An Epic Family Adventure
Recent though it may be, the story of the Omerin family is more of an epic adventure than just a simple succession of achievements and historical events. Worthy heir of more than a century of know-how, OMERIN was founded in 1959. Over the past six decades, this family-owned company has grown into a multinational group with more than 1,700 employees present in over 120 countries across the globe.
OMERIN, More than 100 Years of History
1906
The Omerin adventure in mechanical braiding began at the start of the 20th century. The family came from the local class of tradesmen and wanted to start a business in the braid industry, as they knew it had a promising future. The first braiding machines became available on the market in 1906 in Pont-de-Chantemerle in Job, a town in the Puy-de-Dôme department. The energy came from a local stream and a watermill made of wood that powered approximately twenty looms which drove between 1000 and 2000 spindles. It was with these initial products that the family know-how and its unique history were first interwoven.
Starting with the founder Jacques, who died in 1928, then his son Claude (1878- 1957), followed by the second Jacques (1909-1981) and his two sons Michel (1931-2020) and Gabriel (born in 1934), the plant would continue to develop up to the present day.
1945 à 1955
At the end of World War II, Jacques Omerin, an excellent weaving machine setter (and son of Claude Omerin, who was still in charge of maintenance on the machines), developed and manufactured a wide range of braided products: laces for shoes and corsets in all different colours and sizes, lace and trimmings, braids assembled with two or three aligned colours, braided hems, three-colour strips, braids with fringes and loops, braces for overalls, hems for bathrobes, etc. The products were made of cotton and rayon. It was in 1948 that Jacques tackled a new market: tubular braids for insulated sleeving made of rayon. These would be the first products manufactured by the Omerin family for the electrical industry.
In the 1950s, Michel Omerin, Jacques' son, joined the company after finishing his engineering studies. Michel knew that his father's business couldn't continue to develop without more innovative, specialised products that would it set it apart from the competition.
Michel Omerin, Group Founder
1959
Michel Omerin (1931 - 2020) was born in Job (in the Puy-de-Dôme department) and spent his childhood in and around the company of his parents, Marguerite and Jacques, in Pont-de-Chantemerle. He studied engineering at the Ecole Catholique des Arts et Métiers Engineering School in Lyons. Michel Omerin was an astute businessman, an ingenious and impassioned technician, an enterprising industrialist and a caring boss who was respected by and very close with his workers. Benefiting from a great wealth of family experience, he created his own company in 1959. In 35 years, he built a thriving business that introduced numerous cutting-edge technologies and became a leader on its markets.
1959 to 1970
In 1959, Michel Omerin began manufacturing braided insulated sleeving made of glass yarn. The workshops manufactured braided products made of cotton, rayon and also glass yarn, which offers excellent resistance to high temperatures. The catalogue included several types of sleevings: Class A (90°C), Class B (110°C), Class F (155°C) and Class C (180°C).
A self-owned company in 1959 and then a limited company in 1961, it became TCA - Tresses et Câbles d'Auvergne Ets. M. OMERIN and moved into the market for electrical motors and household heating appliances. In 1962, the company developed a electrical wire insulated with glass yarn. The first high-temperature electrical cables were produced, marking the beginning of the OMERIN Group's positioning as the specialist in high-temperature wires and cables. In 1970, the market was booming and the company took up new quarters in the Industrial Park in Ambert, France in order to handle the increase in activity. It was at this time that Michel Omerin began producing his first wires and cables insulated with silicone elastomer.
1976
Using its robust know-how in braiding solutions, the company developed the FLEXO range of braided flexible hoses, giving rise to the first Group subsidiary: IFT
1985
Acquisition of the cables and sleevings activity of COUSIN FRERES. Xavier Omerin, son of Michel, joined the company as Director of Sales. Group growth was secured through the extension of its production buildings.
