Past present and future

For over 75 years, ACOME has been building a remarkable reputation in the wiring industry. Its success is due to the company’s historical determination to found its operations on firm values, innovation and diversification.

   

Firm foundations

In 1932, the Electro-Câble electrical wiring production company filed for bankruptcy. Its former directors created the “Association Coopérative d’Ouvriers en Matériel Electrique” (meaning the Electrical Equipment Workers Cooperative Association) or ACOME, naming the company “L’Electrique”. Seven years later, the first ever French Cooperative Production Company adopted its final name: ACOME.

In 1941, driven away from Paris by the Second World War, ACOME set up a production line in an old 700 m² cotton mill in Normandy. This site then became the group’s key production centre when the Argenteuil plant was destroyed by Allied bombs two years later.

Following the war, business resumed at a frantic pace. The region’s farmers were called on to help in meeting steadily-growing demand. Over the years, ACOME won ground, in both the literal and the figurative sense of the phrase. Its growing business and innovative abilities have resulted in it reaching far beyond France!

The company, which has remained a SCOP and now leads the industry in each of its chosen sectors, has two plants in China (Xintaï in Shandong province, and Wuhan in Hubei province), one in Brazil (Irati in Parana State) and five in France (Mortain in Normandy).

The keys to longevity

Throughout the years, ACOME has understood that its corporate success depends on its ability to diversify and balance its business portfolio. This has gradually led the company to specialise in new technologies in wiring, optical fibre, cables, synthetic tubing and related systems for four different markets:

This careful deployment of skills enabled the company to ride out the crisis in the telecom market at the beginning of the 21st century.

Benefiting from its research and innovative abilities, ACOME has become a well-renowned technical specialist in:

  • Metallurgy and copper drawing,
  • Plasturgy, polymer compounding and extrusion,
  • Electrophysical cross-linking of polymers,
  • Optical fibre,
  • Production-level expertise in controls and measurement tools

The company’s success in becoming one of the leading wiring manufacturers is also due to its drive towards internationalisation. This has led to ACOME setting up an Export Department at the end of the '70s and then creating subsidiaries in Germany (1998), Brazil (1998), China (1999), Italy (2007) and Spain (2008).

A story of values

Above all else, ACOME’s story is that of a human venture founded on firm values. Through its Cooperative Production Company status, it involves its employee-partners in its corporate growth. In return, ACOME puts considerable effort into repaying its partners and their environment, in the broad sense of the term.

ACOME’s 10 key dates

Date Innovation
1932 ACOME is created (“Association Coopérative d’Ouvriers en Matériel Electrique”, or Electrical Equipment Workers’ Cooperative).ACOME is created (“Association Coopérative d’Ouvriers en Matériel Electrique”, or Electrical Equipment Workers’ Cooperative).
1941 The company sets up a telephone cord production workshop in Mortain, in Normandy.
1949 Production of PVC-insulated wiring is launched, and the new technique is adapted to production of automotive equipment wiring.
1960

Interference suppression becomes mandatory in motor vehicles. ACOME supplies screened cables for over 30% of the French car market.

'70s

· The company participates in the French telephone network development plan.

In 1976, it buys an industrial electron accelerator; this is used to cross-link polymers in order to produce cable and wire insulation and also opens the way to numerous other applications in various fields. During this decade, ACOME creates an R&D centre equipped with the most sophisticated equipment available.

1981 ACOME widens its range of Building products by developing a low-temperature underfloor heating system.
1998

ACOME sets up subsidiaries in Germany and Brazil, followed by China (1999), Italy (2007) and Spain (2008).

2000

ACOME adds optical fibre to its product portfolio.

2006 ACOME makes a commitment to sustainable development and adheres to the 10 principles of the UN’s Worldwide Pact. ACOME creates a Very High Speed Internet Skills Centre, providing training on, testing and demonstrating the new technologies involved.
2008 ACOME’s Normandy site is now one of the most efficient production plants in Europe. The company, which is strongly geared towards the major foreign markets, can meet its customers’ efficiency and productivity requirements in the now-global economy thanks to its widespread international presence.