The FÉTIS Group expands international presence to drive the decarbonation of heavy mobility. ​

Bringing machines to life – The FÉTIS Group expands international presence to drive the decarbonation of heavy mobility

The FÉTIS Group expands international presence to drive the decarbonation of heavy mobility.

Bringing machines to life – The FÉTIS Group expands international presence to drive the decarbonation of heavy mobility

Published on Nov. 10, 

The FÉTIS Group, will be opening a new facility in Canada, and developing it’s international operations in France, Germany and Spain to better help OEMs to bring their next generation of low-carbon and automated machines to life.

Expansion into North America

The Fétis Group is announcing the establishment of a new facility in Ontario, Canada, which will be starting production of wiring harnesses for off-highway and specialised machines in November 2023.

“We have been developing our North America strategy following positive discussions with potential partners and customers”, explains Damien Fétis, President, The FÉTIS Group. “Our first facility in North America meets an immediate need in our industry.  Wiring harnesses are becoming more complex with increasing numbers of sensors to support automation, and the addition of high voltage circuits to support the move to vehicle electrification. Our customers tell us that it is difficult to find partners who can produce these systems to the required quality and in the volumes that are typical in our market. We have existing expertise both in the local Canada team and in our established facilities in Europe which have been experiencing high growth. This will be a great way for us to build presence in North America with a service that we know well and where we are highly competitive”

The parallel challenges of decarbonisation and automation

“Electrification of vehicles is not new for The Fétis Group”, says Oliver Lythgoe, Chief Marketing Officer, The FÉTIS group. “It is more than 10 years since we implemented our first electrification project. Now we are seeing the transition to lower carbon machines move into a new phase. Many OEMs in the market have already successfully completed and tested their first proof-of-concept electric machines and are now moving on to more serious machine development projects with an intention for series production and commercial sale. This is considerably more demanding for OEMs in terms of engineering, supply chain, quality processes, validation and planning for field supportability. We are restructuring our group to support OEM product development teams through this period of change”

The FÉTIS Group will be focusing on the following four areas of technology to help OEMs bring machines to life:

Firstly, there is the supply and integration of Power Sources themselves. In many cases these will be batteries, but hydrogen fuel cell or hydrogen combustion engines are also in demand due to faster refuelling and ability to operate in areas without grid connection.

Secondly, there is Electrical Integration. Power, often at high voltage, needs to be efficiently and safely managed. We have developed in-house capabilities for power distribution hardware, power management software and wiring production. Facilities in Germany and Spain are critical to this new capability and these are being further strengthened with the opening of the new facility in Canada.

Thirdly, we are expanding our software and controls activities. In the last two years we have doubled the number of software developers. As the industry moves from proof-of-concept projects to series production, concepts such as functional safety are driving a demand for rigour in software and hardware design.

Fourthly, we integrate the electric and hydraulic traction and actuation components to turn power into motion and useful work. Hydraulics will continue to be important in future machines, particularly for linear actuation, but the next generation of ultra-efficient hydraulics will need a much tighter integration with the electrical power systems and the electronic control architecture.

Expanding beyond off-highway machines

In 2004 a team was formed within The Fétis Group to serve off-highway industries such as construction, agriculture, materials handling and airport ground support. These applications are still focus areas which are experiencing sustained growth. “our activities have now expanded into adjacent sectors which are a great fit for our technical capabilities and where we are experiencing strong customer demand “says Lythgoe.  “Specialist on-highway trucks such as cranes, refuse vehicles, fire engines and similar have complex power requirements which we are well placed to serve. We will also be providing solutions for lower carbon power generation in the range 50 to 500kW.”

Production capabilities complement engineering know-how

“We know, that it is not enough to design a great machine.” says Lythgoe, “OEM’s need to develop simple, dependable and cost-efficient supply chains for low carbon systems of their future products. To support this, we have in-house complete system prototype and production capabilities.”

The new international organisational structure has the critical mass required to bring OEM a depth of expertise, whilst remaining lean and agile. “The ability to be fast, flexible and responsive will differentiate us in this fast evolving market”, concludes Lythgoe.

Contact press :

Béatrice Nguyen-Calloch, Corporate Marketing & Communications Manager

+33 6 99 62 60 28 – bnguyen@fetis.group

FÉTIS Group celebrating 45 Years of SECODI

FÉTIS Group celebrating 45 Years of SECODI: A Journey of Innovation and Growth

FÉTIS Group celebrating 45 Years of SECODI : A Journey of Innovation and Growth

FÉTIS Group celebrating 45 Years of SECODI: A Journey of Innovation and Growth

Published on Nov. 10, 2023

SECODI, the founding company of the FÉTIS Group, recently marked its 45th anniversary. The milestone was commemorated with a “GET TOGETHER” event in September, bringing together the group’s employees from the French subsidiaries to celebrate this journey.

Founded by Jacques and Marie-Paule Fétis, SECODI embarked on its transformative journey four and a half decades ago. The early years were not without challenges, with the founders navigating both the intricacies of building a business and the complexities of family life. As the company grew, their children became integral to the daily operations, a true family commitment to the business.

One pivotal moment in the company’s history was when Damien Fétis, son of the founders and now president of the group, received his first engine to disassemble and rebuild. This hands-on experience not only provided a playful insight into the company’s challenges but also laid the foundation for a deeper understanding of SECODI’s mission.

From humble beginnings representing only 4% of France, SECODI steadily expanded its footprint, reaching every corner of the country and growing its team to 650 individuals. Over the years, the company has undergone significant evolution and diversification. While initially focused on being distributors of parts and engines, the last two decades have seen a strategic shift towards becoming system integrators. SECODI now brings more specialized expertise to the table, positioning itself as a key player in the realm of mobility innovation.

In a momentous celebration on September 14th, the FÉTIS Group orchestrated its inaugural intercompany gathering, uniting 300 team members for a day of camaraderie and festivity at Chateau des Marais, near Nantes. Damien Fétis, the President of FÉTIS Group, underscored the significance of this unique gathering.

“It is the first time that we gathered together in this way as a group[…]. Even though the organization has grown from 4 people to 600, we are still strongly attached to our original identity as a family business. This was simply an opportunity to celebrate our identity, our pride in being together and in what we achieve every day.”

The event was not just about reflection and celebration; it was also a platform to share exciting advancements with the wider team. FÉTIS Group took the opportunity to showcase two of its decarbonation technology projects:

  1. EvolE – The Autonomous Off-Road Robotics Platform developped by Dintec, an example of our capabilities in autonomous off-road robotics.
  2. IndHYgo – The hydrogen Powered Genset developped by GeniWat, an example of our dedication to decarbonation and fostering environmentally friendly power generation.

As an active participant in the field of innovation in mobility, SECODI’s 45-year journey is a testament to its adaptability, expertise, and commitment to pushing the boundaries.