In the 80s, Dany Delmas' future seemed to be all mapped out: he was to take over his parents' service station. But as a man of ideas and ambition, he didn't feel drawn to that life. Instead, he decided to follow his passion for innovation and creation. And so began a story that would mark a veritable revolution in the world of winemaking.
Dany was not the type to let himself be confined to a predefined role. Rather than follow the path laid down by his family, he embarked on a series of projects, each more creative than the last. He began by distributing objects that he bought at auction, then went on to invent useful products. Among his first successes was the Pivitub: a revolutionary vine stake with no holes or notches. He made the parts himself in a makeshift workshop, creating simple but effective solutions for winegrowers.
He went on to design the Rapid'Attache, of which he sold hundreds of thousands. Creating was more than just a passion; he wanted to help his winegrower friends work better, faster and more painlessly.
It all came to a head when, after a rugby match, a winegrower suggested to Dany that he should create an alternative to tractors and compressors for pruning vines. At the time, pruning was done either by hand or with pneumatic pruning shears, which were cumbersome to use. The next day, Dany immediately started thinking about a solution.
He imagined a pruning shear with an integrated electric battery, an idea that had never been considered before. He surrounded himself with industrial partners to find the parts he needed for his invention (battery, blade, hook, etc.), but also with people he could trust, including Serge Dubosc, then head of innovation at the CRCI Midi Pyrénées.
In 1985, Dany Delmas gave an initial demonstration of his electric pruning shears (which he called the Electrocoup) to winegrowers in the Gaillac region. Although the prototype could be improved on, its potential was impressive. It still weighed too much, but the winegrowers recognised the value of the innovation. It was a first step towards a revolution in vineyard pruning.
He reserved a small stand at Sitevi 1985, where the Electrocoup won the Palme d'Or for innovation. The day before the show opened, France 3 Région invited Dany on to talk about his invention, and he demonstrated how the tool worked and how clean the cuts were. On the opening day of the show, the response from professionals was incredible: everyone had already heard of the INFACO pruning shears and wanted to buy them.
Dany decided to sell his stock in the Midi-Pyrénées region so that he could keep up with customers and after-sales service.
Dany has always acknowledged that the success of his inventions would not have been possible without a bit of luck, particularly that of meeting the right people at the right time to turn his ideas into reality. But luck aside, it's perseverance and the desire to help winegrowers that have been the real driving forces behind his adventure.
Today, INFACO embodies this unique blend of creativity, innovation and the desire to help professionals work more efficiently.
In 2025, after 9 generations of pruning shears (including the Electrocoup, the F3010, the F3015 and the F3020), INFACO is celebrating its 40th anniversary. If, like Dany, you believe that the best ideas are the ones that move the world forward, follow our exclusive video series. See you in a few days for the second episode.