From pavé to precision granites: a long history of granite processing since 1924

The one kept in the heart of central France is a very long story: a story that dates back to 1924, when Hippolyte MAITRE founded a company for the extraction and processing of granite in a strategic area: near a granite quarry (nowadays sold out) and the Guéret – La Châtre railway section. Originally, most of the production was destined to replace the traditional wooden pavements of the city of Paris with mosaic flooring. In 1938 the production reached 1000 tons per month!

After the Second World War, around 1945, Paul MAITRE succeeded in a first redevelopment of the business, taking advantage of the period of great development of the hydroelectric plants on the Rhone, Durance and Isère. “ATELIERS MAITRE” thus becomes one of the main suppliers of construction and lining materials for dams. In the sixties, faced with the exhaustion of this market, Paul MAITRE decided to start processing precision granite in his own workshops, working the exceptional quality of Blue di Guéret granite, extracted in the Maupuy quarry.

From Ateliers Maitre Europe to Microplan France: the production of granite for industry

From 1977 to today, first as “Ateliers Maitre Europe” and – after the acquisition by the Italian group “Microplan” in 1993 – as “Microplan France”, the company is dedicated to the production of granite for metrology and industry. Over the years, Microplan France has been able to diversify its production and today has five main poles of activity:

production of granite instruments for metrology and precision bases, even of large dimensions
precision machining on materials (granite and ceramic) with capacities up to 50 tons!
production of ceramic instruments for metrological use
production of bases and structures in synthetic granite (composite granite)
realization of high precision micro-positioning systems for nanotechnology

Microplan France today: 30 years of experience in the large precision granite market

Microplan France today plays a key role on the world market: with over thirty years of experience, unique in France in the precision machining of granite, it is a “laboratory” for the study and design of products.

The deep knowledge of materials, their processing and vacuum-pneumostatic (air) applications have allowed Microplan France to develop numerous projects for research centers and for the main international groups linked to the various industrial sectors.

Investments and continuous growth

To maintain its leadership, Microplan France has made constant investments to update the entire fleet and provide the customer with new products and a complete service from design to after-sales assistance.

Thanks to the new machinery installed, it was possible to improve productivity, increase production capacity, increase the quality of processing, work on innovative and different materials, including ceramic alumina.

Internal Design and Analysis

Project, design and product analysis carried out by our internal staff.

Production Area

The offices in Italy cover a total area of over 25,000 square meters, of which over 7 are covered in 4 industrial warehouses.

Research & Development

An internal department that carries out research on precision machining on innovative materials.

Our history in pills

1924 - 1976

From road cobbles to precision granite

In 1924 Hippolyte MAITRE founded a company for the extraction and processing of granite near an exhausted quarry. Originally most of the production was intended to replace the traditional wooden pavements of the city of PARIS, by mosaic flooring. In 1938 the production reached 1000 tons per month.

After the Second World War, Paul MAITRE succeeded in a first redevelopment period of the great development of hydroelectric works on the Rhone, Durance and Isère.

ATELIERS MAITRE becomes one of the main suppliers of barrier cladding materials.

In the sixties, faced with the exhaustion of this market, Paul MAITRE decides to start the machining of precision granite in their workshops, by participating exceptional qualities of Blue Guéret granite, quarried in the Maupuy quarry.

1977 - 1993

From M. MAITRE to MICRO-CONTROLE, the transformation continues like this

In 1977 ATELIERS MAITRE was purchased by MICRO-CONTROLE, a company specializing in micromechanics and optics. It was also during this period that granite was increasingly used in the frame structure of the machine and that the first research began at LA FORÊT DU TEMPLE on new composite materials.

In 1991 MICRO-CONTROLE became part of the American group NEWPORT CORPORATION.

1994 - 2013

In September 1994 MICRO-CONTROLE sells ATELIERS MAITRE to the Italian company MICROPLAN.

The company specializes in the production of large-sized granites with a high technological know-how.

To meet the demands of some customers who wish to use less precise and less expensive granite bases for machine tools, the MICROPLAN group studies and develops a new composite material: CELITH synthetic granite.

In 1999, the CELITH company was created, dedicated to the construction of synthetic granite bases and subsequently to ceramic techniques and the assembly of vacuum-pneumostatic guide systems.

In January 2002, ATELIERS MAITRE EUROPE became MICROPLAN FRANCE, continuing the activity of specialization and diversification of production, to pursue new markets and acquire new customers especially related to the processing of different and innovative materials including ceramics.

2014

Merger of CELITH and MICROPLAN France

The merger of the two realities of Microplan France and Celith allows to increase the ability to develop new projects: the synergy between the different skills acquired by each company increases the offer capacity and the range of products and solutions.

2017

Launch of the five-year investment plan for updating the fleet

Microplan France launches an investment plan (2017-2022) aimed at updating and growing the production machinery fleet.

2019

Gabriele Demagistri, the new President of Microplan France

Gabriele Demagistri succeeds his father Luigi in the leadership of the French branch.

2020 - 2021

Philippe Dugenest hands over the baton to the new General Manager Stéphane Conchon

After 36 years of activity within the company, the historic director Philippe Dugenest hands over the baton to the new general manager Stéphane Conchon on 30 September 2020.

Under his leadership, Microplan France continues its investment plan, achieving important goals in a very short time, including the commissioning of the new Microplan® grinding machine, designed in Italy.

Microplan France: the history