Wichard Group
Wichard Group is a French industrial group that designs, manufactures, and distributes marine hardware, forged safety components, and personal protective equipment through nine complementary brands. The €110 million-revenue company serves yacht builders, sailing professionals, industrial OEMs, and PPE buyers across more than 40 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1919
- HeadquartersThiers, France
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Wichard Group does
Wichard Group is a French industrial group founded in 1919 and headquartered in Thiers, France, that designs, manufactures, and distributes marine hardware, forged safety components, and personal protective equipment through a portfolio of nine complementary brands. The group reported approximately €110 million in annual revenue in 2024 and employs around 650 people across thirteen industrial sites — eight of them in France — plus two international subsidiaries in the United States (since 1992) and Australia (since 2003). Since 2023 the French private equity firm Azulis Capital has been the principal shareholder, partnering with management under President Jean-Claude Ibos to fund both organic growth and an aggressive brand-acquisition strategy.
The group's core manufacturing capabilities are built around proprietary stamp forging (estampage) developed over a century, complemented by plastic injection moulding (Maillard), carbon fibre mast production (Lorima, Axxon), high-speed machining, and complete rigging assembly under one roof in French workshops. Marine product lines span Wichard Marine fittings, Ronstan blocks and winches, Andersen stainless steel winches, Profurl and Facnor sail furling systems, Lorima and Axxon carbon masts, and Sparcraft aluminium masts. Industrial and PPE lines include Wichard Industrie forged safety parts, Peguet Maillon Rapide quick-link connectors, Courant ropes and personal protective equipment, and Maillard plastic-injection subcontracting services. The group holds ISO 9001, 14001, 9100 (aerospace) and 13485 (medical) certifications, enabling participation in safety-critical applications across automotive, aeronautics, medical devices, parachuting, lifting, and railway end markets.
Wichard operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct sales in France, two wholly-owned subsidiaries abroad, and a distributor network reaching more than 40 countries through three regional hubs. Revenue is generated primarily through B2B hardware sales at quote-based commercial terms to boat builders, sailing professionals, industrial OEMs, and professional PPE users, with no consumer retail pricing publicly disclosed. Notable customer relationships include the Chantiers de l'Atlantique SolidSail consortium for cruise-ship decarbonation (served through Lorima and recognised with a 2023 JEC Composites Innovation Award), as well as maxi-yacht, ocean-racing, and offshore-cruising segments served through Facnor, Sparcraft, and Lorima brands. Marketing concentrates on international nautical trade shows (METSTRADE, Cannes, Boot Düsseldorf, Annapolis), brand-specific websites, and LinkedIn engagement.
Wichard Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wichard Group
- Legal name
- DECK TEAM Société par actions simplifiée
- Website
- https://wichardgroup.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1919
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Wichard Group is a French industrial group that designs, manufactures, and distributes marine hardware, forged safety components, and personal protective equipment through nine complementary brands. The €110 million-revenue company serves yacht builders, sailing professionals, industrial OEMs, and PPE buyers across more than 40 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Wichard Group industry classification
Industry- NAICS
- Ship Building and Repairing (336611)
- SIC
- Misc Industrial & Commercial Machinery & Equipment (3590), Wholesale-Industrial Machinery & Equipment (5084)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains) (IMAJAIAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Deck Machinery & Mooring Systems (Winches, Windlasses, Capstans) (IMAJAIAA), Fasteners & Joining Consumables (Bolts, Rivets, Welding Wire/Rods, Flux) (IMAJAKAI), Life-Saving Appliances & Safety Equipment (Davit Systems, Lifeboats, Firefighting) (IMAJAIAG)
Keywords
Where Wichard Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thiers
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices8 records
Markets served
Wichard Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Marine Hardware Manufacturing and Distribution: Design, manufacture, and distribution of marine fittings, winches, blocks, rails, masts, sail furling systems, and rigging components through 9 complementary brands targeting the global sailing and pleasure boating market
- Industrial Hardware Manufacturing: Production and sale of forged safety parts for diverse industrial sectors including automotive, aeronautics, medical, parachuting, lifting, and railway industries through Wichard Industrie brand
- PPE and Rope Manufacturing: Fabrication of personal protection equipment (EPI) and rope systems through Courant and Peguet brands for professionals in tree pruning, rope work, firefighting, rescue, and military applications
- Contract Manufacturing: Subcontracting services through Maillard for plastic injection, machining, and assembly serving both group brands and external industrial clients in nautical, sanitation, medical, and electrical sectors
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | B2B wholesale pricing for marine and industrial hardware |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels5 records
Wichard Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wichard Group designs, manufactures, and distributes marine hardware and industrial safety products through 9 complementary brands. The marine portfolio includes fittings, shackles, winches, sail furling systems, aluminium and carbon masts, and rigging; the industrial portfolio covers forged safety parts, metal connectors, ropes, and personal protection equipment. The group operates 13 industrial sites (8 in France) and serves customers in more than 40 countries via direct subsidiaries and a global distributor network.
