New ADF Metalworking Plant Inaugurated at Fos-sur-Mer

An investment supported by local authorities and Provence Promotion with the award of the "Invest in Provence" label

Already in operation for a few months, ADF’s new high-grade metalworking unit was officially inaugurated on November 7, 2018 at a ceremony in the presence of the Group’s partners, staff members and representatives of the local government backers of the investment project. ADF is a major player in the local engineering and services to industry sector. After being persuaded by Provence Promotion and local economic stakeholders to go ahead with the project in the region, ADF’s CEO Marc Eliayan was presented with the Invest in Provence award at the inauguration ceremony by the President of Provence Promotion Jean-Luc Chauvin, who underlined the importance of the project in the light of the economic development of local industrial sectors.

Among other pieces of good news for the region recently was the opening by the ADF Group (based in Vitrolles) of a high-grade metalworking plant at Fos-sur-Mer, representing a diversification of its business activities there. ADF has been providing engineering and industrial expertise for 40 years, setting up and maintaining installations and supplying equipment to its customers in 14 countries worldwide. By reinforcing its know-how across its business lines, the Group is now able to offer turnkey industrial projects and complete manufacturing units from design to construction.

ADF Boosting Growth in Promising Sector

With the launch of this new unit, ADF is adapting to demand from a market seeking integrated solutions. Its clients, key players in the industrial world, are modernizing their facilities, processes and equipment to comply with increasingly stringent technical requirements. Parts must not only conform to the highest standards in terms of technical performance and efficiency, but must also be integrated into increasingly connected facilities as part of the developments surrounding the Industry 4.0 factory and industrial digitization. Enlarging its metalworking offer provides ADF with an opening for growth at the heart of the Group’s sales and industrial strategy, with the ambition of becoming a European leader serving industrial competitiveness.

The La Feuillane Production Unit – A Competitive, Advanced Facility

Of the global €5M in total investment, of which the first €3.5M tranche has been completed, a large part has been devoted to equipment in order to ensure flexibility in the production chain. Able to produce a variety of sizes of engineered parts, large or small, the site aims to fulfill demand for both one-off components and large production runs.

Being ISO 14000, the facility factors in the environmental impact, adopting an approach that is completely in line with regional efforts driven, in particular, by the “Provence Industry’Nov” collective through its call for interest for industrial projects that embrace innovation and sustainable development.

Market Opportunities and Financial Backing

Aix-Marseille Provence is currently relaunching its industry, so it is no coincidence that the ADF Group chose Fos-sur-Mer as the site. The Fos-sur-Mer industrial basin and the shores of the Etang de Berre host a concentration of major industrial players who are investing massively in their facilities. Good economic conditions bolstered by a strong commitment from local government and Provence Promotion meant the project remained in France. The support ADF received in obtaining a development aid in the form of the Prime à l’Aménagement du Territoire (PAT), financial aid from local government and their assistance in putting in place training programs that fulfilled its needs were key factors.

This production unit, beneficial to the region in terms of innovation and jobs, will eventually enable the hiring of around 60 persons, mainly skilled craftsmen, metalworkers and welders of all categories.

The Invest in Provence Award, presented at the inauguration ceremony, is a token of thanks from the region to ADF for their investment.