the Vallourec buyer presents his plans to get the plant back on its feet

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It’s been done for four months. The Vallourec plant, now called Valti, was bought by a German company, Mutares. The objective now is to restore the Montbard plant, which manufactures steel tubes. A site in great financial difficulty since 2014 with nearly 8 million euros in losses per year. The management presented this Monday, October 1, the projects and objectives of the plant.

From left to right: André Calisti, managing director of Mutares, Aymeric Lefébure managing director of Valti and François Martin, chairman of Valti © Radio France
– Charlotte Schuhmacher

And the main objective for François Martin, new president of Valti, is to be a benchmark player in precision tubes in Europe.

To do so, François Martin reveals multiple lines of work. “First of all, we have to secure purchases, in terms of quality and availability. Today, as we know, the availability of steel is very limited and the deadlines announced to us are not always met, we must then warn our customers and secure the national and international markets.We must also reassure our employees and that they regain their confidence in us.This involves the transfer of know-how: we want to set up a system of mentoring between employees close to retirement and newcomers.”

But the buyers must also deal with the situation of the site, in great financial difficulty. A deal partial activity was taken for the months of October and November.

Worried employees

In front of the factory, about fifty employees gathered to protest against the takeover of Valti by the German company. According to Franck Chesseron, CGT delegate of the company, Mutares’ projects are much too vague. “The management promised us a clear industrial project, 100 days maximum after their arrival. Today, we still do not know clearly what sauce we are going to be eaten.”

Some of the Valti employees, gathered in front of the factory entrance
Some of the Valti employees, gathered in front of the factory entrance © Radio France
– Charlotte Schuhmacher
Valti employees demand a clear industrial project from the buyers, the German company Mutares
Valti employees demand a clear industrial project from the buyers, the German company Mutares © Radio France
– Charlotte Schuhmacher

According to the union representative, about twenty employees would have resigned since June, precisely because of this lack of clarity. For his part, François Martin qualifies these remarks. “Not all departures are linked to our arrival. And for those of whom this is the case, I find that a shame. These are people who did not take the time to listen to us.”

All of Valti’s projects and objectives will be presented at the end of October to all of the plant’s employees.


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