Skip to main content

INAUGURATION OF THE NEW BIOMASS BOILER ROOM: THE PONT-ÉVÊQUE SITE DECARBONIZES ITS PRODUCTION FACILITIES TO MARK ITS 60TH ANNIVERSARY

In the presence of elected officials and local partners, Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman of Groupe SEB, and Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Executive Officer of Groupe SEB, inaugurated the new biomass boiler room at the Calor plant in Pont-Évêque (38) on Friday, October 11, 2024.

The only plant in Europe to manufacture irons, steam generators and garment steamers, the Calor site in Pont-Évêque celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, and continues to promote its industrial expertise around the world.

Stanislas

New biomass boiler room to reduce the site's carbon footprint by 45%

The two previous natural gas-fired boilers, each with an output of 800 kW, have been replaced by two new biomass boilers of equivalent output. This transition marks a significant step forward in Groupe SEB's efforts to reduce its carbon footprint, as heating accounts for around 80% of the site's gas consumption.

This installation benefited from a subsidy under the Isère Department's renewable Heat Contract, financed by French Environment and Energy Management Agency ADEME via the Fonds Chaleur.

The installation of the biomass boiler room, one of the breakthrough technologies identified in the France 2030 project, will enable an estimated reduction in greenhouse gas (CO2) emissions of around 45% as of 2025, i.e. a decrease of around 500 tons of CO2/year. This initiative supports Groupe SEB's overall objective of reducing all CO2 emissions by 60% by 2030.

Firmly rooted in France and committed to working with local economic players, Groupe SEB is committed to procuring wood from the sustainable exploitation of local forests (forestry by-products). This will represent an average of 700 tons/year of wood used.
 

For 60 years, the Pont-Évêque plant has demonstrated its agility, innovation and excellence in meeting consumer requirements by offering revolutionary products. The various refurbishments and extensions have given it state-of-the-art production facilities and enabled it to push back technological boundaries. Today, Groupe SEB is renewing its commitment by transforming the site into a model of energy performance through the installation of this new biomass boiler room.

Stanislas de Gramont, Chief Executive Officer of Groupe SEB

TTA

Pont-Évêque, 60 years of innovation for comfort

Located in Isère, 35 km south of Lyon, Pont-Évêque is Groupe SEB's hub of expertise for linen, home and personal care. Today, it is the only plant in Europe to manufacture irons, steam generators and garment steamers. To meet new market demands, the site is pursuing a sustained innovation policy to diversify its product offering with solutions that make everyday life ever easier for consumers.

At the cutting edge of technology, the site employs nearly 700 people and is highly automated, with around 200 robots and cobots. With an international focus, the Pont-Evêque plant exports 75% of its production to 68 countries, with the main markets being France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, the Middle East, the United States and Japan.
 

I feel great emotion celebrating this anniversary today, as this place not only represents an industrial production site of excellence, but also the starting point of my own career with Groupe SEB. I'm particularly proud to see how we have managed to combine industry and ecology, especially with this installation, which testifies to our strong environmental commitment and our desire to reduce our carbon footprint, while maintaining a high level of production.

Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Chairman of Groupe SEB and previously Chief Executive Officer of Calor SA and then Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Calor SA (between 1994 and 1999)

 

PRESS RELEASE