About Us
As the latest member of the Polycor family, we are proud to present Rocamat’s rich and fascinating history. With a legacy dating back to 1853, they held a prominent role in the natural stone industry, consistently delivering quality materials for construction projects. Throughout its journey, the company underwent various changes, ultimately culminating in its acquisition by Polycor in 2023. As we delve into Rocamat’s incredible story, we’ll explore its evolution, commitment to environmental sustainability, global reach, and dedication to ensuring the safety and well-being of its workforce.
Our Story Since 1853
Our company, which traces its origins to 1853, has a storied history. Initially established as Civet Fils et Cie, it became known as Civet Pommier et Cie in 1898, Carrières et Scieries de France in 1927, and finally Rocamat in 1971. Throughout this journey, we have consistently played a significant role in the natural stone industry, providing high-quality construction materials.
Over the years, our company has undergone a series of mergers and acquisitions. In 1963, we joined forces with Société Générale des Carrières Françaises, and by 1971, we had acquired Société Industrielle et Commerciale des Marbres, Pierres et Granits (SICMPG). In 1976, we assumed control of Dervillé Fèvre, encompassing Dervillé, Marbres Français, and Fèvre et Cie. Moving forward to 2005, LBO France became our owner, and a decade later, control transitioned to another investment fund. In 2018, we experienced significant restructuring, marked by a return to family ownership. That is also when Polycor first became a minority shareholder.
Since then, our journey has been marked by a focus on expertise that underpins the beauty and sustainability of our architectural heritage.
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Foundation of CIVET FILS & Cie
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Change of company name to CIVET POMMIER ET Cie
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Creation of the ROCAMAT brand
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Acquisition of the companies DERVILLE, MARBRES FRANCAIS, and FEVRE & Cie
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Acquisition of the group by LBO France
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Reorganization of the group around a stable family shareholding
From Quarry to Construction
On a global scale, we play a significant role in the production of building stones and are the primary natural stone quarrier in France. We have the capabilities to support your natural stone projects, offering a diverse range of materials, including blocks, slabs, flooring and facade coverings, marble work, as well as cut and carved elements.
Our comprehensive approach involves both quarry operations at our site and recognized expertise, making us well-equipped to guide architectural projects. We’ve made substantial contributions to renowned buildings around the world, including in the United States and Asia, as well as important projects within Paris itself, such as the Musée d’Orsay, Grand Louvre, Bercy, Eiffel Tower, and Vuitton Foundation. We export 20% of our products to destinations across the globe, serving high-end residential and architectural projects on five continents.
- 30 limestone quarries in France
- 4 processing plants
- 150 people
Our Sites
We manage a network of 30 limestone quarries spread across France, extracting a yearly total of 35,000 cubic meters of stone blocks from a land area spanning 1,500 hectares. Our catalog proudly showcases more than 50 distinct types of limestone, each deeply connected to renowned French subsoils. These stones carry the intrinsic qualities of their native terroir and hold significant cultural value as part of our heritage.
Some of our most notable projects include:
- Haussmann’s Paris : Saint-Maximin, Euville, Savonnières, and Rocherons limestones
- The Maison Carrée in Nîmes: Lens limestone
- The Saint Charles train station in Marseille: Lens limestone
- Palais de Chaillot and the Eiffel Tower in Paris: Massangis limestone
- The Touraine and Loire castles: Tuffeau limestone
Environmentally Responsible Quarrying Practices
We responsibly extract stone blocks ranging from 2 to 10 cubic meters from our quarries. We use electrically powered diamond wire saws or mechanical cutters to achieve this. Thanks to the inherent moisture content in the stone, there is no release of fine dust on our premises.
Operating a quarry requires official approval, typically granted through a prefectural decree, which outlines the conditions for quarry operations and the necessary steps for site rehabilitation once operations are complete.
Quarry operations in France are subject to strict regulations covering the mining, environmental, and labor codes, as well as the regulations governing classified installations. The French administration mandates an environmental impact assessment for the prospective quarry to secure an operational license.
