It is particularly well represented in Rhône-Alpes where there are 5000 mainly small establishments. Of these 95% employ fewer than 11 people.
This region, where wood construction is particularly widespread (20% of houses in the Alps), boasts the highest number of carpenters who readily adapt to commercial, technical and regulatory market pressure developments. The traditional carpentry sector, using local wood is recognised as being highly skilled. The glued-laminated carpentry sector has experienced strong growth in our region through the siting of leading companies (Eurolamellé, Margueron).
Traditional Rhône-Alpes centuries-old products, such as the Savoie "tavaillon" cladding, rub shoulders with the most innovative products such as cross-linked wood, for example, developed at the Saint-Etienne Ecole des Mines engineering school. The many woodwork specialities from wood-turning-fancy goods work in the Ain to the industrial carpenters of the Rhône eloquently demonstrate the sector’s diversity.

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STRUCTURE BOIS

• Know-how - finding carpenters and joiners in Rhône-Alpes

The Rhône-Alpes has 2000 furniture manufacturers together employing 8700 people. The larger companies (over 20 employees) account for over 2/3 of these jobs and some of France’s leading companies with internationally-renowned expertise were founded in the region, such as kitchen furniture maker Mobalpa and home furniture makers Grange and Roset.

MOBALPA

This sector, made up of small and medium-sized companies is looking healthy. In recent years it has spawned new entrants that have created jobs in recent years mainly to follow consumption patterns, industrial exchanges. Its links with the transport sector are strong (CEP study 1000).

WOODEN PACKAGING

Wholesale distribution of wood and its by-products alone accounts for 1/3 of the sector’s jobs, making it particularly buoyant in the Rhône-Alpes. In addition to small traders, mostly independent workers, some of the major chains are well-established in Rhône-Alpes such as Point P, SAMSE, Lapeyre and Loire Matériaux.

POINT P