A takeover under judicial constraint
The receivership of the Étoile printing works in Tourouvre-au-Perche symbolizes the challenges facing the graphics industry in the Orne region. Eight jobs were directly threatened. Only Hérault Imprimeur, a member of the Budin Group, submitted a bid, which was validated by the court in November 2024. This takeover reflects a strategic desire to maintain a regional printing offer, as emphasized by Ghislain Budin, director of the Budin Group.
Complementary specializations: an asset for the future?
The former focused on advertising printing (flyers, leaflets), while the latter in L'Aigle is dedicated to pharmaceutical leaflets. By integrating these two specializations, Hérault Imprimeur plans to diversify its skills. This move could strengthen regional competitiveness, while broadening the group's customer portfolio.
Rationalizing premises: a delicate choice
One of the crucial issues remains the consolidation of activities on a single site, between Tourouvre and L'Aigle. The Tourouvre premises, 1.5 times more spacious, offer logistical advantages, but using them would mean relocating machinery and undergoing a complete reorganization. Michaël Bertrand, manager of the Hérault printing plant, explained that this decision, which would have a major economic impact, would be taken in the coming months.
Partial job protection
Of the eight Tourouvre employees, only three have chosen to continue the adventure, the others having opted for early retirement or retraining. Hérault Imprimeur also plans to recruit new staff, particularly in printing and finishing.
Building regional momentum
The year 2024 was marked by a series of turnarounds and liquidations in the Orne printing sector. After the closure of the Renard printing works in Alençon and Bellême, (Read : Renard Group liquidation: equipment auction raises over ?1 million Read : The liquidation of Graph 2000: when a century-old Argentan printing works closes its doors ) the Étoile printing works in Tourouvre-au-Perche followed suit, directly threatening eight jobs.
