and industrial painting), passive fire protection, asbestos removal, interior fitting, engineering and design, rope access work, and specialized metalwork. Services are delivered to industrial, nuclear, naval, and building sector clients across France for new installations, extensions, renovations, and maintenance projects.

Product overview

KAEFER France is an industrial services company offering integrated services across 10+ activities. The core portfolio centers on thermal insulation (Isolation), scaffolding (Échafaudage), surface protection (Protection de surface), passive fire protection (PPI), asbestos removal (Désamiantage), interior fitting (Aménagement intérieur), engineering & design (Ingénierie & Conception), rope access work (Travaux sur Cordes), and metalwork (Métallerie). Key proprietary products include the K-RMI (Reflective Metallic Insulation) system for nuclear applications, and WANNIFLAM for fire protection. Services span industrial, nuclear, naval, and building sectors, with integrated offerings combining multiple disciplines such as thermoshrinkable covering, rope access, and engineering design. The company operates 11 regional agencies across France with approximately 1,800 employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Industrial Insulation (Isolation industrielle) Industrial thermal insulation services covering calorifugeage, frigorifugeage, and specialized systems for temperatures ranging from -196°C to +1000°C. Includes materials such as mattresses, cassettes, shell wool, and polyurethane, serving industrial, nuclear, and naval clients.
• K-RMI (Reflective Metallic Insulation) A proprietary reflective metallic insulation system using stainless steel foil layers with air gaps to limit heat transmission by convection. Developed entirely in-house, designed for critical nuclear equipment such as primary pumps, reactor vessel covers, and steam generator bottoms.
• Scaffolding (Échafaudage) Industrial scaffolding design and installation services covering simple, modular, suspended, and high-altitude scaffolding. Features centralized logistics with 16,000 tons of equipment stock and QUALIBAT 1413 certification.
• Surface Protection (Protection de surface) Anticorrosion coating and industrial painting services specializing in the nuclear sector. Includes surface preparation, intumescent and special coatings, fire protection with Chartek-certified personnel, and lead/asbestos paint removal, with over 80 qualified applicators.
• Passive Fire Protection (Protection Passive Incendie - PPI) Passive fire protection services limiting fire propagation in buildings and industry. Includes penetration sealing, structural steel protection, fire door installation, and products such as WANNIFLAM, Fendolite, Chartek, and Promatect. Features fire testing laboratory and international competence center.
• Asbestos Removal (Désamiantage) Industrial asbestos removal services with over 35 years of experience and certification since 1996. Includes FCR, lead, and Chrome6 handling. 220+ qualified asbestos removal workers deployed nationally for building, industry, and nuclear sectors.
• Interior Fitting (Aménagement intérieur) Industrial interior fitting and secondary work including interior carpentry, movable partitions, suspended ceilings, technical floors, fire protection, and thermal insulation. RGE Qualibat qualified for energy efficiency requirements. Includes naval interior fitting for cabins, galleys, and provisions areas.
• Engineering & Design (Ingénierie & Conception) Centralized engineering department providing 3D CAD design, structural calculations, thermal calculations, reverse engineering, and R&D services. Covers insulation design, scaffolding design per Eurocodes, and naval engineering. Includes testing laboratory and R&D center for isolation and passive fire protection development.
• Rope Access Work (Travaux sur Cordes) Rope access services for height work in petrochemical, nuclear, naval, and building/art structure environments. SST-certified technicians perform calorifuge, surface protection, PPI, lifting assistance, electrical work, ventilation systems, and cleaning operations.
• Metalwork (Métallerie) Specialized metalwork and locksmith services for nuclear maintenance, covering preventive and corrective maintenance, technical solutions such as reactor vessel cover guardrails, and fire door maintenance. Approximately 50 specialized workers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (scope 1 and 2) by 2030, carbon neutrality by 2050 (SBTi validated targets)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)coreOthersSBTi has validated KAEFER Group's short-term and long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets in accordance with the Paris Agreement goals. KAEFER is the first industrial services company in its market to achieve this recognition. Targets include 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2032 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
• AFNOR CertificationcoreOthersAFNOR provides certification services for KAEFER's management systems including ISO 9001 (Quality), ISO 14001 (Environment), and ISO 45001 (Health and Safety).

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Bilfinger SE: Bilfinger is a European industrial services provider headquartered in Germany (like KAEFER Group) serving process industry, energy, and nuclear clients. Closely comparable to KAEFER France in insulation, scaffolding, and maintenance services for industrial plants.
• Eiffage Énergie Systèmes: Eiffage Énergie Systèmes delivers electrical, HVAC, and industrial services across France, including to nuclear operators. Comparable to KAEFER France in industrial services scale, geographic footprint, and multi-disciplinary offering.
• SNEF (Groupe SNEF): SNEF is a French multi-technical services group specializing in electrical, instrumentation, and industrial maintenance for energy and process industries. Comparable to KAEFER France in nuclear, oil & gas, and industrial maintenance segments.
• ENGIE Solutions (formerly Endel / Ineo): ENGIE Solutions provides industrial services, nuclear support, and multi-technical services across France through legacy Endel and Ineo networks. Directly comparable in nuclear plant services and industrial maintenance offering.
• SPIE SA: SPIE is the largest French multi-technical services group, providing electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and industrial services to nuclear, oil & gas, and industrial clients. Closely comparable to KAEFER France in service portfolio, customer base (including EDF), and project-based delivery model.
• Stork (a Fluor company): Stork, part of Fluor, provides industrial maintenance, modification, and asset integrity services to oil & gas, chemical, and power clients. Comparable to KAEFER France in industrial maintenance, insulation, and access services internationally.

Broad incumbents

• VINCI Energies: VINCI Energies is a broad multi-technical services incumbent with infrastructure, industrial, and nuclear service lines. While much larger and broader than KAEFER France, it competes for the same large industrial and nuclear contracts in France.
• Bouygues Construction (incl. Bouygues Energies & Services): Bouygues Construction and its energy services arm serve industrial, nuclear, and building clients with a broader portfolio including general construction. Overlaps with KAEFER France on industrial and nuclear service contracts but at materially larger scale.
• Worley (Industrial Services): Worley is a global energy and industrial services provider with significant operations in France serving nuclear, refining, and chemical clients. Comparable to KAEFER France in industrial maintenance and energy-sector services but at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Veolia Industries (Veolia Environmental Services): Veolia Industries provides industrial services including hazardous material handling, decommissioning, and environmental services overlapping with KAEFER France's asbestos removal and industrial maintenance activities, particularly in regulated French markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses2 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 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 KAEFER France