1906 : Creation of E. LECLERC, cutting tools manufacturer in Paris
1945 : Creation of FOURNEL, tool holders manufacturer in St Etienne
1972 : The plant’s surface double to reach 5000m² (120 people)
1980 : 2500 customers directly approached
1985 : Departments’ informatisation and high technological level investments
1989 : Creation of a vacuum heat treatment unit which then welcomed several thin coating ovens
1990 : 12 technical salesmen, 4000 customers, 140 people : we evoluate in the top of the range products niche
1993 : Buyout by E. LECLERC of FOURNEL. 1st step of our repositionning : to a more global solution (tools + tool holders)
1996 : ISO 1992 certification
1999 : Creation of our R&D department where we will soon lead works accroding to 3 complementary axes of our products ranges : shrinking, balancing, presetting
2001 : We initiate other collaborations in areas such as machine tool, tools’ routes optimisation, manufacturing softwares, etc.
2004 : 6000 customers, turnover : 12M€, 160 people, equiped of more than 200 machines, we access to the machining solutions prescriber status : cutting tools, tool holders, shrink fit units, balancing units, presetting units
2008 : Creation of Bretagne UGV, specific interest grouping equiped eventually of 10 to 15 reseracher engineers, and we join the pole of competitiveness
2009 : Merger of E. LECLERC & FOURNEL
2012 : We strongly reinforce our exportations thanks to our positioning and our ELCO brand