The Next group had invested 10 million euros in the production of anti-Covid masks. Its production line is at a standstill due to lack of orders from public authorities.
In the Next factory in Nersac (Charente) the production of masks was interrupted for a week in the absence of public orders. Two years ago, the company, which specializes in food packaging, put 10 million euros on the table to set up a 100% French production line in record time.
“The Head of State repeated to us nine times: “We are at war.” We mobilize and, behind, is pschitt“, denounces the managing director, Antoine Pontaillier.
The The French union of F2M mask makers is increasing alerts to authorities as the sector faces numerous corporate bankruptcies. Latest example to date: in mid-October, the commercial court of Saint-Brieuc placed in compulsory liquidation the Coop des Masques, which employed 13 employees in Graces in the Côtes-d’Armor.
A circular, published at the end of 2021, nevertheless encourages French hospitals to order protective masks and gloves in France or in Europe. But, even if the country has managed in a few months to produce enough protective equipment to cover the needs of health facilities, French companies are slipping.
The managing director of the Charente factory, Antoine Pontaillier, takes aim, for example, at the case of the latest tender launched by Santé Publique France, which reconstitutes strategic stocks.
“By specifying the “duckbill type” FFP2 mask, Public Health France excludes our model which is much more qualitative“, regrets the entrepreneur.
European rules have not changed despite the health crisis.
Nicolas Prentout, deputy director of the university hospital of Angoulême.
4km from the production site, the Angoulême hospital is the only one in New Aquitaine to receive part of its supply from the Charente plant. But the plant also has in stock Chinese masks purchased during a previous tender, carried out at a regional level with various hospitals.
“The criteria can only concern the price, the criteria of sustainable development, but the European rules have not evolved despite the health crisis: we cannot automatically favor French companies”explains Nicolas Prentout, deputy director of the CH of Angoulême.
The made in France masks remain two or three times more expensive compared to imported ones: between 4 and 10 cents per unit against the 2-4 cents of Chinese masks. “But 75% of their value remains in France, against only 15% for a mask from Asia”says the union of French mask manufacturers F2M.
Following the example of the company Next, the president of the Nouvelle Aquitaine region challenged the minister of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, in a letter at the end of October. “It is becoming urgent to find concrete ways to allow this national sector to continue, to find an outlet on our soil and to avoid a new shortage of masks during a next major health crisis.“, believes Alain Rousset.
A new call for tenders for hospitals in New Aquitaine is being prepared. New award criteria, such as carbon footprint or security of supply, will be considered: they should facilitate the opening of this market to French producers.
