In fact the factory is even older as before Henri Wichard & Co was born in 1919, it used to be a paper mill called Iron Cross (1887). It then became a cutlery factory, until Henri Wichard founded the company in 1919. A blacksmith by trade from a long line of master smiths from Eastern France, Henri Wichard started forging knife tangs and blades, scissors and components used in the hunting rifles produced by the St Etienne arms factory. From the 1960’s, Wichard started diversifying with its first range of shackles which evolved within 10 years to a much larger range of deck hardware products like snap hooks. A 2nd production site was added and the company diversified into the medical field with titanium forge. Fast forwarding, in 1984 the Wichard quick release snap shackles received the 1st European award for best design. The famous folding padeyes were born in 1988, and since then the company did not stop innovating in new designs which are still current today. A US subsidiary was created in 1990, then an Australian one in 2002. Today the group is still forging all stainless steel products out of the same factory in France.

The Wichard products are known for their high quality manufacturing, their guaranteed reliability, their enhanced mechanical and fatigue resistance as well as their proven corrosion resistance. With 250 employees, 2 subsidiaries abroad, and now 7 active  brands – Wichard, Profurl, Maillard, Facnor, Sparcraft, Lorima and Peguet – each renowned in their own field, the group works with steel, stainless steel, aluminium, titanium, composites and carbon, creating products and solutions for the most demanding clients and industries. Wichard in yachting is what most of you know about the brand, however, the company is also a leader in medical operations, car racing, aeronautics and so many other industries that we now take for granted…