Michel Langrand - Why VELUX Chose to Invest in France
Invest in France Agency
2013-04-08
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Michel Langrand tells us about VELUX's success in France. VELUX was founded in France in 1964 and has four industrial sites where it produces roof windows, blinds and roller shutters. The group is happy to make sizeable R&D investments in the country and the VELUX Foundation is a leading sponsor of France’s national monuments.
What are Velux activities in France?
Velux has first started in 1964 here in France and ever since it has been a continuous growth and success on the French territory. We employ close to 900 people, we have 4 industrial sites where we produce roof windows, blinds, roller shutters and we have a sales company with 4 regional centers in France.
What kind of partnerships have you developed in France?
We have developed a number of local partnerships. Some with the historical monuments thanks to the Velux Foundation: we are one of the big sponsors to renovate the Sainte Chapelle. We have also developed some industrial partnerships with big groups like Saint-Gobain and we have a lot of partnerships with the roofers, the craftsmen who install our products thanks to our training center. In the same way, we have decided to supply with pine wood from “pin des Landes” in France which is also only certified wood.
What else makes France attractive to you as an Investor?
The main features for the motivation for Velux to be here in France is first to be locally close to our customers. The second thing is by being local, we save lot of CO2 and a lot of energy as well in our products.
R&D is at the root of your company’s success. Is France a good place for R&D?
The Velux group has decided to have its research and development centers both in Danemark and in France close to Besançon, in Marnay, for the roller shutters.
The first big project is the model home 2020, meaning how to develop the house of the future thanks to day light and fresh air into the house. We have built a house in France where we have a family living in the house that will give us practical learning from what is the real comfort in the house.
What are Velux’s future plans in France?
The immediate project today has been the launch of the new generation roof windows. It has been a huge investment in France. The group has invested more than €27 million to the production companies to make sure that we would have the roof windows that will really meet and fulfill the criteria of the future giving more daylight, more comfort and less energy spent.
What are Velux activities in France?
Velux has first started in 1964 here in France and ever since it has been a continuous growth and success on the French territory. We employ close to 900 people, we have 4 industrial sites where we produce roof windows, blinds, roller shutters and we have a sales company with 4 regional centers in France.
What kind of partnerships have you developed in France?
We have developed a number of local partnerships. Some with the historical monuments thanks to the Velux Foundation: we are one of the big sponsors to renovate the Sainte Chapelle. We have also developed some industrial partnerships with big groups like Saint-Gobain and we have a lot of partnerships with the roofers, the craftsmen who install our products thanks to our training center. In the same way, we have decided to supply with pine wood from “pin des Landes” in France which is also only certified wood.
What else makes France attractive to you as an Investor?
The main features for the motivation for Velux to be here in France is first to be locally close to our customers. The second thing is by being local, we save lot of CO2 and a lot of energy as well in our products.
R&D is at the root of your company’s success. Is France a good place for R&D?
The Velux group has decided to have its research and development centers both in Danemark and in France close to Besançon, in Marnay, for the roller shutters.
The first big project is the model home 2020, meaning how to develop the house of the future thanks to day light and fresh air into the house. We have built a house in France where we have a family living in the house that will give us practical learning from what is the real comfort in the house.
What are Velux’s future plans in France?
The immediate project today has been the launch of the new generation roof windows. It has been a huge investment in France. The group has invested more than €27 million to the production companies to make sure that we would have the roof windows that will really meet and fulfill the criteria of the future giving more daylight, more comfort and less energy spent.
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