The proposal to take over the Maugein accordion factory, put forward by one of its former employees, was validated by the Brive commercial court on Monday, January 6. Four employee shareholders will therefore relaunch the activity of this century-old company, the last accordion factory in France.
Company
From daily life to major issues, discover the subjects that make up local society, such as justice, education, health and family.
France Télévisions uses your email address to send you the “Society” newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time via the link at the bottom of this newsletter. Our privacy policy
“I don't have never thought it was over, I always had hope that it would start again, it couldn't stop like that“, says Marie-Paule Batista, this January 6, with a big smile.
When she learned of her placement in compulsory liquidation on September 27, this cabinetmaker in the accordion business for 29 years decided to act. Saving this heritage and this know-how imposed itself on her as “an obvious fact“.
Marie-Paule therefore joined without hesitation in the takeover project led by Christophe Sirgues, responsible for the electronic part of the company for eight years. Now a majority shareholder, he has just taken the helm of Maugein Accordéon. “I never imagined one day I could be at the head of this company. The circumstances mean that we are here because I chose to fight“, confides Christophe Sirgues, while the commercial court has just validated his takeover project.
“I couldn't let this company die. I have too many personal ties to it, so I thought about how to rectify the situation and find a viable solution. It requires big sacrifices at the personnel level, we don't “We couldn't keep everyone, but we're going to keep the Maugein brand and continue manufacturing.”he continues.
Of the ten workers the company had before its liquidation, only four employees who are now shareholders will continue their activity.
David Ciegel remains in charge of tuning and assembling the accordions. “I am convinced that there is a way to restart in good conditions. We have quite a few customers waiting for this restart. I am confident“, he says.
To ensure the sustainability of the company, all instrument parts will no longer be manufactured on site, and production will be reduced. “There are instruments that will no longer be in the catalog, but we will still keep all the emblematic models. We will resort to subcontracting for the manufacture of small parts. But the bodywork, the cabinetmaking, we will keep all the positions essential to the manufacturing of accordions“, specifies Christophe Sirgues.
Instrument maintenance and repair will also continue to be carried out on site.
The four employees, supported by private investors, paid €220,000 to relaunch the accordion company, without public subsidy. They plan to resume activity in February.
