JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #113 - June 2017 - 12

NEWS strategy
technologies.
€50+M of new investments
will be used to add new
weaving capacity and develop
quality control technology at
sites in the US, Europe and
China - these will significantly
increase output in Porcher's
key automotive-airbag and
aerospace-interior markets.
How do you wish to proceed in
order to implement these priorities - in particular the restructuring process, always delicate?

A. G.: Porcher Industries has
the tools to supply customers
globally. We are a large global
group with 14 manufacturing
sites
and
approximately
2,000 employees around the
world. The focus should not
be on a "restructure" but on
an opportunity to optimize
efficiency
and
improve
resources throughout the
group.
Five business units (Aerospace
&
Defense,
Automotive,
Building, Industrial and Sport
R&D, technology
and restructuring
The second visible sign of
Porcher's commitment to development was the announcement early this year of a €50 million-plus investment towards
capacity, R&D and technology. Along with the investment,
the company is undergoing a restructuring process.
The Board has already been instrumental in accelerating the
pace of Porcher's development
and is committed to increasing
the group's turnover from approximately €300M to €500M within
the next five years by improving
quality, driving innovation and
adding capacity and resources.
Porcher Industries' products deliver exceptional performance,
quality and safety across an enormous range of industries and

& Leisure) will be unified across
a single business ERP system,
and targeted recruitment is
underway for management,
operational and technology
roles identified as critical to
successful sustainable growth.
What is the respective weight
of these business units?

Our turnover is more than
€300M with the two largest
business units - Aerospace &
Defence and Automotive - each
making up approximately 1/3
of our business. The remaining
1/3 is split fairly evenly between
Industry, Sports & Leisure and
Construction.

FRP for metal substitution,
then it is about 65% composite
across all the business units.
What role do composites play,
specifically with respect to your
development strategy?

Composites are one of our
main technology strengths
and are also a key focus for
development in our R&D
roadmap. For example, a recent
focus has been a partnership
with Airbus Helicopters to
create a thermoplastic PEEK
prepreg for the H160 Spheriflex
rotor hub.

What do composites represent
in terms of activity within the
group?

You appear to have at least two
separate but complementary activities, which are the production of intermediate products,
and the production of parts.

That would depend a little on
your definition of composites!
All of Porcher's business is made
up of solutions combining fibres
and different chemistries. If,
however, you are referring only
to a fibre/fabric and resin based

They are not really separate
activities - sometimes we
find ourselves in the same
market, but at different levels
of the value chain. Overall, it
is important that we are there
to provide solutions wherever

applications that include aerospace interiors, F1 clutches, industrial floor coverings and paragliding canopies. As a technical
textile specialist, Porcher's innate understanding of fibre and
yarn surface treatments, 2D &
3D weaving, cabling, nonwoven
scrim and impregnation processes is backed up by an exceptionally strong technology development team.

ing operations are key to much
of the forecast growth.

The recent integration of
Cordtech International into
the group illustrates Porcher
Industries' commitment to development in existing market
sectors, strengthening both the
R&D expertise and the automotive product range. While the
company is also planning further
acquisitions in the near future,
significant investments in exist-

jec composites magazine / No113 June 2017

Beginning in 2017, new investments of more than €50 million
will be used to add new weaving capacity and develop quality-control technology at sites in
the US, Europe and China, significantly increasing output in
Porcher's key automotive-airbag
and aerospace-interior markets.
Other targets for growth in the
automotive sector are thermoplastic prepreg solutions such as
the pioneering Spheriflex CFRP
rotor hub developed with Airbus
Helicopters for the H160, which
was on display on the Porcher
stand at JEC World.
With a global presence, Porcher
Industries has the tools to supply customers globally, with the

the client is placed in the
manufacturing cycle.
Do you want to put a little more
emphasis on the production of
parts?

We cannot sell twice, but we have
to make sure that we are making
the best use of our technologies
and keeping our customers
happy. Being able to develop
and "productionize" a finished
component as well as supply
the raw materials helps us to be
competitive across all markets.
For instance, in the automotive
market we are already selling
parts such as exhausts, for which
we use our glass for the insulation
and also shape the metal housing
to produce the final part.
How do you envisage the future
of Porcher industries?

The future looks great. This is a
whole new chapter for Porcher
Industries and I'm really very
excited and honored to be
involved. I'm looking forward to
the next stage in our growth.

Focus
André Genton, 57, joined Porcher
Industries in June 2016, bringing
more than 20 years' experience
in the composite and polymer
industries and a passion for the
innovative chemistry that makes
up the DNA of the Porcher Group.
He has held senior positions
with Ciba-Geigy, Vantico, and
Huntsman, where as President of
Huntsman Advanced Materials,
he oversaw a $1.5-billion global
business operating in many of
the same markets supplied by
Porcher Industries.
As a man of experience who
is reputed for his industrial
management skills, Mr. Genton
is aiming to accelerate the
company's transformation.

restructuring focus being to optimize efficiency and improve resources throughout the group.
More information:
www.porcher.com

http://www.porcher.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #113 - June 2017