The Voltaire Group unveils its building at Izarbel

Built on the Izarbel Technology Park, this 1625 m² building will allow the group, which specialises in the manufacture of top-of-the-range saddles, to continue its development and its strategy of technological innovation.

Created in 2010 by Brice Goguet in Espelette, the Voltaire group has grown significantly, from 3 to 65 employees in France today. This company’s expansion is due to its decision to manufacture top-of-the-range riding saddles. Today, 85% of its activity is directed at the North American market.  

Having obtained certification as a Living Heritage Company in 2016, the Voltaire group combines the best craftsmanship with digital technology, with the first connected saddle in the world. After two years of research, the Voltaire group launched the “Blue Wing” in 2016. The “Blue Wing” saddle is fitted with a sensor, and transmits information to the rider via their mobile phone.

The “Blue Wing” thus tells the rider how much time has been spent on walking, trotting, and galloping and the length of stride as well as the number of jumps carried out, their trajectories and the speed of these movements.  This connected saddle is aimed at amateurs who wish to receive a report of their training session on their smartphone. For the professional (trainer, professional rider), it is a useful tool for analysing exercises and measuring the horse’s gait. 

High-technology

The Voltaire group had an urgent need for premises suitable for its growth and its level of excellence. As part of its strategy to support its region's businesses, the Basque Country Urban Authority gave it a 4000 m² plot of land on which the Voltaire group built a 1625 m² building.

At the building’s opening on 6 October, the people present were able to explore the workshop where the saddles are handmade as well as the high-technology equipment such as the new digitally controlled hide-cutting machine. Supplied byLectra System, only two examples have been manufactured in France.  

This machine is used to optimise the cutting of the hides used for the manufacture of saddles. The hides are scanned by a digital tool which analyses the usable areas in order to suggest the optimal cut. Result: hide wastage is now 10%, whereas this figure was 20% before. The machine can also analyse the quality of the hides, so this information can be passed on to suppliers. Finally, this machine ensures the safety of cutting operatives and minimises the danger of accidents.

Further information available at http://voltairedesign.com/

Photo of the opening from left to right: Sylvie Durruty, Vice-President of the Basque Country Urban Authority in charge of Economy and Innovation; Brice Goguet, CEO of the Voltaire Group; Géraldine Gilmas, Communications and Development Manager at the Voltaire Group; Jean-René Etchegaray, President of the Basque Country Urban Authority; Emmanuel Alzuri, Mayor of Bidart.