Nicoll continues its investment programs in Cholet – Le Journal des Entreprises – Maine-et-Loire

Nicoll is accelerating its investments for its Cholet site, in Maine-et-Loire, which is the company’s main site.

A specialist in PVC fluid management solutions for the construction sector, the Cholet-based company Nicoll generates more than three-quarters of the turnover of Aliaxis France, whose head office it hosts. Turnover of more than 300 million euros in 2022. “We had good activity until the spring then a sharp drop from June to September before a restart at the end of the year, indicates Benoît Fabre, CEO of Aliaxis France. At the same time, our shareholders have confirmed their desire to continue investing in Cholet, which remains our flagship, to accelerate our industrial transformation and continue our innovation work.”

In 2022, the group had doubled its investments in Cholet compared to 2021, with an envelope of 10 million euros. This year, again, it has chosen to invest 21 million euros in its French industrial sites, the vast majority of which will be dedicated to its establishment in Cholet.

Towards a recycled PVC

Nicoll transforms 40 tons of PVC every day with its 93 injection presses and 30 tons on its 16 extrusion lines. “For several years, we have been optimizing production, says Olivier Perez, director of the Cholet site. We are modifying our product packaging processes, we have installed cobots to replace repetitive gestures and others will arrive next March. These automations come as our processes evolve.” Processes that integrate more and more recycled materials, in addition to production scrap systematically reintroduced into the circuit. “We are accelerating research to recycle PVC, adds Benoît Fabre. The future depends on the most recyclable and recycled plastic possible.” The Cholet R&D center has also designed, in addition to a shower water collector, a low-carbon PVC drainage system and a sanitary range for the Leroy Merlin brand, which includes 90% recycled plastic, three new additions to the Nicoll range in 2022. The Cholet-based company intends to continue to accelerate on environmental issues and the issue of recycling, with part of the investment planned for this year also being dedicated to research and development.

940 employees

The Nicoll site in Cholet is one of three Aliaxis France production units (1,300 employees), alongside the other Nicoll unit in Frontonas (140 employees), in Isère, and Girpi (150 employees), in Calvados.

It employs approximately 600 people, to which are added more than 300 sales staff and in the support functions of Aliaxis France. 940 employees are thus attached to the Cholet site. “About 85% of our products are intended for professionals via distributors and wholesalers”, specifies Benoît Fabre. The rest is aimed at individuals via DIY superstores. Export represents approximately 15% of the turnover of Aliaxis France, which also markets its products in Europe, South America, Africa and the Middle East.