Campus Normandie Eolien: a unique training venue
Campus Normandie Eolien in Fécamp has set a benchmark among students and employees specialising in wind energy. The unique facility on the Descartes-Maupassant college campus has helped make the region's name as a land of excellence in terms of renewable marine energy training. What better way to learn than in the field? Students and apprentices…
Fécamp, OLVEA’s home port
OLVEA is now a world leader in its industry, specialising in fish oil high in Omega 3 and vegetable oil for the food and cosmetics sectors. The company was founded in Fécamp in Seine-Maritime and has made its location a key asset.. https://youtu.be/zqd_WmQIejc Every generation of the Daudruy family has had a hand in building…
Palais Bénédictine, entrepreneurial spirit
It's three things in one: a historical landmark, architectural oddity and factory. The Palais Bénédictine is an institution in Fécamp. A tour of the distillery (which makes a million litres of the famous liqueur every year) and its museum is top of the list for any visitor to the area. https://youtu.be/aw1EfGHMCZ4 Appearances can be deceiving.…
GLLU: sustainable furniture made in Normandy
GLLU designs and makes 100% Norman, sleek and sustainable furniture in Malaunay, near Rouen. The Normandy Economy Awards, organised by AD Normandie, put the business in the spotlight for its "Made in Normandie" category. Let's find out more. Explore Gllu’s lovingly-made wooden furniture 9 people put their experience and craftsmanship into the Malaunay workshop to…
Genexpath helps detect cancer
The Normandy start-up sells tests to classify lymphomas and sarcomas. The technique developed at the cancer research unit at Centre Henri Becquerel in Rouen is intended to help improve treatment and care. Juliette Renauld isn't a researcher or a scientist. The 46 year old is the director of Genexpath, a Rouen start-up specialising in tests to detect…
Interview with Frédéric Vardon, a devoted Normandy chef
Frédéric Vardon was born in Eure. His parents were butchers/caterers and came from farming stock between Orne and Calvados. He is now a famous chef at Le 39V, a restaurant in the golden triangle in the 8th arrondissement in Paris. He began his career in Paris at Au Trou Gascon, went to work for Michelin-starred…
WeeeCycling Leads Critical Metals Recycling Innovation in Normandy
The Normandy company was founded in 2019 in Tourville-les-Ifs, near Le Havre, and is the only one in the world making 100% recycled metals, including platinoids. WeeeCycling won the 2030 French Critical Metals call to tender and is now expanding to significantly increase its production capacity and meet demand. Platinum, rhodium, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, silver…
Waltersperger, a glass manufacturer with real expertise
Bresle Valley in Seine-Maritime has been known as the glass valley since the 15th century. It alone accounts for over 70% of the perfume bottles produced worldwide and keeps countless traditional trades alive. Let us introduce you to Waltersperger, a living heritage company and the last semi-automatic glass manufacturer in France. Stéphanie Tourres Responsable -…
Mijuin: flying the flag for French products
What is Mijuin? It's a start-up based in Seine-Maritime that wants to provide easier access to flax through local distribution channels. The winner of the Tomorrow's Topics category at the 2023 Normandy Economy Awards is a garment factory where quality meets sustainability Why flax production is at the heart of Mijuin’s sustainable mission "It controls…
Maison Berger: Over a century of expertise
Maurice Berger, a pharmacy technician, created the Lampe Berger in 1898 as an air purifier. Fast forward to the present day and it's now a fully-fledged home accessory. Let's go behind the scenes of the company based in Grand-Bourgtheroulde, in Eure, since 1975. Maison Berger Paris, history https://youtu.be/gZXsEoAuLx4 It all began in 1898 after a…
How 6NAPSE Group’s test centres are shaping the future of aerospace technology
The 6NAPSE Group is a group of labs and support and test centres. Three of them are in Normandy: CEVAA in Saint-Etienne-du-Rouvray (76), Analyses et Surface in Val-de-Reuil (27) and 6NAPSE in Vernon (27). The group helps several major sectors in Normandy's industries, including aerospace and automotive, in terms of R&D, inspection and reliability for…
Visit the last sequin factory in France, Langlois-Martin, located in Orne
Let's meet Jean-Baptiste Drachkovitch (on the right), co-director of Langlois-Martin, the last sequin manufacturer in France, alongside Pascal Bernard since 2010. The business was founded in 1919 and left the Paris area in September 2018 for Saint-Ouen-sur-Iton in Orne. The factory opened its doors to visitors for the first time as part of the European…
International riders flock to Normandy, the land of horses
With 2 national stud farms (Haras du Pin and Saint-Lô), 4500 breeders, countless competitions and pioneering facilities, Normandy really is the horses land. New riders and stable owners flock here every year for its mild climate (ideal for horses) and all the infrastructures that call the region home. Normandy is the only region to produce…
Normandy is building a world horse library
The digital world horse library went live in 2018 and provides all the information you could wish for about publications related to Normandy's iconic animal! Let's find out more about how this one-of-a-kind service came to be. Marie-Laure Peretti, Project Manager, Digital Document Unit, MRSH The Origin of Normandy’s World Horse Library Just as the…
Normandy’s cancer centres lead the fight against cancer with innovation and expertise
Centre François Baclesse in Caen and Centre Henri Becquerel in Rouen are two CLCCs (cancer centres) in Normandy. These private, non-profit, healthcare centres work in three areas of oncology: healthcare, education and research. Let's find out more about two centres that have set a benchmark in the region, whose research and unique features are beacons…
CPM Industries, the SME with big ideas for the environment
