In Pradet, Dom is preparing the new generation of tensioners

Dom's small team in Le Pradet officially presented the first machines installed in the chain and belt tensioning systems design and manufacturing plant this Friday, June 5. An investment of 800,000 euros, for which the SME received support from the Region to the tune of 200,000 euros. "Other machines and other recruitments are to come," emphasizes Romain Daum, the general manager and son of the founder of the family business, Bernard Daum. The entrepreneur had the idea, in 1993, after selling his company, which already specialized in the manufacture of belts, to launch into the design and manufacture of tensioning systems, which allow the maintenance of these belts and chains, used in a multitude of machines and industrial sectors. "Today we even sell to the Chinese! Our customers are either resellers of industrial supplies or machine manufacturers," explains the manager, who also generates 15% of his turnover internationally, thanks to a distribution network in around twenty countries.

With a turnover of nearly 3 million euros in 2023, growing at double-digit rates for the past 10 years, Dom is nevertheless feeling the impact of the economic slowdown over the past two years. "Last year, turnover fell by 15%. We are facing a crisis of confidence, and the decline of certain sectors where we have customers, such as construction," analyzes Romain Daum. The diversity of the customer portfolio, however, allows the Var SME to hold its own, and even to continue its transformation, to conquer new markets. "Ten years ago, we developed the manufacturing of components that accompany the tensioners, to offer the whole range of parts necessary for the proper functioning of a belt," explains the business leader. This has made it possible to cultivate machining skills, but also research and development, and prototyping skills thanks to a 3D printer. Because while Dom offers a whole range of standard products, "we also work with design offices and machine designers to provide tailor-made solutions." The SME thus offers some 4,000 tensioners and up to 15,000 components in its catalog.

After investing in the capital of Seynoise Mecanor, a specialist in precision mechanics, to boost its production capacity, Dom is now modernizing its industrial tool, relying on Excellium, its machining unit launched in 2012, capable of creating parts for the belt tensioning systems business, but also for other industrial applications, at the customer's request. "We also have an innovation project, for which we are submitting a file to the BPI," adds Claire Martinez, from the communications and marketing department.

In this case, it involves producing smart tensioners that will digitally transmit the information needed for belt maintenance, without having to collect this information from the tensioner itself inside the machine. Two employees have already been recruited to operate the new machining machines, and three more are on the way. "We welcomed a work-study student, Lona Hugues, from Rouvière High School, who is a finalist in the national trades competition in the South region, Worlskills, from October 16 to 18 in Marseille!" Romain Daum proudly emphasizes.

In the 1000m² workshops acquired in 2018 in Le Pradet, semi-finished products are also adapted to customer needs: cutting of transmission chains, machining of pulleys and sprockets, and even engraving of QR codes to ensure the traceability of the part. "We are insourcing more and more tasks, such as the manufacture of tensioner pulleys for example." Suffice to say that the question of recruitment is a major issue. The company has implemented a profit-sharing and participation scheme. A story of team loyalty.