Wasn’t it restoration work?
No, my beams are no longer there, because they were used as backup so that it wouldn’t collapse. While it was still burning, another customer’s beams were cut to fit. I left in the night to deliver at 4am. I got the phone call at 3 p.m. and I was there at 4 a.m. in an exceptional convoy. My staff continued to work to produce three more deliveries. We made four convoys. Afterwards, we delivered more larch glulam to support the flying buttresses.
How did we get your address?
They looked everywhere, but Artbois, at the time, we already had more than 40% of our production in France. We were already known for our complex products. We are also known for our responsiveness. We have an exceptional tool in terms of speed, we have developed a manufacturing process which allows us to produce faster than others. And there, the minutes counted.
Were you invited to the inauguration?
Well, no. I am Belgian, not French! (Laughs)
How does it feel to see all this on the news?
The restoration is a beautiful job. I’m glad they did it again.
-And sentimentally for you, working for Notre-Dame?
Yes, I tell myself that thanks to Artbois’ skills, we may have avoided a catastrophe.
A tear in your eye?
No, it’s in the past! At the time, I didn’t realize the importance of the work. When a customer is bothered, you have to cut corners. It’s our job. When I came back and opened my mobile data, I had more than 300 messages! I started to realize.
Good advertising?
In Belgium yes, in France, not at all. We talked about it in the Midi newspaper on France 2. By the evening, it was already over. The French did not like that a Belgian was more efficient than them.
