50 years of plastic transformation

The adventure begins in May 1956 with the creation of the company Plasverre within the premises of the glassmaking company, Henry Desjonquères at Mers les Bains.

However, plastic transformation starts it autonomous development at the very beginning of the 1960s, with the birth of YDEV (Yves de Vaucorbeil to replace the Plasverre entity) in the town of Eu, with the aim to bring together in one single place, three different manual assembly operations (cellophane wrapping, pumps for shoe care products, valves and push buttons). To this must be added decoration of plastic parts and moulding of rubber components. At the time, forty people are employed. The end of the 1960s is marked by the installation of the first plastic injection automatic press.

Malcolm Harrison, Rexam

In 1970, activities are centred on valves and push buttons. The new share holder changes to Saint Gobain Desjonqueres. With the new subsidiaries of the Group specializing in dedicated activity, YDEV specialises in assembly processes. In 1980, YDEV becomes S.O.F.A.B. (Société Française d’Aérosol et de Bouchage - French company of Aerosol and Capping) and takes in charge the control of the entire capping activity of Saint Gobain Desjonqueres. As the valve, pump and cap activity is growing, it moves on to Friville-Escarbotin in 1983. In 1987, the Bic Group takes over S.O.F.A.B. for the marketing of perfumes to mass distribution markets and expands its activities to Le Tréport. Two years later, emerges a now famous product, the Sofistic’s, consisting of a 1.2ml pump bottle for the distribution of perfume samples.

The 90s will record the transfer of the entire activity to Le Tréport and the development of a number of products that contributed to the site’s reputation. The ISO 9001 certification will be obtained in 2005, then Bic sells Sofab to Bowater while the construction of a site dedicated to healthcare activities is undertaken in 1999.

Finally, the 2000s will see the switch to S.O.F.A.B. Rexam, and then Rexam Dispensing Systems and finally in 2002 the emergence of the healthcare activity. Launches of new products follow one after another and two separate activities - Personal Care (beauty) and Healthcare (health) - are created.

600 employees, 100 injection moulding machines

The Le Tréport site now hosts the Personal Care and Healthcare activities of the Rexam Group’s Plastic Packaging Division . With over 600 employees and 4 manufacturing facilities spread over 25,000m2 - mini products, cosmetics, perfumery and healthcare - the site at Le Tréport has earned itself a reputation for its expertise in assembly and plastic injection. It is currently in France, one of the most important industrial sites in terms of injection moulding machines (over 100).

In the domain of healthcare, the industrial site of Le Tréport has specialized itself in advanced dispensing systems for drugs such as spray pumps, metering valves providing a continuous flow, applicators and complete systems for ENT, pulmonary, and dermal treatments.

Currently offering Class 8 clean rooms, workshops in controlled atmosphere and/or machines under laminar flow, the plant produces according to GMPs in the spirit of requirements set up by pharmaceutical companies for the drug itself and its container as well.