Metal car

What Metal car does

Métalobil is a privately held French design office and fabrication workshop (Bureau d'études et atelier de fabrication) founded in 2004 in Bouguenais near Nantes by Freddy Bernard and Matthieu Lebot, with a secondary office in Paris. The firm specializes in experimental public design, producing composite works at the intersection of different materials and techniques — typically combining metals (aluminum, steel, stainless steel, brass, enameled copper), wood (oak, birch plywood, Douglas fir, larch, rattan), fiber-reinforced concrete, felt, glass, PMMA, Krion, and 3D-printed components — into customized furniture, scenography, public art installations, urban furniture and playgrounds, lighting fixtures, monumental staircases, cladding/facade elements, and signage/wayfinding.

Métalobil serves four primary customer groups: public institutions and cultural centers (Société des Grands Projets/Grand Paris Express, Palais de la Découverte, cities of Metz, Grenoble, Caen, Swiss Cultural Centre Paris, KANAL Brussels), architects and designers requiring specialized fabrication capacity, contemporary artists needing technical translation of their concepts, and private companies such as hotels (Vertime) and asset managers seeking bespoke branded environments. Notable references include the 800 m², 2,418-slat Ciel d'argent ceiling at Châtillon-Montrouge, the 350 linear meter La Serpentine in Metz, and 316L stainless steel mashrabiya screens for the Orient Express Corinthian cruise ship built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique.

The business model is project-based professional services: bespoke commissions priced per project, sourced through direct client relationships, collaborations with architects and artists, and competitive selection for public tenders — often inside curated consortia (with Proasur, Poiema, PALM, Eva Albarran & Co, CENTQUATRE-PARIS, Atelier Novembre, Benthem Crouwel). With approximately 30 employees operating from a 2,500 m² production workshop and engineering office, Métalobil completed 258 projects between 2004 and the present; it is a founder-owned SARL with no external equity investors.

Name

Metal car

Legal name

METALOBIL

Website

https://metalobil.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Métalobil is a French design office and fabrication workshop that designs and builds bespoke composite furniture, scenography, public art installations, urban furniture, lighting, signage, and playgrounds for public institutions, architects, artists, and private companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Metal Fabrication & Experimental Public Design

NAICS

Ornamental and Architectural Metal Work Manufacturing (332323), Architectural and Structural Metals Manufacturing (3323), Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444), Fabricated Structural Metal Products (3440), Miscellaneous Fabricated Metal Products (3490)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMADACAE

Architectural & Miscellaneous Metals (Stairs, Railings, Ladders)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Building Materials & Products/Structural Steel & Metal Building Products

SECONDARYIMAKACAI

Aluminum Fabrication & Finishing (Machining, Anodizing, Coating)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Aluminum (Bauxite, Alumina & Primary/Secondary Smelting)

SECONDARYIMAKACAM

Aluminum Value-Added Components (Automotive, Aerospace, Packaging, Building Systems)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Aluminum (Bauxite, Alumina & Primary/Secondary Smelting)

Keywords

• Custom furniture fabrication
• Public art installations
• Scenography design services
• Architectural metalwork
• Experimental public design

Headquarters

HQ city

Bouguenais

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Custom Fabrication Projects: Project-based revenue from designing, manufacturing, and installing custom furniture, scenography, public art installations, and architectural elements for clients including public institutions, artists, architects, and private companies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Métalobil is a French design office and fabrication workshop that designs, engineers, and manufactures bespoke composite works combining diverse materials (metals, woods, concrete, composites, 3D-printed elements) for clients in cultural, public, hospitality, and private sectors. Its portfolio spans custom furniture, scenography for museums and exhibitions, monumental public art installations, urban furniture, lighting fixtures, signage systems, playgrounds, monumental staircases, and facade/cladding elements, delivered as turnkey commissions from design through fabrication to installation.

