A sporting and industrial legacy at the heart of our DNA
The “100 km for 100 Years” event is a unique athletic challenge that physically traces the flow of our production: a link between our Villars facility, which specializes in cold drawing and cold rolling, and our historic plant in Villefranche-sur-Saône, where we manufacture our keys.
- When industry meets sport for our centennial!
- Two tracks, two courses, two venues, a masterfully executed industrial process
- More than just a performance, a demonstration of strength
- The essence of excellence: from steel to precision
- A memorable chapter in our centennial
100 km Double V Relay
When industry meets sport for our centennial!
The challenge was a big one: to connect our two regional sites to symbolize, through effort and teamwork, a century of expertise. Between May 16 and 24, our employees traded in their work clothes, computers, and phones for sports jerseys for a unique “Operation Transmission” between the Loire and Beaujolais regions.
Two routes, two journeys, two sites, a streamlined industrial process
These 100 kilometer routes were not chosen at random. They represent the lifeline of our production, the daily journey of our raw materials:
- The Start (May 16–17): Our cyclists set off from Villars (formerly Précibarre – 42), our facility specializing in cold drawing and cold rolling: we transform raw steel and stainless steel into precision bars. To symbolize this crucial stage, our riders carried steel bars through the Forez and the Monts du Lyonnais.
- Arrival and Processing: Once they arrived at our historic facility in Villefranche-sur-Saône, these rods joined our production lines. It was there, at the heart of our expertise as a key manufacturer, that the material was machined to create these vital transmission components.
- The Return (May 23–24): Once machined, these keys made their way back. Our walkers, runners, and trail runners carried them back on foot, thus completing the cycle of our manufacturing process, from drawn bar to machined part.
More than just a performance it’s an exchange of power
Through the grueling climbs of the Beaujolais region and the technical trails of the Monts du Lyonnais, the goal was clear: to bring people together.
This “100th Anniversary Special” event highlighted the incredible synergy between our businesses. By physically transporting the material, our teams experienced the bond that unites the material extruder with the component manufacturer. This is the very definition of Gardette: a human chain where every link counts, from the first stage in Villars to the finished part in Villefranche.
The essence of excellence: from steel to precision
This milestone has reminded us that, above all, we are builders. Whether we’re working with steel or stainless steel, our identity is rooted in transformation
- In Villars, we shape the material through cold rolling to ensure a perfect structure.
- In Villefranche, we give it its final form with surgical precision. It is here that we produce 1 million parts per week.
A memorable chapter in our centennial
The tired but smiling faces at the finish line are a testament to the success of this challenge. This 100-km relay will remain one of the highlights of our anniversary. It proves that even after a century, the Gardette Group still has boundless energy and a fierce determination to pass on, together, its values of solidarity and industrial excellence.
A huge congratulations to all the athletes, logistics staff, and supporters who made this epic feat possible. The journey continues!
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