Product overview
Wichard Group is a portfolio of 9 complementary brands serving the marine/sailing market and industrial/PPE markets. For the sailing market, the portfolio includes Wichard Marine and Ronstan (maritime fittings, winches, rails), Profurl and Facnor (sail furling systems), Lorima and Axxon Composites (carbon masts), and Sparcraft (aluminum masts). For industrial markets and PPE, it includes Wichard Industrie (forged safety parts), Peguet/Maillon Rapide (metal connectors), Courant (ropes and PPE), and Maillard (plastic injection). The group operates 13 industrial sites (8 in France) with over 650 employees and serves customers in more than 40 countries through a distribution network.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Wichard Marine: Marine fittings, anchors, shackles, snap hooks, safety equipment including lifelines and rescue devices
- Ronstan
- Andersen
- Profurl
- Facnor
- Sparcraft
- Lorima
- Axxon Composites
- Wichard Industrie
- Peguet
- Courant
- Maillard
Quantifiable outcome
- 40% increase in industrial production capacity through new facility
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wichard Group
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Wichard Group technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Wichard Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered supporting and flagship.
- Blue Océan / Kévin TroalesupportingKévin Troale, managing director of Blue Océan and former sales representative for Ronstan and Andersen, engaged to facilitate integration of exclusive distribution rights for Ronstan and Andersen products in France. Advises Wichard France sales team on product knowledge and market development.
- SolidSail / Chantiers de l'Atlantique ConsortiumflagshipLorima is part of a consortium including Chantiers de l'Atlantique, Avel Robotic, Bureau Veritas, CDK, Hexcel, Meca, Multiplast, and SMM developing the SolidSail project for solid composite sails targeting cruise ship decarbonation. Awarded JEC Composites Innovation Awards for this innovation.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Wichard Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Spinlock: UK-based maker of rope clutches, jammers, deck hardware and safety equipment for sailing; closest peer to Peguet/Maillon Rapide connectors and Courant PPE in life-critical rope and deck hardware.
- Seldén Mast: Swedish manufacturer of aluminium spars, masts, booms and rigging systems; the most direct global competitor to Sparcraft in aluminium spars and to Wichard's standing rigging business.
- Harken: Leading US-based manufacturer of blocks, winches, travelers and sailing hardware; competes directly with Ronstan and Andersen in winches/blocks and with Wichard Marine in deck fittings, serving the same global yachting and performance-sailing customer base.
- Karver Systems: French-headquartered designer of furling systems, halyard locks and rigging hardware; small but technically focused peer to Profurl, Facnor and Wichard Marine fittings in the European sailing hardware market.
- Allen Brothers (a brand of Fulton): UK-based marine hardware maker serving both leisure and commercial marine; comparable to Maillard plastics and Wichard Marine fittings in the broader marine fittings and accessories market.
- Antal Srl: Italian manufacturer of sailing hardware including winches, jammers and furlers; competes with Andersen winches and Profurl/Facnor furler systems, especially in European OEM and aftermarket channels.
- Lewmar: UK marine hardware specialist covering winches, anchors, deck hardware and rig fittings; overlaps with Wichard Marine fittings, Ronstan/Andersen winches and Sparcraft rigging across recreational and OEM channels.
- Future Fibres: Composite rigging and carbon mast specialist serving America's Cup, maxi-yacht and superyacht programs; direct comparable to Lorima and Axxon Composites in high-performance carbon spars and rigging.
- Reckmann Benelux: German manufacturer of headsail furling and reefing systems for cruising and racing yachts; competes with Profurl and Facnor across the furler category globally.
Broad incumbents
- Mersen: French industrial group with expertise in specialty materials, safety components and electrical solutions; broader incumbent comparable to Wichard Industrie in forged safety parts for automotive, aeronautics and industrial customers.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wichard Group social profiles
Digital presenceWichard Group compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Wichard Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wichard Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Wichard Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries12 records
Wichard Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wichard Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wichard Group
What does Wichard Group do?
Wichard Group designs, manufactures, and distributes marine hardware and industrial safety products through 9 complementary brands. The marine portfolio includes fittings, shackles, winches, sail furling systems, aluminium and carbon masts, and rigging; the industrial portfolio covers forged safety parts, metal connectors, ropes, and personal protection equipment. The group operates 13 industrial sites (8 in France) and serves customers in more than 40 countries via direct subsidiaries and a global distributor network.
Is Wichard Group a public or private company?
Wichard Group is a private company. It is currently operating.
When was Wichard Group founded?
Wichard Group was founded in 1919. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Wichard Group based?
Wichard Group is headquartered in Thiers, France, in the Europe region.
How does Wichard Group make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Marine Hardware Manufacturing and Distribution is the primary driver. The others are industrial Hardware Manufacturing, PPE and Rope Manufacturing and contract Manufacturing.
Who are Wichard Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Spinlock, Seldén Mast, Harken, Karver Systems, Allen Brothers (a brand of Fulton), Antal Srl, Lewmar, Future Fibres and Reckmann Benelux. Mersen is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Wichard Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wichard Group.
What industry is Wichard Group in?
Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAJAIAK, Deck Fittings & Hardware (Bitts, Fairleads, Cleats, Anchors & Chains), with a secondary code of IMAJAIAA, Deck Machinery & Mooring Systems (Winches, Windlasses, Capstans). Its NAICS code is 336611 and its SIC code is 3590.