70 Candles for Rouby Industrie!
On September 15, 2023, Rouby Industrie proudly celebrated its 70th anniversary.
Founded in 1953, the company has established itself as a key player in metal and mechanical construction, with specialized expertise in hydrology, boiler making and storage racks.
This milestone was the perfect opportunity to bring together employees, partners, and former staff for an immersive retrospective experience, culminating in a shared lunch for all guests and a special dinner to honor the employees who drive the company’s growth every day.
FER ENSEMBLE: Shaping the future of boiler making
Backed by Grand Cognac and several industrial partners, the FER ENSEMBLE school just opened its doors. Jean-Philippe Rouby, President of the school, and Maxime Gacher, its Director, talk about how the program started, their hands-on approach to training, and their long-term goals.
How did the project get started?
It all started with a few key observations.
Local manufacturers, including the Rouby Group companies, were struggling to recruit qualified workers. At the same time, school dropout rates in France remain high. We saw an opportunity to reconnect young people with real career paths while helping meet the industry’s growing workforce needs.
On top of that, no training center nearby was offering programs tailored to the boiler making industry. So, we decided to take action.
What equipment and teaching methods are key to this new approach to training?
In terms of equipment, we’ve made sure the school matches real-world industry standards. We’re equipped just like a manufacturing company, which is a huge advantage for our students since they’re learning on the same machines they’ll use on the job.
Each student works a full 35-hour week, with two-thirds of that time dedicated to fulfilling actual customer orders.
That means they’re producing real parts that will be delivered and used—demonstrating their growing expertise and practical skills.
On the educational side, we’ve developed a strong focus on quality. By involving students in projects that have real purpose and value, we’re helping them build both professional awareness and strong technical abilities.
There’s also a human element: students meet the customers behind the orders, talk with them, and better understand how their parts will be used. That connection gives more meaning to their work and helps them see the bigger picture.
How do you ensure quality?
We use the same production software as our industry partners. Every part is reviewed by our master technician, just like in a company setting. It’s the best way to prepare students for the real world.
Which companies are involved in this project?
FER ENSEMBLE is supported by a network of local industrial companies, many of which are also customers. Public institutions have also stepped up to support and help grow the project. Together, we’re investing in the future of both people and our region.
What certification do students earn?
At the end of the program, students earn a CAP RICS (Réalisation Industrielle en Chaudronnerie ou Soudage, e.g Industrial Realization in Boilermaking or Welding), option A: Boilermaking. To validate this diploma, we rigorously follow the official curriculum established by the French Ministry of Education, including general education courses such as French and mathematics.
In addition to this academic foundation, we enrich the program with our own technical and professional content, tailored to meet the real-world needs of the industry.
More importantly, the entire training program is free of charge for students, ensuring accessibility for all profiles interested in discovering and pursuing this promising profession.
INFORMATION
Diploma: CAP RICS (Industrial Boiler making or Welding)
CONTACT
Website: https://ecole-fer-ensemble.fr/
Tel: 07 84 20 62 08
E-mail: contact@ecole-fer-ensemble.fr
Address: 42 Rue du Buisson Moreau, 16100 Châteaubernard – France
Order from Stellantis Mulhouse: unbundling equipment
STELLANTIS placed an order with IDEATEC for the integration of a bulk feeding equipment at its Mulhouse site, for unbundling wheel hubs at the beginning of the milling process.
This major project includes three distribution assemblies for raw hubs packaged in bulk, which are lifted in tilting loading skips. The hubs are automatically and gradually dumped into hoppers and conveyed to vibrating bowls. Upon exiting the bowls, the hubs are moved on conveyors to unit release mechanisms for part handling. Due to its large size, this machine required technical expertise and precision from IDEATEC teams throughout the manufacturing process. The consultation began in November 2022, the order was finalized in June 2023, and all materials were delivered in August 2024. Installation and commissioning of this equipment at the client site was a major project this summer for IDEATEC technicians.
This machine makes wonders in waste processing
In 2023, a waste treatment machine for recycling construction waste was designed for an order… Let’s zoom in on this innovative new machine with Johan Feroussier, Head of the Design Office at Chauvin.
Johan, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m Johan Feroussier, a lifelong resident of the Grenoble area and employee at Chauvin for 20 years, Head of the Design Office since 2020.
My day-to-day involves producing machines that meet and redefine client specifications while complying with current standards. My challenge is to meet quality, deadlines, and budget constraints for each project, including the one we’re discussing today!
How did this machine design project start?
It all started with a request from REY Solutions in spring 2022. They had specific needs that led to collaboration with our company.
The project kicked off with visits to two sites, where we analyzed existing machines in operation to better understand the requirements. This initial analysis phase lasted three months and resulted in a layout plan.
What were the next phases?
Following the analysis, we gathered the expected performance requirements for the machine and its throughput.
In terms of performance, we studied what type of machine trajectory was needed to meet the client’s needs. We considered a sloped device with a circular trajectory but ultimately chose an elliptical trajectory with very high amplitude, far beyond our usual screens.
Our layout plan was validated in August 2023, with the final machine delivered in January 2023 after prototyping and testing.
The delivery included commissioning, and we’ve since returned several times to see the machine in operation with the recycled product.
What makes this machine so valuable for your client?
We usually screen rubble. For this project though, the materials had much lower density.
To be specific, aggregates typically have a density of 1.6, while the materials here are around 0.2 or 0.3 at most. We’re talking about drywall, plastics, and very little rubble or tile…
In terms of volume, the machine processes 150 m3 per hour. To achieve this, we had to conduct many tests and calculation variants to determine how the machine behaves.
We also had to develop a cascading system to avoid the single-layer principle. The product needed to be aerated and stirred, hence the idea of steps to flip the product.
To meet this need, our first challenge was ensuring the mechanical strength of the 10-meter-long device. This turned out to be a major structural challenge.
The second challenge was finding the right mechanics to achieve the desired amplitude. This machine runs much more slowly (430 RPM) with a 25 mm amplitude, which required us to redesign the mechanism of a classic screen to suit the intended use.
What kind of feedback have you received on its performance?
Customer satisfaction exceeded expectations!
Since then, we’ve built a second unit and are working on a third for the same installer we’re partnered with.
The ratio of screening quality to throughput is exceptionally good for industry standards.
Of course, ongoing operations and feedback have allowed us to make minor adjustments, to the point where we can now add this machine to our catalog with size variations. A larger model is under consideration, which would make it one of the largest machines for this application.
In short, it has a bright future ahead!
Resuming work at la palmyre zoo – A new fence for the tigers
After the summer season, La Palmyre Zoo resumed development work on its facilities. The second phase of fencing installation for the tiger enclosure is underway.
These animals will enjoy their new space starting next season, allowing visitors to see the big cats in a refreshed setting. This project aligns with the zoo’s efforts to improve living conditions for its animals and the visitor experience.
