Can we have a brief introduction to SN Auvergne Aeronautique and its offering to the aerospace industry?

SN Auvergne Aeronautique consists of two complementary companies based in Morocco and France, and it has been a part of the Figeac Aero Group since 2016. We manufacture sheet metal parts and components made from light and hard alloys, and we work with major aeronautical major companies such as Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier and Dassault, either directly or through Tier One subcontractors. Having two plants in different locations enables us to offer the best possible price for all of our product ranges. In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes we work on the more complex processes, mostly in hard metal and titanium, and in Morocco we mostly work on simpler processes.

How are you responding to the pressure to reduce the price of your products?

Our strong industrial skills and self-reflection allow us to keep our prices low. We regularly pragmatically review our own processes and are always developing them to make them leaner and more efficient. Currently some aerospace customers are considering price as their main priority, and they have developed an in-depth analysis of their suppliers’ processes. We need to be able to demonstrate that we have mastered producing high-quality products while maintaining a strong supply chain.

We also use Morocco as a best-cost country to keep our prices low, although we work very hard to ensure that our quality remains high by working to exactly the same quality standards that we have in France.

What is the competitive landscape like and how do you differentiate from your competitors?

In Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes there are a lot of other companies offering almost the same competencies and product as us, however SN Auvergne Aeronautique now has the competitive edge of being part of the Figeac Aero Group. While SN Auvergne Aeronautique is a medium sized company with 600 employees, Figeac Aero is far larger, with over 4,000 employees and a higher degree of financial stability. We are not limited at all in the types of customers or projects that we can consider taking on, and we can adapt to customer demands are needs far more quickly and flexibly. We also differ from our competitors in our proximity to our customers; the Figeac Group is present all over France, and also in Tunisia and Mexico. Since the Figeac Group has unified the market, we can be present in diverse locations around the globe.

What are some key goals for SN Auvergne Aeronautique over the next years?

Our first goal is to stabilize our financial situation. The company was bankrupt towards the end of 2016, and it was a long process to take back the company in 2017. Now, on the way to recover profitability, we look to develop the company further and increase our turnover by attracting new customers and developing more capabilities, such as manufacturing hard metals’ very complex parts.

Do you have a final message for the readers of our publication?

We are a creative company focused on adapting to meet the needs of our customers. While the global aerospace industry is growing, only the best companies will survive because of increased competition, price reduction pressure, and the pressure for small companies to consolidate.