What FRENEHARD does

Frénéhard S.A.S. is a French industrial manufacturer of metal hardware for the building envelope, operating as the flagship subsidiary of the Frénéhard & Michaux Group. Founded in 1889 in L'Aigle (Normandy), the company designs, manufactures, and commercializes a portfolio of products across five core lines: guttering and downspouts (gutter hooks, descent collars, dauphins, water boxes), roofing accessories (slate/tile hooks, fasteners, ridge accessories), facade and cladding hardware (including custom folded profiles via Frénéhard Pliage), fall protection equipment under the UNYC® brand (harnesses, lifelines, anchor points, guardrails), and technical equipment supports (Securigard® for telecom antennas and rooftop installations). The company also offers subcontracted surface treatment services (galvanizing, powder coating, painting, metallization). Proprietary technology includes the patented FORCE 9® slate hook (CSTB-certified to resist winds over 200 km/h) and the ANJOU COLOR® powder coating process (100µm thickness applied post-fabrication, 185 RAL colors, 10-year warranty).

The company manufactures in steel (pre-galvanized, hot-dip galvanized) and stainless steel, with all production located across approximately 10 French facilities. Revenue is generated through one-time B2B product sales via a distributor/reseller network in France and through direct commercial engagement with industrial and enterprise accounts internationally. The standalone Frénéhard S.A.S. entity reports €36 million in revenue with approximately 90 employees, while the broader Frénéhard & Michaux Group reports approximately €180 million in revenue with 1,150+ employees across France, Spain, Netherlands, Germany, and Italy. The group is family-owned (M. Frénéhard as President, M. Bernard Rothan as Group President), with CM-CIC Investissement as a financial partner since 2018. The customer base spans professional roofers (described as the leading French supplier in this segment), facade specialists, fall protection users, and industrial buyers; pricing is quote-based with no public price list.

Name

FRENEHARD

Legal name

Frénéhard S.A.S.

Website

https://frenehard.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Frénéhard S.A.S. is a French manufacturer founded in 1889 that designs and produces metal hardware for the building envelope — gutter hooks, slate hooks, fall protection systems, facade accessories, and custom folded profiles — serving professional roofers, facade specialists, and industrial customers in France and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Building Hardware and Roofing Accessories

NAICS

Sheet Metal Work Manufacturing (332322)

SIC

Sheet Metal Work (3444)

akta.pro primary industry

Sheet Metal & Flashing Works (Gutters, Copings, Edge Metal, Downspouts) (IMAFAMAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Metal Cladding, Soffits & Trim (Non-Panel Components) (IMADACAM)

Keywords

• Metal hardware manufacturing
• Roofing accessories
• Gutter systems
• Fall protection equipment
• Building envelope solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Symphorien-des-Bruyères, Normandie

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. B2B metal hardware product sales: Frénéhard designs, manufactures, and commercializes metal hardware for building envelope applications. Revenue is generated through one-time product sales of standard catalog items to distributors, craftsmen, and industrial buyers. Products include gutter hooks, descent collars, slate/tile hooks, facade brackets, fall protection equipment, and custom folded profiles. The company also operates Frénéhard Pliage, a digital-first custom bending service launched April 2023 for folded and shaped profiles.
2. Surface treatment services: Surface preparation, galvanizing, powder coating (thermolaquage), liquid painting, thermoplastic coating, and metallization services for industrial customers. Frénéhard offers these as subcontracting services in metal fabrication and hot-dip galvanizing.
3. Custom metalworking (métallerie sur-mesure): Custom design, development, and manufacturing of metal products according to customer specifications. Frénéhard applies its study and production capabilities to serve industrial and building professionals with bespoke solutions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Frénéhard designs, manufactures, and commercializes metal hardware products for building envelope applications, including gutter hooks, downspout collars, slate and tile hooks, facade brackets, fall protection equipment, and custom folded profiles. The company operates its own in-house manufacturing facilities in France utilizing cold forming, folding, welding, hot-dip galvanizing, and powder coating (thermolaquage). Frénéhard also offers custom metalworking (métallerie sur-mesure) and surface treatment subcontracting services, and through its Frénéhard Pliage division provides digital-flow custom folding for building envelopes and outdoor development.

