What AFU does

AFU is a privately held French precision-mechanics and metal-additive-manufacturing company headquartered in Saint-Malo, France, with origins dating to 1948 and currently structured as a SAS owned by siblings Sylvaine and Philippe Blancard (since 2007). It operates from a 1,650 m² facility relocated in 2012 and holds ISO 9001 certification (upgraded to the 2015 revision in 2019). The firm serves multiple verticals — aerospace, agri-food, medical devices, luxury, space research, defense, and general industrial — with named exposure to the CNES PERSEUS space project and to small SMB clients such as L'Atelier du Trégor.

The company's core offering is an integrated contract-manufacturing service covering the full part lifecycle: an in-house engineering office (SolidWorks, Geomagic, Esprit, Magics), CNC machining (3/4/5-axis turning and milling up to 3,000 x 1,200 x 1,500 mm, wire and die-sinking EDM), metal additive manufacturing via three EOS M280/M290 DMLS machines (printing aluminium AlSi10Mg, maraging steel 1.2709, CuCrZr copper, stainless 17-4 and 316L, titanium TiCp and Ti6Al4V), brazing/TIG welding/Friction Stir Welding, sub-assembly and complete-machine assembly, surface finishing (microblasting, shot-peening, metallization, powder coating, tribofinishing), and Mitutoyo-based dimensional quality control. Adjacent to the core services, AFU designs, manufactures, and sells its own branded products — the PRECIVIT articulating measurement template and the GRENOUILLE tracing template for carpentry trades — and operates two acquired product brands: DUVIVIER/Etiq-Conserves labeling machines for cans and jars (acquired 2016) and PHYSIODRUM ergonomic harnesses for percussion drummers (acquired 2017).

The business model is project-based B2B subcontract manufacturing with quote-driven pricing and a 24–48 hour rapid-maintenance service for industrial clients. Go-to-market is primarily direct sales engagement via phone, email, and website contact form, supplemented by trade show presence (e.g., CFIA Rennes 2027), LinkedIn/Facebook activity, and cluster memberships (3D4FAB/ID4CAR, Pole EMC2, Cetim) and regional institutional ties (Conseil Régional de Bretagne, CCI Saint-Malo/Fougères). Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the firm operates within a corporate group that includes related entities VIRHYDRO (fishing equipment), MEDIA FIRST (powder coating/stripping), and ROTY et FILS (saw and drill machinery).

Name

AFU

Legal name

AFU

Website

https://afu-mp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1948

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

AFU is a Saint-Malo, France-based precision mechanics and metal additive manufacturing company serving aerospace, space, medical, agri-food, luxury, and industrial sectors with CNC machining, DMLS 3D metal printing, brazing/welding/FSW, assembly, and finishing services from prototype to small series production.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Precision Contract Manufacturing

NAICS

Machine Shops (332710), Machine Shops (33271)

akta.pro primary industry

Electronics & Industrial Component 3D Printing Services (enclosures, fixtures, functional parts) (IMAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

EDM & Electrochemical Machining (Wire/Sinker EDM, ECM) (IMAHADAF)

Keywords

• Precision machining services
• Metal additive manufacturing
• DMLS 3D printing
• CNC milling turning
• Subcontract manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-malo

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Custom Manufacturing Services: Precision machining and metal additive manufacturing services for prototypes, small to medium series production. Services include machining, brazing, welding, assembly, and finishing operations.
2. Proprietary Branded Products: Sale of own branded products including DUVIVIER/Etiq-Conserves labeling machines for cans and jars, PHYSIODRUM ergonomic harnesses for drummers, and PRECIVIT measurement templates for stairs.
3. PRECIVIT Measurement Templates: Precision measurement templates (PRECIVIT and GRENOUILLE) for craftsmen including carpenters, joiners, stair specialists, kitchen fitters, and floor installers.
4. Engineering and Design Services: Mechanical studies, design, redesign for additive manufacturing, industrialization solutions, and measurement documentation through integrated engineering office.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

AFU delivers custom precision metal manufacturing services spanning engineering studies, CNC machining (3/4/5-axis turning, milling, EDM, grinding), DMLS metal 3D printing in multiple alloys, brazing/welding including Friction Stir Welding, assembly of sub-assemblies and complete machines, surface finishing, and ISO 9001-certified quality control. The company also designs and sells its own branded measurement/tracing templates (PRECIVIT, GRENOUILLE), acquired labeling machines (DUVIVIER), and ergonomic drum harnesses (PHYSIODRUM), serving aerospace, defense, medical, agri-food, luxury, space research, and industrial clients.

