The Manufacture
A French company specialising in metal enamelling
Founded in October 2013 by three retired people keen to safeguard an expertise that was fast disappearing, Manufacture Vosgienne d’Émaillage was taken over in July 2015 by Laurent Gérardin and Richard Jeanpierre, both paper makers, one a foreman in production and the other a paper engineer in charge of research and development and customer service.
They knew nothing about enamelling at the time, but fell under the spell of the technical nature and beauty of enamel.
At the time, the company had 3 employees; today it has 15.
History of enamelling
2013: at the Deycimont site, three dynamic retirees combine their talents to ensure that enamelling expertise continues to thrive in the Vosges.
2015: Richard Jeanpierre and Laurent Gérardin take over the company
2017: investment in a new kiln and a fir-tree shot-blasting machine, relocation to a new 1,000 m² workshop
2018: the company has 15 full-time employees
2021: installation of a double conveyor, spray-drying line
2022: acquisition of an enamel inkjet printer (a first for this type of product and market!) and creation of the Atelier de l’Émail
Enamelling of large series or individual parts
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The Manufacture is one of the last 3 contract enamellers (enamelling service providers) in France. It enamels cast-iron and steel pieces in large series or individually:
- for the outdoor and indoor cooking market: planchas, barbecues, braziers, casseroles, woks, cookers, hobs, burner grates, grills, etc.
- for the heating market: wood-burning stoves, stoves
- renovation of enamelled objects
Enamelling: a traditional industry for a modern material
Today, we are the largest enameller of cast iron in France by volume among the contract enamellers.
Our capacity is in the region of 250 to 350 enamelled pieces a day, depending on the product.
Metal enamelling is a very old process, originally used to create jewellery and small objects. First used in Greece between 1600 and 1300 BC, enamelling is a son of fire and earth.
From the end of the 19th century, enamelling on steel developed to produce kitchen equipment, advertising and signage.
In his treatise on painting, Leonardo da Vinci said:
“painting done on copper coated with white enamel with enamel colours, fired and melted, surpasses sculpture in time”.
An industry "made in Vosges
The era of the petrochemical industry, with the widespread use of plastic and the development of non-stick coatings, put a damper on enamelling, which is now making a comeback thanks to its specific features, which are of interest to more and more people: durability, healthy materials, antibacterial, easy maintenance, value for money, recyclability and, in our case, made in Vosges.
La Manufacture Vosgienne d’Émaillage is a member of the Association Pour l’Émail Vitrifié (APEV) and as such contributes to developing knowledge of the material and encouraging its promotion.
