NOTRE HISTOIRE
Since the creation of its historic brand in 1955, the GROUPE BONNEFON has continued to develop, with the aim of bringing ever more meaning to the welding industry.
Discover the history and evolution of the GROUPE BONNEFON through key milestones.
The history of BONNEFON began in 1955 within the creation of the company by Jacques BONNEFON. Then specialized in the supply of welding equipment, solutions and services, the brand was known and recognized for its role as Nantes’ regional dealer of equipment for welders within a 150 km radius.
1993 saw the company’s first major turning point: it became the exclusive importer of the DINSE brand, then changed management after the death of Jacques BONNEFON. His sons, Daniel and Gérard, took over the reins and set up the partnership with DINSE teams nationwide. The company, previously known as “Ets J. BONNEFON”, became BONNEFON SAS, moving from a regional to a national presence. Then, in 1998, thanks to this first partnership with DINSE, BONNEFON SAS expanded its network of partners to become the exclusive importer of j.thielmann brand products.
In 2001, a holding company was set up under the name GROUPE BONNEFON to expand in the welding industry and house subsidiary companies.
This strategic choice enabled the family business to pursue its growth with the acquisition of ENGMAR in 2005.
At that time, even if legislation did not yet consider welding fumes to be proven carcinogens, and did not require the installation of welding fume extraction equipment, attitudes and collective awareness concerning health in the workplace had already begun to evolve.
For Daniel and Gérard, it seemed more than necessary to protect the health of welders and industrial operators by investing in these innovative solutions to develop business and increase opportunities.
Ten years later, in 2015, BONNEFON SAS also evolved and was divided into two commercial brands:
- BONNEFON SOUDURE, which will retain its historical business of regional distribution/trading of welding, cutting and fume extraction systems and supplies,
- BONNEFON INDUSTRIES becomes the national importer of the two German brands DINSE and j.thielmann.
A year later, in 2016, the acquisition of Torche Service marked a new stage in the GROUPE BONNEFON’s growth. Torche Service was then renamed TORCHES SOLUTIONS and continued to operate within the Group.
In 2018, Daniel takes over sole management of GROUPE BONNEFON as his eldest, Gérard, retires. Still housed in the Group’s historic buildings, nicknamed “la Piaudière” (due to its geographical location on “avenue de la Piaudière”), the company continues to expand.
In January 2020, GROUPE BONNEFON moved to Bouguenais, on the edge of the Nantes ring road, to pursue its growth and development in new premises. Ceux-ci permettront à l’entreprise de continuer d’agrandir ses équipes.
In May 2022, GROUPE BONNEFON joined forces with GROUPE EUROPE TECHNOLOGIES to acquire the activities of CLS, a company specializing in trading, rental and maintenance in the welding sector. CLS then becomes CLS TECHNOLOGIES.
This choice enabled the Group to enhance its offering, resources and skills in the welding field, so as to continue offering innovative solutions that are ever more closely tailored to customer needs.
Today, the GROUPE BONNEFON and its brands stand out thanks to the expertise, hyper-specialization and responsiveness of their teams in providing the best possible solution to their customers’ new industrial challenges.