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Technical textiles specialist Dickson Constant has boosted its manufacturing capacity with the addition of a new facility in northern France, pointing to a future of marked growth and product innovation.
Dickson Constant, located in northern France and a subsidiary of the American Glen Raven group, has a long track record in technical textiles and with worldwide brand recognition in indoor and outdoor fabrics. Its products, marketed under the two brands Dickson and Sunbrella, are widely used in the design, architecture and boating sectors.
Expansion and innovation
In early 2021, Dickson Constant announced plans to add to its existing capacity with a new, second manufacturing facility in Hordain, northern France, near its headquarters. The site will support the company’s commitment to innovation, which it describes as “the driving force behind the group’s growth.”
Following extensive construction begun in February 2021, the new weaving plant, which totals more than 20,000 square metres, is now fully operational. This has been complemented by the construction of “a new ultra-modern logistics facility” covering 18,000 square metres, to house all raw materials and finished products, scheduled for completion by the end of 2022.
The company’s commitment is sizeable; an investment of €70 million (A$ 109 million) to create the new site, equating to an 80% increase in production capacity and the creation of 100 new jobs.
Eugène Deleplanque, Dickson Group Chairman and CEO, tells WFA the project was born just before the initial Covid-19 lockdowns.
“During the first months of the pandemic, the increase in orders prompted us to accelerate our investments, but our existing Wasquehal (northern France) plant had already been saturated for three years. We export our products to over 100 countries, so we had to think about the best strategy to remain competitive.
“Our new factory, at the cutting edge of technology, will allow us to increase our production capacity by 80%, meaning we can meet growing demand for custom made fabrics. It will be complementary to our Wasquehal plant through an agile structure with capability dedicated to interior and exterior furnishing textiles.”
The new development will also bring increased flexibility,
he adds.
“We are able to make the production lines shorter and faster. Thus, it is very easy for us to change colours, design or materials. Adaptation is very important in our business because each country has its own trends in terms of fabrics and we must constantly adapt with the aim of serving our
customers better.
“This investment reinforces Dickson’s expertise in the design, development, production and global marketing of intelligent technical textiles designed to improve living spaces,”says Mr. Deleplanque.
New logistics platform
Stretching on a land of 18,000 square metres and 14 metres high, Dickson Constant‘s new fully automated logistics facility represents a key strategic move.
“Our objective is first of all to reduce the drudgery of work. Our motto is ‘the goods come to the people and not the other way around.’ But it is also to gain efficiencies; the new logistics centre, which will be fully operational by March 2023, is engineered to operate day and night. On account of this new technological marvel, we will gain in terms of flexibility and quality of service.”
A sustainable future
Mr Deleplanque says solar protection represents a strong future for the company.
“We are fortunate to be in a very promising sector in the long term, since it responds to the very current issue of global warming,” he says. “Climate change is accelerating worldwide. Last year, there were more extreme heat events, and they also lasted much longer. Unfortunately, our buildings and patios are not designed accordingly.
“Large glazing, combined with high levels of insulation and air tightness, increase the risk of overheating in summer. Solar shading solutions represent a sustainable way to protect homes and decks from the heat. People want to optimise their time outdoors, in their home premises, apartments and outdoor spaces all year round.
“We believe that consumers benefit from our solar protection solutions in several ways: the value and comfort of their home increases; sunshading solutions provide an immediate return in the form of a pleasant indoor and outdoor climate; in addition, they are energy efficient and lower CO2 emissions, contributing to a carbon neutral society.
“I am convinced that we have a bright future ahead of us, given the urgent need to adapt our homes and opt for natural, passive sun protection to replace or supplement air conditioning, which is a major consumer of energy.”
