The Angevin Kolmi-Hopen group built, on the industrial wasteland of the old Arjowiggins stationery, in Bessé-sur-Braye, the first site in France for the production of single-use nitrile gloves for the medical sector.
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French hospitals health personnel can put on single-use nitrile gloves, made in their country from 2023. In Bessé-sur-Braye, in the east of Sarthe, the Kolmi-Hopen group, Manufacturer of single-use equipment for the medical, industrial and hygiene sectors, based in Saint-Barthélémy-d’Anjou, near Angers, is on the verge of concretizing his production plant project.
These gloves, less allergens than those in latex, are today essentially imported from Asia. After the emergence of the COVVI-19 pandemic, the issue of a 100 % French supply appeared as a priority at the central purchasing center for tricolor public hospitals. This signed a four-year contract and 80 million euros with Kolmi-Hopen, to ensure the supply of 1.75 billion gloves.
This order allowed the Angevin group to launch the project, which he had been thinking for a few years. “We already had a range of single -use gloves, but we asked ourselves the question of the opportunity of a nitrile gloves factory in France, says its general manager, Gérald Heuliez. Investments are very heavy. Producing gloves , it is fifteen times more expensive than making masks. The market did not push us to launch ourselves. “
recruitment started
The context linked to the COVVI-19 and the difficulties of supply abroad has changed the situation. “The market is more receptive to European production, with a different price delta,” said the industrialist. After having approached several regions, it is in that of the Pays de la Loire, where it is based, that the group decided to set up its future Manikheir factory. More specifically in Bessé-sur-Braye, in place of the Arjowiggins stationery, liquidated in March 2019, and which had left 580 employees on the tile.
“What made the difference were the technical characteristics of the site. The building was better suited and the deadlines for obtaining shorter authorizations. We could start in a secure manner from 2022”, rejoiced a year ago, In May 2021, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the Minister Delegate for Industry, when the choice of establishment is announced.
a whole symbol. To revitalize this site, Kolmi-Hopen benefits from 10 million euros from the State (with the call for projects resilience) and 5 million euros in the region, led by Christelle Morançais (Les Républicains). Implementation of the factory will represent half of the area of the old stationery. This summer, the first production lines, commanded in Malaysia, will be installed in the Sarthe.
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