When Jacques Clochard founded Groupe FIDEIP in 2000, he had “ no particular objective other than to serve our customers well.” He was solely focused on developing the small industrial firm he’d acquired, which included a team of eight, and just under €1 million in annual revenue.

Today, Groupe FIDEIP comprises 15 industrial companies in the field of mechanical engineering, with sites and offices in France, the U.S., Canada and Morocco. Operating seven production sites, with its headquarters in the coastal city of Vendée, the group employs 450 people and generates €85 million in revenue.

The group is built around five core business areas — process and special machines, conveying solutions, precision mechanics, industrial robotics and capital goods. The companies operate across sectors with demanding technical requirements, ranging from aeronautics and space to energy, agri-food, chemicals and healthcare. Its customers include a wide range of major multinationals such as Ariane, Thalès, Coca-Cola, Michelin, Lactalis, Nestlé, Danone, L’Oréal, Sanofi and Decathlon.

Three subsidiaries abroad and seven production sites in France

From the outset, Jacques Clochard’s vision has included a strong focus on exports. “We design and manufacture in France, but some of our companies export up to 70% of their revenue abroad,” he says. Groupe FIDEIP now exports its solutions to more than 75 countries. Among its recent projects are the sale of conveying components in Africa and Australia, as well as the installation of a powder production and robotic handling line in Guyana and Canada.

At the same time, the group has expanded internationally with the creation of three subsidiaries: Palamatic Process Inc. in the United States in 2019, Palamatic Process Canada in 2023 and Mecadrum Maroc in Morocco in 2024. “This development responds to requests from our customers and partners for a local presence,” explains General Manager Arnaud Clochard, Jacques’ son, who joined Groupe FIDEIP in 2020 as part of a long-term succession plan. “These are markets where we have been exporting for many years, so establishing subsidiaries was the logical next step. Being closer to local markets also helps us identify future opportunities.”

Over the past few years, the group has developed what Jacques Clochard describes as “real expertise and know-how” as a major exporter, benefiting each company within the group. “Companies with international experience can share their knowledge with others in the group, including newly created or recently acquired businesses,” he adds.

The model: long-term vision, agility, and innovation

While Groupe FIDEIP does not communicate specific numerical targets for its international expansion, Arnaud Clochard says the group’s philosophy is “to be curious, agile, and always in motion.” “Today we have both the critical size and the agility to continue expanding. Future growth will depend on opportunities, the people we meet, and the needs of our customers,” he explains. “Our development model is based on a long-term vision, ensuring sustainable, steady, and continuous growth across all our activities through organic development, start-up creation and external expansion. We aim to combine the flexibility and agility of an SME with the strength of a group.”

Jacques Clochard adds: “We are constantly striving to identify growth opportunities in different markets. It is essential to seize the right opportunities, with the support of partners such as Bpifrance, which accompanies us through its various tools.”

As a member of the French Fab and Bpifrance’s Club Excellence, the group positions itself as a strong advocate of the “Made in France” industrial sector, contributing to the international promotion of French industry. One of its companies, Palamatic Process, based in Brittany, is set to open an expertise and innovation center this year (2026) that will be “unique in Europe.” “This expertise center will allow our international partners to innovate and develop their solutions for today and tomorrow,” says Arnaud Clochard.

According to both father and son, French industrial expertise enjoys strong recognition abroad, and France can count on a highly innovative network of SMEs across its territory. “We are convinced that French industry must play a role in the French economy and its trade balance,” concludes Arnaud Clochard, “with many opportunities and exciting stories still to be written.” And yes, he adds, Groupe FIDEIP is actively hiring.