Mersen

Mersen (known as Carbone Lorraine until 2010) is an international manufacturing company with French origins, which is a global expert in electrical specialties and graphite-based materials. Headquartered in Paris' La Défense, France, it has a global presence.

History

Beginnings

Carbone Lorraine SA was born in 1937 from the merger of two companies, Compagnie Générale Electrique de Nancy and Compagnie Lorraine de Charbons pour l'Electricité. The first, founded in 1891, manufactured electric motors, lamps, dynamos, generators and lighting equipment. The second, founded in 1892, was a pioneer in producing artificial graphite from amorphous carbon, manufacturing graphite brushes for electric motors. At the time of the merger, both companies had developed a strong international sales network.

The World War II, at first, accelerated the growth of the company, but then it was placed under the control of the Nazi military industry. At the end of the armed conflict, it was able to rebuild its operations and facilities quickly, consolidating its presence in Western Europe and the Americas.