Mr. Ivan Barlier, a buyer in an important steel mill in Lorraine, created COMAP in 1979, specializing essentially in the marketing of refractories, precisely magnesia with German-Czechoslovakian partners, limiting our activities to France.
Our offices were in Thionville, in the Lorraine steel basin in the North-East of France, on the borders with Germany and the Benelux countries.
Later, Comap's status evolved into a public limited company (SA) and finally into a private limited company (SAS).
A few years later, we expanded our product range to include anthracite, graphite, coke, rice husk ash (mainly used as cover powder in tundishes) and various casting powders.
We have also expanded our business in Europe and worldwide.
We market our first graphite electrodes in collaboration with Polish producers.
Beginning of a close collaboration with an Indian producer, one of the leaders in the graphite electrodes market. We offered all diameters to our customers. In parallel, from the 1990s onwards, we have been developing the Chinese electrode market, initially for small diameters, now for all diameters and quality.
After 14 years as a sales engineer, Michel Rohrbacher took over the company and became Chairman and CEO.
In 2003, we moved our headquarters and offices to Mondelange, still in the North-East of France.
In constant evolution, we are developing the commercialization of raw materials, mainly ferro-alloys and Zinc.
Each year we organize a trip to visit our producers in China during which we discuss market developments, including new production facilities and user expectations. These visits are important to meet the requirements of our customers.
To ensure the continuity of COMAP, Mr. Alexis Rohrbacher became General Manager, Michel Rohrbacher was appointed Chairman.