L’entreprise est particulièrement vigilante en matière de respect des lois et règlements qui sont prescrits tant au niveau de l’arrêté préfectoral que de la législation inhérente aux Installations Classées. Le respect des règlementations, par Polycor, est contrôlé régulièrement par la DREAL (Directions Régionales de l’Environnement, de l’Aménagement et du Logement).
In areas where quarries are located, local regulations recommend using instruments like piezometers, analysis, or colorimetric tracing to monitor the impact on surface and groundwater. Polycor adheres to these recommendations, and we have never experienced contamination issues. Additionally, we store our equipment and perform minor maintenance in water-resistant areas within the quarry.
Our efforts to minimize the impact on the landscape and the human environment align with the restoration guidelines outlined in the prefectural decree. We conduct yearly assessments for each site and submit updates to the authorities every five years as part of our financial guarantee reviews.
Before we can operate a quarry, we conduct comprehensive surveys of the local wildlife and plant species. If we need to clear land for our operations, we obtain specific clearance licenses from the Prefecture. We carefully plan clearance activities to avoid disrupting the nesting seasons of birds and the breeding seasons of reptiles. Many quarries, whether active or abandoned, have agreements with naturalist organizations and regional conservatories tasked with safeguarding local wildlife, including animals, plants, birds of prey, and bats.
An external firm regularly measures sound levels, and the frequency of these verifications is determined by the prefectural operating decrees.
Polycor’s quarry operations generate minimal dust.
In the quarry, the materials that do not enter our transformation process (offcuts, unsuitable materials) are either riprap or backfill materials for public works sites, or kept on the site to redevelop the areas. exploited. These co-products are “waste” made up solely of totally inert mineral matter.
Our Facilities in France
Our 4 industrial sites located in Ravières, Saint-Maximin, Vilhonneur and Chauvigny offer the transformation into sawn slices of the rough blocks squared in the quarry. The slices are cut to the desired shapes and dimensions, according to the desired use. Our workshops also carry out surface finishes using modern means: polishing, bush hammering, layage and flaming.
A Green Industry
Our industry, which involves processing stone blocks from quarries, operates in an environmentally friendly manner across our five specialized factories. We employ electric-powered machinery for cutting, using water as a lubricant, without any need for cooking or chemical additives.
Impact on Ground and Surface Water : Throughout the manufacturing process, we effectively manage the water used for cutting within a closed system. This water goes through a decantation process or a mud press to separate solid particles from clean water. The resulting dried sludge can be used as a limestone amendment for agricultural purposes. The clarified water is reintroduced into the plant’s circuit without any treatment, preventing any release into the natural environment. We are currently conducting a study on recycling the sludge from sawing at the CTMNC (Technical Center for Natural Building Materials).
Waste Management : Polycor has implemented specific procedures for sorting and disposing waste at all our sites, tailoring these methods to suit the type of waste generated.
Employee Safety : Our Health and Safety department is committed to reducing workplace accidents, improving working conditions, and overseeing employee safety through local supervision. To achieve this, we’ve developed and implemented various tools over the past decade, including:
- Onboarding processes and materials for new hires.
- Employee training covering occupational health and safety, fire safety, equipment operation, and more.
- Conducting risk assessments and creating annual prevention plans.
- Managing external companies, involving inspections and prevention plans.
- Organizing and monitoring routine equipment checks.
- Communicating safety information through displays and materials.
- Developing job descriptions.
- Providing suitable personal protective equipment.
- Ensuring compliance with work equipment and vehicles.
We place significant importance on workstation ergonomics to prevent occupational diseases such as musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Any investment or installation project for new equipment is managed by the « new works » department in collaboration with the industrial, security, and maintenance departments. This ensures that improvements in working conditions, risk prevention, ergonomics, and the reduction of noise and vibration pollution are systematically considered for each workstation arrangement. These projects are then presented and discussed with CHSCT (Health, Safety, and Work Conditions Committee) members to gather their feedback before final approval.
Training and safety awareness are a major focus, with nearly 5,000 hours of training conducted annually across the entire group. Approximately 60% of our production staff are trained in first aid. Polycor has implemented specific procedures for sorting and disposing waste at all our sites, tailoring these methods to suit the type of waste generated.