Xavier Omerin, Chairman and Chief Executive
of the Group
of the Group
1985
Continuing in a long line of entrepreneurs, Xavier Omerin would continue to tirelessly build on the family know-how that evolved over the decades without ever completely leaving behind its original trade. He joined the family business as Director of Sales in 1985, became Managing Director in 1989, and then Chief Executive in 1995. Under his guidance, the firm has grown both internally and externally into a medium-sized company. He is now at the head of a Group that boasts 1,700 employees, and whose expertise is recognized in over 120 countries.
1990
Acceleration of internal growth. Company changes name to OMERIN SA Creation of current logo and baseline: OMERIN Les câbles de l'extrême.
1995
OMERIN SA received ISO 9002 certification. Major investment in modern production control systems. Xavier OMERIN was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive of the Group.
1997
Acquisition of PROFIPLAST SA based in Montrond les Bains, France, renamed PROFIPLAST Groupe OMERIN. Cable manufacturers since 1972, specialised in thermoplastic insulated wires and cables for the electrical installation and general public DIY markets.
1998
OMERIN SA received ISO 9001 certification. Construction of a 10,000 m² logistics hub in Ambert, France to better handle the sharp increase in volume.
1999
Acquisition of SILISOL SA and MEIA SA: MEIA merged with OMERIN SA and SILISOL to become OMERIN division Silisol SAS. Both divisions are ISO 9001-certified. Located in Saint-Etienne, France, SILISOL was OMERIN's historical competitor on the high-temperature cable market. MEIA SA, a subsidiary of SILISOL, was a specialist in the production of flexible heating elements.
2001
Creation of the OMERIN Tunisian division near Monastir, Tunisia. First Group production site outside France. OMERIN, Tunisian division, became MULTIFLEX SARL
2003
Acquisition of TELESERVICE based in Saint-Etienne, France and which was renamed TS CABLES Groupe OMERIN. The new company manufactures light current cables, coaxial cables, phone and data cables, etc.
2004
OMERIN acquired the FLEXELEC Group based in Saint Bonnet de Mure, France, specialised in the manufacture of flexible heating elements for the refrigeration industry and electrical heat tracing.
2008
Acquisition of TEXPOL's braided insulated sleeving activity from Spanish group INECSA, based in Girona.
2009
The OMERIN Group celebrated its 50th anniversary. The same year, TS Câbles and PROFIPLAST merged and moved to a new 14,000 m² site in Andrézieux Bouthéon, France to become the OMERIN polycable division.
2013
Acquisition of ADKA in Sens, specialist in the trade of light-current cables: data and communication. The absorbed company would become part of the OMERIN polycable division.
2014
Creation of 5 new business development subsidiaries to secure the Group's worldwide presence: USA, Brazil, Poland, China and India.
Pierre Sanvoisin, Group Managing Director
2015
Pierre Sanvoisin, who joined the company in 1999, is a leader with multidisciplinary skills. Both intuitive and hands-on, he has undertaken many new development projects. As Xavier Omerin's right-hand man, he has overseen and been a driving force behind the digitalisation of the cable production sites. He has played a decisive role in the company's growth. He was appointed Group Managing Director in 2015.
2015
Acquisition of UNION PLASTIC based in Saint-Didier en Velay, France. Company specialising in the manufacture of medical devices and primary pharmaceutical packaging. The OMERIN company foundation was established the same year.
2016
Acquisition of the U.S. company Q-S TECHNOLOGIES, based in Meriden (Connecticut) in the USA, manufacturer of specialised electrical wires and cables for industry and construction. The company would become OMERIN USA.
2017
The OMERIN Group in Ambert attains a new level by extending its reach with the acquisition of the PLASTELEC Group and its four subsidiaries, including CGP, PLASTELEC TUBE which would become PLASTUB, BERNE which would become the OMERIN Berne division, and PLASTELEC, which would be absorbed by the OMERIN main production division. A competitor, a neighbour and a story between families.
2019
Acquisition of the PRINCE MEDICAL Group based in Ercuis, France in the Oise department and its main production plant in BIZERTE (Tunisia). The company designs and manufactures single-use medical devices for the fields of gynaecology, gastroenterology and urology.