Our company

The Saônoise group consists of the two companies, Saônoise de Contreplaqué and Saônoise de Tiroirs, respectively established in 1952 and 1975. We started out by peeling beech wood to manufacture workbenches, shells as well as seats and backs. Our development and our diversification led us to produce other products intended for furniture.

Our family business is currently managed by Stanislas and Patrick COUVAL, the grandsons of Maurice COUVAL, its founder. Today, we employ 100 people and distribute our products throughout France and abroad to Germany, Switzerland, Benelux, the United Kingdom, Israel, the Maghreb countries and beyond.

Based in eastern France, between the Vosges and Jura mountains, our company benefits from the natural resources supplied by our forests. Our geographic location places us in a strategic position for our development on the French and international markets. Thirty years have passed since the 3rd generation took up the reins at La Saônoise, driven by one constant desire: to bring your projects to life.

Since 2013, our company has undergone comprehensive restructuring based on:

• Processes in which each worker’s role is clear, as part of our drive to sustain family and local values.
• Significant investment in more technically advanced and productive machines.
• And a dynamic, united team willing to take responsibility and strive for excellence and innovation.

Our history

Since its beginnings, the company has supplied a wide range of technical products which all rely on expertise, innovation and the marriage of many different materials and skills.

We are committed to providing a truly efficient service, meeting every deadline and striving for the highest quality at all times.

• 1850 Our beginnings Starch : Derived from potatoes, this product was used to stiffen fabrics.
• 1952 The Launch Saônoise de contreplaqué : Diversification into manufacturing flat and moulded parts from peeled beech.
• 1975 Expansion Saônoise de tiroirs : Development of a second successful business line: manufacturing drawers.
• 2009 Managing change and preserving skills : Takeover of the Capelle business: MDF moulded parts, plywood stair risers and kickboards.

Know-how and Investment

We are specialists when it comes to manufacturing wood-based technical components for furniture and interior fittings in the housing sector as well as for institutions, industrial furniture and recreation. Thanks to our regular investment and automation programs, we have a complete set of machines at our disposal that enable us to manufacture parts of increasing technicality that meet our customers’ specifications. Our CAD Design and Development Department adapts to any and all bespoke requests. Our numerical control machine tools allow us to produce high volumes while keeping a flexible and reactive structure for medium and small series.

We are masters in 9 different areas of expertise

• Rotary cutting

The logs are constantly moistened in our outdoor area, thereby making it possible to conserve the wood. Our two rotary cutting lines are then activated to peel the log into a continuous sheet of 1.2mm, 1.4mm or 2mm thickness which, once cut, will serve as a veneer for our products.

• Coating

We have 2 coating lines for coating PVC, PP and paper on chipboard, MDF and natural woods. The variety of colours we offer enables you to coat your parts in line with market trends.

• Bending

Our fleet of machines includes steam and high-frequency presses which are equipped with moulds to perform the shaping. We manufacture our own moulds so as to produce varied parts and to be able to adapt to your requests.

• Drying

The ensuing veneers pass through a dryer with a drying capacity of 1 m3/h, which reduces the residual moisture content by 6 to 8% and makes the sheets ready to be pasted and pressed.
Calendering
Our production unit makes it possible to perform the flat bonding of various coatings, from paper to thicker coating materials, on wooden materials for a flawless finish and an excellent bonding.

• Machining

The parts are machined on modern numerical controlled 4- and 5-axis equipment to ensure the speed and quality of complex machining and drilling. Our machines can accommodate both flat and curved parts as well as large sizes.

• Sawing

The large panels are sawed into the various required sizes through our cut-optimisation programme. The losses are minimized and the production lines have a continuous supply.

• Bonding / Plating

Before going under press, the veneers are covered with a layer of glue. We can handle both the flat and rounded / curved bonding of all types of wood and can even glue on decorative materials and finishes.

• Lacquering / Varnishing

Our excellent command of the finishing requirements of “high-end” markets means that we are able to enhance our parts in our paint booths by applying high-gloss PU lacquers or acrylic varnishes and polyester finishes. Our colourless and tinted varnishes feature UV drying with 100% dried extracts, which reduces toxic substance emissions.