SAE-SMB: an Ardennes company with foreign exposure
In september 2016, this Ham-les-Moines axle company was one of the exhibitors at the IAA in Hanover.
Founded in 1947, the Société Ardennaise d'Essieux (SAE) merged in 2006 with SMB to create a large axle and suspension construction group. In 2013, SAE-SMB joined the Italian group ADR, European leader in the production of axles for agricultural equipment. ADR invested € 4 million into the Ardennes site, both in real estate (increase in area of more than 50%) and in production tools (installation of a cataphoresis painting line). SAE-SMB, the only French manufacturer of axles, has thus become more flexible and is now looking to reaffirm its presence in the European market. Indeed, 37% of the turnover (20 million Euros in 2016) of the Ardennes company of 67 employees comes from export, especially to North Africa (Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco) and it is seeking to grow in the German market in particular, the country of origin of its main competitors.
With this focus, SAE-SMB recently participated in the International Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA) in Hanover, Germany with the support of Coface and the Region. This event is a worldwide showcase for mobility, transport and logistics. This allow the exhibitors (more than 2,000 companies from 45 different countries) to build business relationships or to present new technological trends. It should be noted that two other Ardennes companies were also present at this show: Thiriet (Warcq) and Stevenin Nollevaux (Les Hautes Rivières).
In a context where French presence at international fairs is becoming scarce, companies in the Ardennes continue to demonstrate their savoir-faire.
By Ardennes Développement, the Ardennes economic development agency - ardennes-developpement.com