The President of the Normandy Region Hervé Morin visited the AGM company in Forges-les-Eaux on Monday 4 January. The industrial bookbinder founded in 1960, which once belonged to the CPI group, was taken over in 2018 by Olivier Caratgé and Philippe Fromentin. Despite foreign competition from countries with low wage costs, which is omnipresent in the sector, the company continues to put its know-how at the service of publishers and printers.
During his visit, Hervé Morin reiterated his support for the local economic fabric, the newspaper reports the scout the hurry . "?Cette company has considerable know-how that is almost unique in our country. This visit reinforces my belief that we need to build models on which the value chain remains in Normandie?," Hervé Morin said. The local weekly points out that the company has nevertheless seen its turnover fall by 40% between 2019 and 2020. In 2019, AGM had a turnover of 2.7 million euros. It carries out more than 3 million works per year.
The factory, which covers more than 8000 m2, has two fully integrated Kolbus binding lines, 7 folding machines, 2 automated sewing lines and a total of 7 stitchers, 3 coverers and 3 gilding presses. It includes a complete workshop for craft binding and embellishment. The company is equipped to handle large volumes (200?000 and more), but also has the tools for small and medium series.
According to the Pathfinder's Dispatch, AGM, which was supported by the Region in 2019 to the tune of 100?000 euros, could again apply for aid for investment and training.