Low-tech, CSR, decarbonisation, distributed manufacturing… The small fine sheet metalwork company a few miles from Le Havre is proving that commitment to sustainable development isn't just for big business. Low-tech philosophy The company was founded in 1990 by Jean-Marie Panchout, a sheet metalworker, and taken over by two of his children in 2014. Benoist Panchout,…
Fakear, the electro-prodigy from Normandy
With a new album, Hypertalisman, and a concert at the legendary Salle Pleyel, 2024 has been a milestone year for a Normandy artist who is often described as an electro prodigy. To celebrate the Music Festival, let's take another look at the no-holds-barred interview with Théo Le Vigoureux, aka Fakear! https://youtu.be/AinMnIZEffg French contentHe got thousands…
FLEXIKEG: Revolutionising Sustainable Kegs for a Greener Future
FLEXIKEG makes sustainable and durable kegs and won the Innovation award at the most recent Normandy Economy Awards, organised by the economic development agency AD Normandie. It's a major asset to help countless businesses embrace the challenge of sustainability transition. New Generation Kegs: Lighter, Recyclable and Versatile What's the idea? Make kegs that are lighter,…
Krystale: The Crown Jewel of Normandy’s Coastline
Krystale is the name of a precious gem in a pearl setting… it's the perfect name for it! The hearty yet delicate oyster is grown and farmed in Gouville-sur-Mer in the Manche area. The K'Dual family have a passion for Normandy and have spent over 10 years working in suspended oyster culture, an innovative shellfish…
The biggest-ever wind turbine blade measures 107m, and it’s from Cherbourg!
A record-breaking 107m long rotor blade makes it the biggest offshore turbine blade ever built. LM WIND POWER in Cherbourg holds the record. The challenge began in 2017 and has stayed the course: one of the biggest French factories in the General Electric group hasn't stopped hiring staff since it opened in January 2019. fabrication…
Alga Biologics: fighting the big C with the sea
49 year old Muriel Bardor is making her childhood dream come true, or almost. She started out wanting to battle genetic disorders but ended up finding a way to produce antibodies that could treat some forms of cancer using microalgae... Her start-up, Alga Biologics, has already won several awards including the Normandie4Good prize in 2023.…
La Glass Vallée: an industry of excellence in Normandy
La Glass Vallée is the world leader in luxury bottleware and accounts for over 70% of global production of glass bottles for fragrances, spirits, cosmetics, medicine and toiletries. This industry of excellence brings centuries of expertise together in the Bresle Valley, on the border with Normandy and the Hauts-de-France. Let's take a deep dive into glass…
AJ Hackett: Normandy, a natural choice
He introduced people to adrenaline-pumping experiences when he bungee jumped off the Eiffel Tower in 1987. AJ Hackett has set up bungee jump sites around the globe attracting thrill-seekers from all over the world. What fuels him? Creating unforgettable experiences in incredible places. One of them is the Souleuvre site in Calvados, the famous New…
Parapluie de Cherbourg: an umbrella for any weather
A popular film around the world, a magical soundtrack and an umbrella shop that became famous despite being pure fantasy... at the time. Jacques Demy's film inspired 22 year old Jean-Pierre Yvon to create his own brand and Le Véritable Cherbourg umbrella factory in the heart of town in 1986. His son, Charles Yvon, now…
La Cité de la Mer in Cherbourg: an iconic maritime adventure
La Cité de la Mer opened in the former Gare Maritime Transatlantique in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin on April 29th 2002. 20 years later, La Cité de la Mer and its Le Redoutable submarine won the 2022 season of "Le Monument préféré des Français" (France's favourite monument TV show) presented by Stéphane Bern. Let's answer all your questions…
Reviving Normandy’s flax industry: sustainable textile production
The essence of economic fabric? By definition, the system of producing and managing material wealth from design to end product. From crop to clothing via scutching, weaving and knitting: Normandy has helped France make a name for itself as the home for every component of its world-renowned high quality flax. Normandy's La French Filature in…
Horse racing: No pain, no Graignes
Saddle trotting, harness racing and gallop racing more recently… The Afasec horse racing college in Graignes teaches over a hundred students from around the world the art of turf racing in Saint-Lô Agglo in Manche. Despite being little-known and hard to fill, careers in the sector are attainable and appealing. A unique school in Normandy…
Futerro: the future of sustainable, green plastic in Normandy
We got the good news at the end of 2022… Following in the footsteps of Eastman, the Belgian brand Futerro announced it was coming to the Port-Jérôme business park in Seine-Maritime. What's the idea? To open the world's first industrial facility producing, processing and recycling bioplastic. It brings the circular economy and energy transition together:…
Aptar Pharma: a pioneering group
Normandy is home to a network of pioneering groups and industries that are often looking for new staff and working hard to make the industry more sustainable. Let's meet Aptar Pharma in Eure, the world's leading spray and aerosol manufacturer for the pharmaceutical industry and an "Industry Showcase of the Future". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9IYg6YGCl8 What is the…
Eastman: a unique molecular recycling facility in Normandy
Eastman has underlined Normandy's place as an industrial region for the future by opening the biggest molecular recycling facility in the world in Port-Jérôme-sur-Seine (76). What's the idea? Decarbonisation and virtuous economy. A billion euro project The US giant's factory is the biggest in the world: it will recycle up to 160,000 metric tons of…
Uncover the secrets behind Normandy’s organic AOP camembert!
