Malvaux continues to strengthen its interior layout – Le Journal des Entreprises
Naval Malvaux. This is the new name given to the company Ganter France, recently acquired by the Malvaux group (nearly 500 employees, €124 million in turnover), which manufactures, processes and distributes technical and decorative wooden panels, including the head office is based in Loulay (Charente-Maritime). He thus brought into his fold a company of 13 employees (for a turnover of €5.5 million) based in Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique) where Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the main client of this expert in layout on board cruise ships (former subsidiary of Mutares).
A breakthrough in layout
For Malvaux, created in 1928, the naval sector is one more string to an already well supplied bow. It began its first experiments there in 2021 alongside the Saint-Nazaire shipyard, notably by designing storefronts for the MSC World Europa liner. “Our proximity to shipyards made the offer of a French fitter relevant for subjects with high added value on board cruise ships”, explains Philippe Denavit. “With this first test, we realized the adequacy of our know-how with the needs and expectations of construction sites.” Referring to three other ongoing projects, the CEO plans to increase the weight of naval from 5 to 10% in the group’s activity.
Although more than 60% of Malvaux’s activity is still based on the manufacture and distribution of panels, technical and decorative plywood, it has gradually increased its transformation and fittings activity. Three companies, all resulting from external growth, carry the activity: Malvaux Interior (25 employees) and James 1840 (47 employees), which designs luxury hotels (Brach, Fouquet’s, Madame Rêve, etc.), and Malvaux Manufactures, which brings together three interior fittings production workshops in Loire-Atlantique and Maine-et-Loire. A strike force that has been forged since the takeover of the company from the Finnish UPM by its current CEO in 2006, and has transformed the group into a specialist in high-end interior fittings in the boating, hotel, rail or motorhomes.
Wood construction and export
If he does not envisage “more external growth in the short term”, his ambition is towards wood construction, a sector which is moving quickly thanks to the accelerating effect of the RE2020. “Our layout activities have made it possible to develop skills around the layout of wooden living buildings, in particular acoustic ceilings. The wood construction market is developing, it will represent nearly 10% of turnover. of the group this year.”
The group also has its eyes turned towards export in particular to tackle the hotel industry markets in Germany, Switzerland and Italy or boating in England and Germany. “We want to grow organically.” If export today represents 5% of the group’s activity, exclusively driven by boating, it hopes to climb to 15% within four years.