Product overview

Métalobil is a design office and fabrication workshop (Bureau d'études & atelier de fabrication) founded in 2004, specializing in experimental public design and the creation of composite, hybrid works at the intersection of different materials and techniques. The company operates a 2,500 m² production workshop and engineering office in Bouguenais near Nantes with approximately thirty employees. Métalobil offers a portfolio of interconnected services centered on custom design and fabrication: custom furniture for hotels, restaurants, and offices; scenography for museums and exhibitions; public art installations and monumental sculptures; urban furniture and playground design; custom lighting fixtures; signage and wayfinding systems; monumental staircases; and facade/cladding elements. The company works across diverse materials including aluminum, steel, stainless steel, wood (oak, birch, rattan), concrete, felt, textile, and PMMA. Projects span cultural institutions (Grand Paris Express stations, Palais de la Découverte, museums), hospitality (Vertime Hotel, KANAL Brussels), public spaces (Metz Serpentine, Grenoble La Grande Vallée), and private commissions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Furniture Design & Fabrication Design and fabrication of bespoke furniture for hotels, restaurants, cultural institutions, offices, and private spaces using diverse materials including metal, wood, rattan, and composites.
• Scenography Design & Production Design and production of scenographic elements for museums, exhibitions, cultural venues, and public spaces, including display systems, narrative installations, and modular scenography (e.g., suspended ring display system for Maison de l'architecture, May 2026).
• Public Art Installations Fabrication and installation of monumental sculptures, artworks, and installations for public spaces, urban environments, and cultural institutions, including ceiling artworks (Ciel d'argent, 800 m² at Châtillon-Montrouge) and monumental urban works (La Serpentine, 350 linear meters in Metz).
• Urban Furniture Design and manufacture of continuous urban installations, benches, play structures, and architectural elements for public spaces and city landscapes.
• Custom Lighting Fixtures Custom-designed and fabricated lighting installations including wall lamps, chandeliers, and luminous sculptures for hotels, cultural venues, and public spaces.
• Signage & Wayfinding Systems Design and production of interior and exterior signage systems and furniture for cultural institutions, transport stations, and public buildings.
• Artistic Playground Design Design and fabrication of artistic and educational playgrounds and play areas for municipalities and public spaces.
• Monumental Staircases Design and fabrication of custom monumental staircases in various materials including aluminum honeycomb structures, wood, and mixed media.
• Cladding & Facade Elements Custom facade ornaments and cladding systems using materials such as anodized aluminum, curved oak, and composite panels.

Quantifiable outcome

• 258 completed projects since founding in 2004
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ProasurcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 January 2026The Métalobil–Proasur consortium was awarded the contract for scenographic design of exhibition halls and production of signage furniture for the Palais de la Découverte museum. Métalobil serves as lead partner overseeing execution, operational management, quality, technical coordination, and deadlines.
• PoiemaminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 12 December 2025Métalobil collaborated with Poiema engineering office (Paris) for technical studies and remanufacture of Peter Logan's sculpture at Villès-Martin in Saint-Nazaire, ensuring structural reinforcement against coastal winds.
• Société des Grands ProjetscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMétalobil was selected by Société des Grands Projets to create approximately 30 artworks within Grand Paris Express stations as part of the Tandem initiative. Collaboration with Eva Albarran & Co and 104 – CENTQUATRE-PARIS for artistic direction and production.
• Eva Albarran & CocoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArtistic production partner for Grand Paris Express projects, working alongside Métalobil and 104 – CENTQUATRE-PARIS.
• 104 – CENTQUATRE-PARIScoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerArtistic direction partner for Grand Paris Express projects, with José-Manuel Gonçalvès providing artistic direction.
• PALMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMétalobil works with PALM for the creation of 'Paysage chromatique en mouvement' artwork by Ulla von Brandenburg at Christ de Saclay station (Line 18, Grand Paris Express), in collaboration with architects Atelier Novembre and Benthem Crouwel.
• Chantiers de l'AtlantiquecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMétalobil manufactured custom 316L stainless steel mashrabiya screens for the Orient Express Corinthian cruise ship, the world's largest sailing ship built by Chantiers de l'Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BDDW: Philadelphia-based design and fabrication studio that manufactures its own furniture, lighting, and architectural objects from raw materials. Highly comparable to Métalobil as a vertically integrated design-build atelier combining craft, custom fabrication, and architectural-scale commissions.
• Stellar Works: Design furniture manufacturer that bridges Eastern craftsmanship with contemporary Western designers, producing collections including custom hospitality and contract pieces. Comparable to Métalobil in combining artisanal fabrication with high-end design commissions for cultural and hospitality clients.
• Fornasetti: Milanese atelier producing hand-decorated furniture, objects, and limited-edition design pieces with a distinctive artistic identity. Comparable to Métalobil in operating as a founder-led Italian/European atelier that fuses fine-art sensibility with bespoke fabrication.
• Studio Job: Dutch design studio producing limited-edition furniture, lighting, and sculptural objects for galleries, museums, and luxury clients. Comparable to Métalobil in combining artistic identity with bespoke production for cultural and premium buyers.
• Established & Sons: British design manufacturer producing limited-edition and contract furniture and lighting with leading international designers. Comparable in positioning at the intersection of design authorship, custom production, and cultural-institutional buyers.
• Opinion Ciatti: Italian design manufacturer specializing in metal-intensive furniture, lighting, and architectural objects with a strong contemporary design voice. Closely comparable in material focus (metal fabrication) and premium positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Vitra: Swiss family-owned design company producing furniture, lighting, and architectural products across residential, office, and cultural segments. Comparable at the level of premium design manufacturing and cultural-institutional client base, though significantly larger and broader in scope than Métalobil.
• Moroso: Italian high-end furniture manufacturer known for sculptural, design-led seating and objects produced with leading designers. Comparable in premium positioning and design authorship model, though operating at significantly larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/metalobil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/metalobil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Metal car