Product overview

FRENEHARD is a French manufacturer of metal hardware products for the building and construction industry, operating since 1889. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio of five core product lines: Gouttière et descente (guttering and downspouts with nearly 800 hook references), Couverture (roofing accessories including patented FORCE 9® and ANJOU COLOR® slate hooks), Façade et pliage (facade/cladding accessories and custom folded profiles via Frénéhard Pliage), Sécurité (fall protection equipment under the UNYC® brand including harnesses, lifelines, and guardrails), and Installations d'équipements techniques (rooftop technical equipment supports). Supplementary services include custom metalworking (Métallerie sur-mesure) and surface treatment (galvanization, powder coating, painting). The company is part of the Frénéhard & Michaux group employing over 1,150 people with €180M revenue.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• UNYC®: Personal protective equipment (PPE) brand for fall protection, including harnesses, lifelines, and anchor points.
• ANJOU COLOR®
• FORCE 9®
• Frénéhard Pliage
• Securigard®
• STABILIC 3.0

Products and services

• Gouttière et descente (Guttering and Downspouts) Comprehensive line of guttering and downspout products—hooks, collars, dauphins (downspout brackets), rainwater boxes, and accessories—for rainwater evacuation on residential and commercial buildings. With approximately 800 hook references, this is Frénéhard's broadest product line and the foundation of its leadership in the French roofing supply market.
• Couverture (Roofing Accessories) Roofing accessories for slate, tile, and standing-seam zinc roofs, including hooks, fasteners, nails, roof ladders, ridge accessories, and zinguerie products. Designed to meet French DTU standards (40.11, 40.23, 40.25) and the requirements of professional roofers.
• Façade et pliage (Facade and Cladding Hardware) Facade and cladding accessories, including brackets, ITE (exterior thermal insulation) hardware, Mursec hooks, and folded accessories for facades, siding, carpentry, and closures. Designed for the implementation of exterior thermal insulation and facade cladding systems.
• Sécurité / Equipements antichute (Fall Protection and Anti-Fall Equipment) Anti-fall equipment covering collective protection (temporary and permanent guardrails, lifeline systems, anchor points, scaffolding) and individual PPE (UNYC® harnesses, lanyards, connectors, complete kits). Addresses French and European safety legislation including EU PPE regulation 2016/425. Targets work-at-height safety in the BTP (building and public works) sector.
• Installations d'équipements techniques (Technical Equipment Supports) Mounting and support systems for rooftop technical equipment and telecommunications antennas, including the Securigard® product line. Designed, manufactured, and commercialized for secure installation on flat roofs.
• Métallerie sur-mesure (Custom Metalwork Service) Custom design, development, and manufacturing of metal products according to customer specifications. Serves industrial and building professionals requiring bespoke metal solutions, leveraging Frénéhard's engineering and production capabilities.
• Traitement de surfaces (Surface Treatment Services) Industrial surface treatment services including surface preparation, hot-dip galvanizing, powder coating (thermolaquage), liquid painting, thermoplastic coating, and metallization. Offered as subcontracting services in metal fabrication and hot-dip galvanizing.
• Frénéhard Pliage (Custom Folding and Shaping) Custom folded and shaped profile manufacturing for building envelopes and outdoor development. Launched April 2023 with a dedicated website (frenehard-pliage.fr), showroom, and digital flow for ordering folded profiles.
• ANJOU COLOR® (Patented Color Coating for Slate Hooks) Patented powder coating process for slate hooks providing 100µm colored coating applied after hook fabrication. Available in 185 RAL color options with a 10-year mechanical and color warranty on installation/removal. Launched in 1995, celebrating 30 years of expertise.
• FORCE 9® (Patented Slate Hook System) Patented slate hook (crochet d'ardoise) system with notched point for +35% pull-out resistance in green wood, arched shaft for better slate placement, and diamond anti-split point for installation in dense renovation wood. Resists wind speeds exceeding 200 km/h, validated by wind tunnel testing at CSTB. 10-year mechanical and color warranty.
• Collier Monovis (Eco-designed Downspout Collar) Eco-designed downspout collar (collier de descente) made in France. Single-piece design with one screw required for installation, 12/10mm thick steel pressed base. Reduces CO2 emissions by 40% compared to imported equivalents. Available in 80mm and 100mm diameters with two base options (M7/150 and M8/125).
• UNYC® EPI (Personal Protective Equipment against Falls) Personal protective equipment (PPE) against falls under the UNYC® brand, acquired in 2010. Includes five harness levels (BUDGET, ESSENTIAL, COMFORT, EXPERT, MASTER), component kits, lanyards, connectors, and anchor points. EU declarations of conformity available; complies with EU PPE regulation 2016/425.

