Sustaining French manufacturing

Pictured: A vehicle converted by Durisotti for international outdoor advertising company JCDecaux

Liberty’s automotive acquisitions keep manufacturing jobs in France.

Liberty has acquired the French automotive suppliers Saint Jean Industries Poitou and Fonderie du Poitou Fonte in the latest step in its strategy to develop into the global automotive sector.

The new acquisitions secure the jobs of over 600 employees of the businesses.

Liberty will work with management and staff to improve operational working practices so that the businesses can diversify their product ranges and build market share.

Both of the acquired sites in the Nouvelle Aquitaine region use recycled material to produce their components, and so their acquisition is another step towards GFG’s development of a GREEN-ALUMINIUM and GREENSTEEL supply chain.

The acquisitions are the latest step in Liberty’s strategy to build an integrated value chain in France.

Good company
The new businesses enter Liberty’s French portfolio alongside: France’s second largest vehicle converter Durisotti; France’s only manufacturer of aluminium wheels, AR Industries, (now Liberty Wheels France); and Europe’s largest aluminium smelter (now Liberty Aluminium Dunkerque).

“This is a significant step in GFG Alliance’s French journey,” says our Executive Chairman, Sanjeev Gupta. “In less than a year, we have secured a presence across both upstream and downstream activities in France, putting down roots in one of Europe’s most established and renowned industrial economies.”

Dr Douglas Dawson, Chief Executive of Liberty Industries Group, adds, “We’ve been clear from the outset just how important the French market is for us, and the acquisition of these specialist automotive suppliers is strategically very significant as we look to expand first domestically and then further afield while also adding value and safeguarding jobs and skills.”