Product overview

AFU is a precision mechanics and metal additive manufacturing services company based in Saint-Malo, France, with over 70 years of history. Its core offering is a comprehensive manufacturing service spanning engineering studies (Bureau d'études), CNC machining (3/4/5-axis turning and milling, EDM, grinding), metal additive manufacturing / DMLS 3D metal printing, brazing / welding / FSW, assembly, finishing (microblasting, shot-peening, metallization, powder coating, tribofinishing), and quality control — covering the full lifecycle from prototype to small/medium series. In-house, AFU also designs and markets its own precision measurement tools: the PRECIVIT articulating measurement template and the GRENOUILLE tracing template for carpentry and woodworking trades. The company has further expanded through acquisitions of complementary brands: DUVIVIER / ETIQ-CONSERVES (food can/jars labeling machines, acquired 2016) and PHYSIODRUM (ergonomic drum harnesses, acquired 2017). Related group companies include VIRHYDRO (fishing equipment), MEDIA FIRST (powder coating/stripping), and ROTY ET FILS (saw and drill machines).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DUVIVIER / ETIQ-CONSERVES: Etiqueteuses pour boîtes de conserve
• PHYSIODRUM
• PRECIVIT
• GRENOUILLE

Products and services

• Precision Machining Services (Usinage) CNC machining services including turning (up to Ø450 x 850mm), milling (3, 4, 5 axes up to 3000 x 1200 x 1500mm), wire and plunge EDM, cylindrical and surface grinding, and conventional machining for industrial clients across all sectors. Includes rework of additively manufactured parts to 1/100th mm tolerances.
• Metal Additive Manufacturing / DMLS 3D Printing Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) 3D printing service using EOS M280 and M290 machines (400W laser, 250 x 250 x 325mm build volume) in aluminum AlSi10Mg, maraging steel 1.2709, CuCrZr copper, stainless 17-4 and 316L, and titanium TiCp and Ti6Al4V. Used for prototypes, complex hollow parts, conformal cooling channels, and small series.
• Brazing / Welding / Friction Stir Welding (FSW) Joining services including silver brazing on copper/brass/stainless steel, aluminum brazing, TIG and arc welding on steel/stainless/aluminum, and Friction Stir Welding (FSW) for aluminum in paste state without material addition. Applications include cooling circuits, hermetic sealing, complex profiles, and thin-wall assemblies.
• Assembly of Sub-assemblies and Complete Machines Mechanical assembly of sub-assemblies and complete machines for all industries, using parts machined in-house to deliver finished integrated products.
• Surface Finishing / Metallization / Powder Coating Surface finishing services including microblasting, shot-peening, metallization, powder coating (thermolaquage, 2m x 6m capacity), and tribofinishing. Coordinates external treatments such as anodizing, burnishing, zinc plating, electropolishing, and heat treatments via validated subcontractors.
• Quality Control and Metrology Quality control throughout the manufacturing cycle using Mitutoyo equipment: 3D coordinate measuring machine, measuring column, profile projector, roughness meter, gauges, micrometers, and depth gauges. Provides inspection reports, material certificates, and certificates of conformity.
• Engineering / Design Office (Bureau d'études) Integrated engineering and design services including mechanical studies, CAD conception and re-conception for metal additive manufacturing, industrialization solutions, and dimensional measurement/drawing using SolidWorks, Geomagic, Esprit, and Magics software.
• PRECIVIT Measurement Template Articulating measurement template tool (standard 660–1200mm, weight 3.4kg) for carpenters, joiners, staircase makers, kitchen fitters, flooring installers, and marble workers. Options include central-point extension (800mm profile C) and sliding pointers up to 1600mm. Available in 500mm mini version.
• GRENOUILLE Tracing Template Articulated tracing tool for tracing mortise or tenon on beam axis. Tracing capacity 500mm, max opening 340mm, anodized aluminum construction, folded dimensions 1130 x 90mm, weight 1.7kg. Available in 30mm or 40mm tracing bar widths (models PAR030 and PAR040).
• DUVIVIER / ETIQ-CONSERVES Labeling Machines Labeling machines for cans and jars used in the food industry, sold under the DUVIVIER / ETIQ-CONSERVES brand acquired by AFU in 2016.
• PHYSIODRUM Ergonomic Harnesses Ergonomic harnesses for percussion drummers, sold under the PHYSIODRUM brand acquired by AFU in 2017.