Quantifiable outcome

• FORCE 9® slate hook: resists wind speeds over 200 km/h (tested in CSTB wind tunnel)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CAPEB de l'OrneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Frénéhard signed a convention with CAPEB de l'Orne (Confédération de l'Artisanat et des Petites Entreprises du Bâtiment) and participated in its General Assembly. CAPEB visited Frénéhard's facilities in 2026, demonstrating a close relationship with the artisan building trade organization.
• Concours Un des Meilleurs Apprentis de France — Maine-et-LoireminorOthers · 1 January 2026Frénéhard is a partner of the 'Un des Meilleurs Apprentis de France' competition in Maine-et-Loire, supporting vocational training excellence in the building trades.
• ALTREXcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Frénéhard & Michaux acquired ALTREX in 2022. ALTREX is a specialist in work-at-height safety. Together with GAMESYSTEM and the existing fall protection portfolio, this acquisition further strengthens the group's position in the fall protection market.
• UMGCCP (Union des Métiers du Génie Climatique, de la Couverture et de la Plomberie)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Frénéhard is an annual partner of the UMGCCP congress organized by the Fédération Française du Bâtiment. Frénéhard participated in the 2021 congress in Saint-Malo (September 16-17), presenting on the impact of DTU 40.11 on slate hook selection. Also participated in the 2019 congress in Brussels.
• MA ESTRUCTURAScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Frénéhard & Michaux group acquired a majority stake in MA ESTRUCTURAS, a Spanish scaffolding company based in Madrid. Founded in 2010, MA ESTRUCTURAS generates €2.2M revenue with 30 employees. The company specializes in scaffolding rental with installation services for technical construction sites, primarily in Madrid for the rehabilitation market. This acquisition strengthened the group's presence and expertise in the Spanish renovation and emerging construction markets.
• GAMESYSTEMcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Frénéhard & Michaux acquired a majority stake in GAMESYSTEM, a Grenoble-based company specializing in fall protection solutions. This acquisition expanded the group's capabilities in anti-fall installation systems for safe work-at-height operations.
• OPFSA (Organisation Professionnelle des Fabricants de Systèmes Antichute)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Frénéhard is a founding member of OPFSA, the professional organization of fall arrest system manufacturers in France. The organization brings together the main French manufacturers of anti-fall installations to set industry standards and promote workplace safety.
• Entente judo L'Aigle Pays d'OucheminorOthers · 1 January 2018Frénéhard sponsors the Entente judo L'Aigle Pays d'Ouche sports club since 2018. Representatives from the club visited the Frénéhard facilities. The company is proud to support and accompany them.
• BTP CFA SartheminorOthers · 1 January 2018Frénéhard partnered with BTP CFA Sarthe (vocational training center) for a roofing forum on November 22, 2018. The company supports and accompanies future professionals in their training by participating in career forums.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Prefa Aluminiumprodukte: Austrian manufacturer of aluminum roofing, facade cladding, and rainwater drainage systems. Comparable to Frénéhard in roofing accessories, building envelope hardware, and the niche-leadership positioning within regional architectural markets.
• Lindab: Swedish-based manufacturer of sheet metal building components including rainwater systems, roofing accessories, and steel profiles for the construction industry. Closely comparable to Frénéhard in product scope (gutters, downpouts, roofing accessories), B2B distribution model, and European geographic footprint.
• SFS Group: Swiss-based manufacturer of engineered fasteners, screws, and fastening systems for construction, roofing, and industrial applications. Comparable to Frénéhard in specialist fastening components for building envelope and safety applications.
• Zambelli: German family-owned manufacturer specializing in rainwater drainage systems, gutter accessories, and metal roofing products. Direct competitor to Frénéhard in gutter hooks, downspout systems, and roof drainage across European markets.
• Rheinzink: German manufacturer of titanium-zinc roofing, facade cladding, and rainwater drainage products. Direct peer in zinc roofing accessories, gutter systems, and architectural sheet metal components for European building professionals.

Regional players

• Onduline: French-based global manufacturer of lightweight roofing solutions, bituminous roofing sheets, and roofing underlays. Comparable French heritage and roofing professional channel but focused on lightweight roofing panels rather than metal hardware accessories.
• Faynot: French family-owned manufacturer of metal fasteners, nails, screws, and hardware for the building, agricultural, and fencing markets. Comparable regional French footprint and B2B channel to roofing and construction professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Würth Group: Global market leader in fasteners, tools, and consumables for B2B construction and industrial maintenance. Overlaps with Frénéhard in fasteners, fixings, and roofers' hardware but operates at much broader scale and product depth across many categories.
• Kingspan Group: Irish multinational specializing in insulated building envelope systems, roofing, and facade solutions. Comparable in building envelope focus but operates at vastly larger scale across structural insulated panels, daylighting, and roofing membranes beyond Frénéhard's metal hardware niche.
• BMI Group: International roofing manufacturer (formerly Braas Monier) producing pitched and flat roof systems, waterproofing, and roofing accessories. Broad incumbent that overlaps with Frénéhard in roofing accessories and tile/slate hardware for the European professional roofing segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/FrenehardSAS
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC79q9bYcPAxDUTFrqHPLOFA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Frenehard.SAS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/frenehard-sas

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 FRENEHARD