Vicat. Building shared living
At Vicat, we believe in the strength of permanent innovation.
Innovation that, since 1817 and the demystification of artificial cement, has been improving our daily lives.
Innovation that helps build the housing of tomorrow and the roads that tie us together. Innovation that enables bridges, schools, and museums to be built, and thus opens new horizons.
We also believe in respect. Respect by which we safeguard the environment and the future of the generations of today and tomorrow.
But above all, we believe in sharing. Sharing through which we nurture community focus and local immediacy. Sharing that inspires a model of circular economy that benefits us all.
Our ambition drives the men and women of Vicat to invest of themselves with passion to come up with a future that brings us together.
200 years of innovation
Our story
Vicat is an international group of companies and a French family-run business, one that was founded 165 years ago, after Louis Vicat invented artificial cement in 1817. Rooted in history but reaching to the future, enjoying our independence, we build for the long term. This exceptional heritage is detailed below.
Creation of the Genevrey de Vif plant (eastern France) by Joseph, the son of Louis Vicat. The plant uses the dry process known as 'double firing' to produce a very uniform cement of very regular composition.
Construction of the La Pérelle plant in eastern France. It produces Prompt natural quick-setting cement.
Construction of the French cement plants of Montalieu (eastern France) and La Grave de Peille (southern France) by Joseph Merceron-Vicat, Joseph Vicat's grandson.
André Merceron-Vicat implements a program of modernization and capacity increases for Vicat cement plants as a result of concentration of the French cement industry. Construction of the Créchy plant (central France) and acquisition of plants throughout the country: Saint Égrève, Chambéry, Voreppe, Peille, Pont à Vendin, and Xeuilley
International expansion of the Group, with the acquisition of two cement plants in the United States: Ragland plant in Alabama in 1974, and Lebec plant in California in 1987
Development of the ready-mixed concrete and aggregate businesses in France, together with other products and services such as logistics and finishing products for the building industry. The Group embarks on vertical integration of its activity and gradually forges a network across a number of French regions. Acquisition of road transport company SATM (Société Auxiliaire de Transport et de Matériel) and two companies specialized in wall coatings, mortars, adhesives and mastics that are merged to create VPI (Vicat Produits Industriels).
Further international development through acquisitions:
1991 – Turkey: Konya Çimento
1994 – Turkey: Baştaş Çimento
1999 – Senegal: Sococim Industries
2001 – Switzerland: Vigier
2003 – Egypt: Sinai Cement Company
2003 – Italy: Cementi Centro Sud
2004 – Mali: Ciments et Matériaux du Mali
2007 – Kazakhstan: Jambyl Cement
2008 – India: Kalburgi Cement
2008 – Mauritania: BSA Ciment
2010 – India: Bharathi Cement
2019 – Brazil: Ciplan