Named customers2 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PHYSIODRUMminorOthers · 1 January 2017Acquired ergonomic harness for drummers business in 2017. Now operated as own brand product line.
• DUVIVIER Etiq-ConservescoreOthers · 1 January 2016Acquired labeling machine business for cans and jars in 2016. Now operated as own brand product line.
• MécastylecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMechanical testing laboratory partnership for studies on Ti6Al4V titanium mechanical performance. Conducts in-depth research on the strength and durability of 3D printed titanium parts.
• CNES - Projet PERSEUScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace agency project collaboration for aerospace applications involving precision metal parts for the PERSEUS space project.
• VIRHYDROminorOthersGroup company specializing in fishing equipment. Part of the AFU corporate group structure.
• MEDIA FIRSTminorOthersGroup company specializing in powder coating and stripping services. Provides thermal coating capabilities to AFU.
• ROTY et FILSminorOthersGroup company specializing in sawing and drilling machine tools. Part of the AFU corporate group structure.
• 3D4FABminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCluster member for complete 3D projects, part of ID4CAR group for integrated 3D manufacturing solutions.
• Pole EMC2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology cluster member for advanced manufacturing and innovation.
• CetimminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical center partnership for manufacturing engineering expertise and support.
• Conseil Régional de BretagneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional council partnership for regional industrial development and support.
• CCI Saint Malo/FougèresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of Commerce partnership for business development and regional network support.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AddUp: French metal additive manufacturing company (Michelin-Fives joint venture) offering both AM machines and on-demand manufacturing services for aerospace, medical, and energy sectors. Direct French competitor in metal AM services with deeper backing.
• Sculpteo: French online 3D printing service bureau (part of BASF) offering on-demand manufacturing across multiple materials and processes. Comparable to AFU as a French B2B AM service provider with digital customer engagement.
• Prodways: French 3D printing company offering both AM machines and on-demand manufacturing services. Comparable to AFU as a French-based AM service provider, though Prodways is broader and more weighted toward industrial plastics.
• Poly-Shape: French metal additive manufacturing service bureau specializing in DMLS/SLM for aerospace, defense, and medical applications. Closest direct comparable to AFU in metal AM service offering, customer mix, and French operating base.
• Materialise: Belgian 3D printing service bureau offering industrial-grade AM services across materials and processes for automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer goods. Comparable European AM service provider with broader process coverage and digital platform.

Broad incumbents

• Xometry: US-based AI-powered manufacturing marketplace connecting customers with on-demand CNC machining, 3D printing, and other services globally. Comparable to AFU's on-demand manufacturing model but operating as a marketplace with broader geographic reach.
• Protolabs: US-based digital manufacturing platform offering CNC machining, 3D printing, injection molding, and sheet metal fabrication globally. Comparable to AFU's on-demand CNC machining services but at greater scale and with broader technology portfolio.
• Hubs: Netherlands-based manufacturing marketplace (formerly 3D Hubs) offering CNC machining, 3D printing, and injection molding through a global vetted supplier network. Comparable to AFU's on-demand B2B manufacturing approach but as a digital platform.

Regional players

• Sintavia: US-based metal AM service provider specializing in aerospace and defense applications with proprietary quality processes. Highly comparable to AFU's aerospace-focused metal AM capability but operating in North America.
• CIDEAS Manufacturing: UK-based metal additive manufacturing service bureau offering DMLS and post-processing services to industrial clients. Comparable to AFU in metal AM services but primarily serving UK/European markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/afu3d
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/afu

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries3 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 AFU