Patrick Mercier is a dairy farmer in Champsecret, near Domfront in Orne, who began making organic camembert with the protected designation of origin in 2010. 70% of his milk is now used to make his cheese. Patrick Mercier is a champion of Normandy's expertise and is president of the ODG (Normandy Camembert Protection and Management…
Calvados, Normandy’s signature spirit
What is calvados? If you know your French geography then you'll know it's a "département" in France. It's also a world-renowned spirit made using Norman expertise. Let's find out more about an iconic apple brandy as we introduce you to four Normandy distilleries. https://youtu.be/CrwnE7s54Ns DOMAINE DE LA FLAGUERIE Domaine de la Flaguerie has been cultivating…
Haras National du Pin: Normandy’s iconic equestrian site
It was selected as one of 17 iconic French sites in 2022 for Stéphane Bern's Mission Patrimoine and will host international teams for the Paris Olympics in 2024. It also hosts several equestrian events, innovative activities and outstanding training. Let's answer your questions about the Haras National du Pin, an iconic (and Norman!) in the…
In the Suisse-Normande area, Cotral Lab, world leader in custom-moulded hearing protection devices
In the workplace, the different kinds of harm caused by regular exposure to noise are recognised today, such as tension, tiredness, difficulty in concentrating, irritation or hearing loss. In order to combat these problems, Laurent Capellari founded Cotral Lab 26 years ago, at Condé-sur-Noireau, in the Norman county of Calvados. His aim? To provide custom-moulded…
Virtual Reality (VR) at the service of research
CIREVE (the Centre Interdisciplinaire de Réalité Virtuelle, or Centre for Interdisciplinary Virtual Reality) is at the heart of the University of Caen Normandy’s technology centre, created in 2006 and, since 2012, part of the training and research unit for humanities and the social sciences (the Unité de Formation et de Recherche, or UFR Humanités et…
Isigny-Sainte-Mère: Normandy dairy know-how recognised around the world
Since 1932, Normandy’s Isigny-Sainte-Mère Cooperative has proudly maintained its know-how and quality in making dairy products. Managed by Daniel Delahaye since 1990 until his recent retirement, the business now achieves two thirds of its turnover abroad. Milk, cheese, fromage frais, butter and cream sold under the Isigny Ste-Mère brand are to be found across the…
Eco-Technilin: an international showcase for norman know-how
Based at Valliquerville near Yvetot in the Norman county of Seine-Maritime, Eco-Technilin is Europe’s leading supplier of non-woven products made from natural fibres (flax, hemp, kenaf, jute), mainly used for car interiors. Video portrait. Sustainable development The company was created in the year 2000 by an agricultural cooperative, in order to make the most of…
Tertu: how Normandy is helping make roads safer around the world
They flash past us, often unseen, and yet they’re indispensable. They appeared in france in the 1960s, lining the roads – retaining devices, or crash barriers. They help keep vehicles on the road and give users added security. In the norman county of orne, at villedieu-lès-bailleul, tertu equipements has been developing innovative ones made from…
In Normandy: training that’s unique in France !
Outside Saint-Pierre-en-Auge, a town in the county of Calvados, the Etablissement Public Local Agricole Le Robillard is a local public agricultural college that offers a rather special year’s course that’s unique in France, leading to a Certificate in ‘‘specialisation in cider’’. This is aimed at people looking for a career change retraining to produce and…