Can you tell us about Girard Transmissions products?
Guillaume Alzas: We offer a complete range of precision worm gearboxes. It is aimed at distributors and OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), for whom customized solutions can be developed. The Nidec group also offers a wide range of products for the world of Motion Control. Complete our offer with servomotors and control electronics, etc.
Tristan d’Heilly: Our Dynabox and Dynaset ranges are distributed all over the world. They have been qualified and tested in industrial applications requiring accuracy to within 1 arc minute. Girard Transmissions takes advantage of its vertical integration model. It allows us to control the entire value chain, from design to commercialization, through prototyping, validation and manufacturing.
What are the needs of your customers?
GA: Our clients are demanding in terms of quality. And for good reason, our worm wheels and gears find their place in complex, robotic and automated equipment. Therefore, they must be highly reliable to secure applications and not incur production downtime costs. Service and meeting deadlines are just as important to our clients. we answer it with an express delivery service On demand.
What is the roadmap for Girard Transmissions?
GA: We have very strong development ambitions. In recent years, the Nidec Group has invested significantly in our company. All our manufacturing means have been renewed, with productive and capacitive equipment that allows us to double our production.
TDH: We are developing our markets through our distribution network. This turning point began during Covid, with the implementation of these new state-of-the-art production means, and the emergence of a new management team. In addition, our production teams have taken the time to train on our new machines and We are now at full production capacity.
What will this new chapter be made of?
AG: Girard Transmissions navigates the industry 4.0 movement. Our products fit into this approach! Our precision reducers are used to achieve robotic movements. They are found in all kinds of robots: 6-axis robots, 3-axis Cartesian robots, or AGV-type mobile robots (automated guided vehicles). On the other hand, we remain very attached to our French presence. We produce our precision gears from our historic site in Pau, while maintaining our export business, which represents 60% of our business. This is all our strength.
Are you affected by the shortage of electronic components?
GA: Our customers are also part of the very promising sectors of Industry 4.0. However, its activity and development have been hampered by the breakdown of certain electronic components for 18 months now. This shortage of components penalizes us indirectly, and we are currently measuring a drop of around 15% in our order intake.
And because of the energy crisis?
GA: We are doubly impacted by the energy crisis. Firstly, by our component suppliers : cast parts, steel parts… So many elements whose previous processes consume a lot of energy. Our providers then increase their prices to offset this increase in energy. Next, by our own energy consumption. We have to power our fleet of machine tools (air compressors and other production equipment), which consume a certain number of kilowatt hours.
What are your solutions to prevent it?
GA: We have introduced common sense measures! Previously, some teams worked around the clock or even into the night. We have rationalized this use by limiting its feeding in a certain time. We have also invested in more efficient and less consumption equipment, such as smart LED lighting.
The goal is to better manage our energy consumption. All these efforts are paying off: in the past month, these simple measures and the optimization of our operations have generated a -15% reduction in our energy consumption.
TDH: Our desire for growth is part of an unstable period in spite of ourselves. However, our energy transition absorbs as many energy increases as possible, in order to limit their impact on our customers.
GA: Furthermore, we are impatiently waiting for state aid. By way of comparison, our Asian competitors are far less affected than we are by this energy crisis. Girard Transmissions, which has become more competitive with its recent investments, does not want to lose this advantage due to an unfavorable European situation.
This content was produced with SCRIBEO. The BFMBUSINESS editorial team was not involved in the production of this content.
Source: BFM TV
