Business in France

It is a principle already used by the ancient Egyptians to build the pyramids: roller conveying. Since these early times, the highly effective and energy-efficient technology has been constantly refined. A trailblazer for innovative developments in this sector is the Japanese ITOH DENKI Corporation. Committed to ‘driving the future of intralogistics’, the company pioneered brushless DC 24V motors in rollers. The Group’s European head office is based in eastern France, not far from the Swiss border.

True, most guests to the Fer à Cheval come for a skiing holiday, combined with a visit to the French luxury resort of Megève. Thanks to its special character, the five-star hotel offers all the amenities you could wish for and is attracting a growing number of people throughout the year. The Fer á Cheval unites the best of both worlds: true Alpine hospitality with natural materials, and inobtrusive luxury in its splendid rooms, suites, restaurants and facilities.

Flexibility, design and lifestyle are the hallmarks of the refurbishments carried out by Grape Hospitality from France, owner, operator and manager of 87 hotels in eight European countries and well over 9,000 rooms operated under a franchise contract. Jointly owned by Eurazeo, Accor Invest and the group management, Grape Hospitality has opened twelve new restaurants in the three years of its existence and raised the annual turnover from 200 to 250 million EUR. An impressive achievement by any standards. At the same time customer satisfaction has gone up from seven to a value of almost nine out of ten – another point to confirm the group’s successful and value-adding hotel management.

Founded in the 1960s, the Mediterranean-Rhône pipeline company, known as SPMR, operates a network of pipelines backed by refineries and import depots on the Mediterranean coast and by the Lyon-Feyzin refinery. 24 hours a day, seven days a week, it provides road and aviation fuel and heating fluids to the depots in the southeast of France and the region of Geneva through its connection to a Swiss pipeline, covering nearly 75% of the demand from these regions.

It can occur in any poorly ventilated house, no matter how grand or ordinary – mould, a result of moisture that can lead to serious health problems. According to the World Health Organisation a large number of cases of childhood asthma are caused by exposure to indoor damp and mould. The earlier the mould is detected and removed the better. Murprotec SA in France is a European leader in damp-proofing treatment.

When it comes to choosing a champagne that stands out from the rest, Champagne Henriot SAS fits the bill perfectly, even in a uniquely exclusive field. Of the big-name houses in the Champagne wine-growing region, it is the smallest, known for the discreetness of its presence and the satisfyingly high quality of its champagnes. A family-owned winery in the eighth generation, it can trace its heritage back to 1808.

Thanks to companies like medac SAS, patients with niche complaints can still look forward to effective treatment and relief for their symptoms. The French sales arm of an independent, German, family-owned pharmaceutical laboratory distributes a range of products that bridge the gap between new developments and generics in medical fields such as rheumatology, oncology, urology, haematology and neurosurgery. By focusing on existing molecules and using them in new ways, medac maximizes the potential for patients to benefit from drugs developed for their needs.

As a result of terrorist threats, attacks and cybercrime, our society has changed significantly. Security cannot be taken for granted anymore and people are concerned about their safety. For this reason, security systems are becoming more and more important. Video surveillance systems continuously monitor the environment and access control systems make sure that people only get where they are allowed to. SIPPRO – Solutions IP Protection, with headquarters near Montpellier, France, is an expert when it comes to security systems and is on its way to becoming the market leader in this sector in France.

When Emmanuel Vauqelin founded Latitude GPS in 1997, he turned his fascination for new technologies into his own entrepreneurial venture. He made sure that farmers receive accurate data for declarations in line with EU funding requirements under the Common Agricultural Policy, and also enabled the optimization of cultivation through the use of GPS. Today, he is a renowned specialist and innovation has become his trademark.

In France, it is the undisputed market leader. Now the motorbike parts and accessories specialist Bihr is shifting up a gear by expanding its activities in rider gear. Besides France, the country where the company was created in 1975, and Spain, where it has one of its largest distribution centers, the company is now developing the German market to become a truly pan-European supplier. After completion of the targeted expansion, Bihr wants to go on developing its strengths: short delivery periods and a wide product choice that is constantly being adapted to new and changing customer demands.