CIC ORIO VEFOUR Expands Its Operations in the PACA Region Through the Acquisition of LMD

CIC ORIO VEFOUR was established following the acquisition by Olivier SIX and Patrick VAROT in 2006 of Chaudronnerie Industrielle de Claix, founded in 1928. The company designs and manufactures both custom and standard overhead cranes, drawing on its expertise in steel structures and lifting equipment.

The company's growth has been driven through both organic development and strategic acquisitions of several entities specializing in maintenance and piping, including VEFOUR (a specialist in the design, manufacture, and maintenance of lifting and handling systems). VEFOUR was a member of the VERLINDE After-Sales Service (SAV) network in the Alps region. Since acquiring VEFOUR 20 years ago, CIC ORIO VEFOUR has held the exclusive distribution rights for VERLINDE hoist and overhead crane spare parts throughout the Alpine corridor.

Together with VERLINDE, the company has significantly expanded its activities in the Rhône-Alpes region. This growth led to the acquisition of LMD, a company specializing in lifting equipment maintenance and also a member of VERLINDE's after-sales service network in the PACA region. The ambition behind the acquisition is to create a major lifting industry player in southeastern France. LMD is based in Rousset, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, an area where CIC ORIO VEFOUR had not previously established a presence.

LMD becomes the exclusive distributor of VERLINDE spare parts in the PACA region (VERLINDE SAV) and is now also an overhead crane manufacturing unit within the EUROPONT network. CIC ORIO VEFOUR brings its expertise in fleet management and the manufacture of both simple and complex overhead cranes, a field in which the company has extensive experience.

Interview with Olivier Six, CEO of CIC ORIO VEFOUR, and François Gurniki, Managing Director of VERLINDE

How does this integration transform your presence in the lifting market in the PACA region?

Olivier Six: As CIC ORIO VEFOUR, we are entering the lifting market in the PACA region. We previously had no presence there, so this represents a major change. LMD is a company specializing in the maintenance and servicing of lifting equipment. Through this acquisition, we are establishing ourselves in the region.

François Gurniki: The integration of LMD into the VERLINDE EUROPONT and SAV networks strengthens our network and provides complete national coverage while maintaining local operations to stay close to customers and deliver the most responsive service possible. Until now, this area had been temporarily covered by our long-standing Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes partner LEVELEC, whom we sincerely thank for their commitment and support to the network. Going forward, LMD, based in Bouches-du-Rhône, will support customers with new equipment projects as well as maintenance and repair operations. As a member of EUROPONT, LMD will operate in departments 04, 05, 06, 13, 30, 83, 84, and Corsica (2A and 2B), and as a SAV partner in departments 04, 06, 13, 30, 83, 84, and Corsica (2A and 2B).

What opportunities does this acquisition create for you?

Olivier Six: In this industry, trust-based relationships between customers and maintenance service providers are built over time. Acquiring a recognized local company with highly skilled personnel makes our establishment much easier. Creating a new branch from scratch is a far more complex strategy, especially in industries where strong customer relationships take time to develop.

François Gurniki: LMD's location, ideally situated in the center of the PACA region, will make it a major local player, offering all the benefits of proximity that VERLINDE envisioned more than 30 years ago when I helped establish its network. Our customers and prospects will be able to rely on VERLINDE and LMD to support their growth in this area, which remains one of the most dynamic regions in France.

In the short and medium term, with this new partnership with LMD, which sectors do you anticipate developing in this region?

Olivier Six: In the lifting industry, there are essentially two core activities. First is maintenance of installations, which is LMD's expertise and is based on service quality and customer proximity. We intend to continue strengthening this activity. The second concerns new installations. Building on this trusted local presence and through the EUROPONT network, we will begin expanding the market for new overhead cranes. We are currently constructing an overhead crane production facility in Grenoble, capable of serving both the Rhône-Alpes and PACA regions. The acquisition of LMD provides us with an opportunity to invest further. CIC ORIO specializes in mechanical engineering in the broadest sense, covering both new installations and maintenance. Customers often require mechanical infrastructure solutions, and we offer a complete package, from construction and installation to maintenance of all mechanical systems.

François Gurniki: We will be able to revitalize this attractive geographic area, particularly in sectors such as aerospace, defense, energy, and food processing. The region is home to major industrial companies as well as numerous businesses that clearly represent significant potential for our organizations. Some key customers in the area continued to rely on the EUROPONT network throughout the transition period, while others favored local service providers. We listened to their feedback and took it into account. Now, we are back locally.

In the long term, are you aiming to develop new activities?

Olivier Six: If we succeed in deploying all of our many business activities across the PACA region, we will be satisfied. We intend to bring our expertise in overhead cranes along with related services such as mechanical engineering, piping, steel structures, and more.

François Gurniki: VERLINDE and the EUROPONT network are, and will remain, entities dedicated primarily to the industrial lifting market as suppliers of equipment, maintenance, and servicing solutions. We do not intend to diversify into unrelated activities. We will, however, continue to renew and modernize our product offering to provide customers with higher productivity, lower maintenance costs, and greater operational peace of mind. We succeed because we offer products that are among the safest, most efficient, and most suitable for an evolving industrial environment. Connecting our equipment to decision-making centers to enable unprecedented operational responsiveness, and using artificial intelligence as a tool for operational support, are among the next stages in the development of our product portfolio. Stay connected to our technology and benefit from our current and future innovations.

Do you have any final comments to add?

Olivier Six: This acquisition was carried out in partnership with VERLINDE; it would not have been possible without them. We see this expansion into the PACA region as an opportunity to further strengthen our partnership with VERLINDE. This joint project between CIC ORIO, VERLINDE, and LMD is also a story about people. The relationship between these teams is built on the same strong human values, including loyalty and commitment.

François Gurniki: It is a tremendous source of satisfaction for VERLINDE to strengthen our partnership with LMD, a loyal and trusted customer for many years, and which now naturally becomes a full member of the EUROPONT network.