Parc Cataroux’s economic and social orientation Construction of the future Parc Cataroux in Clermont-Ferrand has begun! The project engages Michelin and a number of public and private stakeholders, with the goal of making a meaningful and enduring contribution to the region’s economic and human development. An in depth look at this resolutely forward-looking and unprecedented project. June 8 2022 Imprimer This project is the culmination of a lengthy process of reflection about the transformation of vacant spaces at the one-hundred-year-old Cataroux site – an emblem of Michelin’s history and innovation culture. We are proud to be able to make a contribution to this project, whose goal is entirely consistent with our “All Sustainable” vision of the future and our values. Florent Menegaux, Michelin Group CEO A project banking on collective work From the announcement of the creation of Parc Cataroux in January 2021, to the start of construction, 18 months went by. 18 months of sustained and joint effort by all the stakeholders involved, because as emphasized by Pascal Couasnon, Director of the Parc Cataroux program, “To succeed, this project must be collectively designed and implemented - we need everyone! Co-construction with regional, public and private players is a distinguishing factor in this project. For example, we worked with some thirty stakeholders on the design of the Innovation Center project”. An illustration of the Group’s vision for the future For Michelin, the future Parc Cataroux is the expression of its “All Sustainable” vision for the future; a vision which engages the entire Group in constantly seeking the right balance between people, business and financial performance and the planet. Through its various centers, Parc Cataroux also encapsulates the concept of people in motion, in all its dimensions: men and women learning, taking action, innovating, sharing, discussing and working together. This concept is very meaningful for Michelin, evoking motion as something that is critical for life and human development; as a “source of technological, social, economic and cultural progress, serving people, but more importantly, a source of sharing and open-mindedness”, as stated by Florent Menegaux. A park organized into four centers How can Parc Cataroux be turned into a driver for creating activity and the jobs of tomorrow, or a driver of societal development? How can you ensure that the project benefits as many people as possible in their personal and professional lives? It is on the basis of these ambitions that the idea of organizing the future Parc Cataroux into four centers emerged: Innovation, Training (Talent Factory - see photo below), Sustainable Materials and Sport/Health/Culture. As distinct as they may be, they must all meet the same criteria: have an innovative design, be a national or even international reference in terms of their development and adhere to “All Sustainable” specifications, “including financing, the approach of which is based on the search for a lasting economic model in the operational phase”, added Pascal Couasnon. As for their construction, this will take place gradually, with the aim of achieving full completion by the end of 2026. The 4 centers at a glance Innovation Center 19,000 m2 and + 1000 work stations To bring together all of the region’s innovation stakeholders and thus foster synergies. In particular, the center will play host to all of Michelin’s open innovation partners. Training Center/The Talent Factory 35,000 training offers To support the professional development of all Michelin employees worldwide, and offer training to employees from all companies and to any member of the public who requires it. Sustainable Materials Center 25,000 m2 To establish a new economic center on an Auvergne regional level, which is also a reference on an international level, and make a successful transition to the circular economy, in particular thanks to recycling technologies and the manufacturing of innovative materials. The center is currently home to Carbios, a pioneer in the development of enzyme solutions dedicated to the end-of-life of plastic polymers and textiles. Sport/Health/Culture Center 89,000 m2 across 10 hectares To breath fresh life into the neighborhood, by boosting its attractivity thanks to flagship cultural, tourism, (development of L’Aventure Michelin), sport, health and integration initiatives. Milestones in Cataroux’s history 1921: a needed renewal At the end of World War I, Michelin was focusing on streamlining production and on innovation. To this end, it needed to construct a large and modern plant. The post-war years marked a critical turning point: Michelin inaugurated the first buildings at Cataroux in 1921 and construction never ceased to develop. 1921-1939: innovation and diversification The Cataroux plant became Michelin’s most modern factory, where the Group’s major tire innovations were produced. It was here too that kilometer markers and Micheline railcars were manufactured, as well as high-tech materials and competition tires later on… 1940-1946: war and destruction World War II once more undermined the momentum of development. The Cataroux production floor was focused on producing “additional extras” such as bicycle trailers, strollers, wood stoves and soles made from old tires, right up until the night of 16 March 1944, when a bombing raid obliterated several hectares of constructions. 1946: Reconstruction The plant’s reconstruction occurred quickly and brought about a total overhaul of site’s industrial equipment. The new Cataroux site enabled Michelin to industrialize its major innovation: The Radial, and therefore gave the Group an edge over its competitors. 1950 onwards: expanding production and research Cataroux produced not only all kinds of radial technology - cars in 1949, trucks in 1952, civil engineering in 1959 - but also high-tech materials. The plant served as a role model for all other industrial installations, in a context in which Michelin was rapidly growing, both in France and overseas. In parallel to its production activity, Cataroux developed research infrastructure, including the back-and-forth tracks, which symbolized the Group’s innovative capability. 2000-2021: a site in transformation Industrial activity and tertiary activities co-exist on the site. Competition divisions were set up and came together, as well as workshops producing premium tires. The site later welcomed L’Aventure Michelin, which opened its doors in January 2009, followed by Hall 32 in 2019 and Agora in 2021. The Parc Cataroux program has a vital role in shaping the future of the Cataroux site for the coming decade. Movin’On: new meetings Read more Michelin acquires RoadBotics Read more
