From cleaning during revision to his 16 years at the helm of the company since 2015, Davy Delmas has grown up with INFACO. He gives a candid account of how he grew up alongside his father, the company's founder, and how the brand has become a global benchmark in the professional tailoring sector.
In September 1996, on his 16th birthday, Davy Delmas pushed open the door of the INFACO workshop for the first time as an employee. He had no formal education and no set career plan. At the time, he was dreaming of cooking, but after a summer spent behind the stove while his friends enjoyed their holidays, he realised that what had been a passion might not become his lifelong profession. He asked his father, Daniel Delmas, founder of INFACO, if he could join the family business.
He started at the bottom of the ladder, overhauling electric pruning shears: dismantling, cleaning, maintenance. "When you join the company without any qualifications, that's often where you start," he explains. But the young man is already keen to prove himself.
He always saw his parents working passionately for INFACO, giving all their time. So when he officially joined the team, he felt the pressure of having to live up to expectations. Especially in a company on a human scale, where the staff have seen him grow.
For several years, Davy held a number of different positions: he tried his hand at everything to understand the inner workings of each business, and he built up invaluable local knowledge. This career path enabled him to gain legitimacy with both his father and his colleagues.
In 2003, he officially became an executive assistant. He moved "to the office", alongside Dany, with a clear mission: to improve the company's image. It was at this time thathe gave a real boost to the company's transformation, by strengthening the INFACO brand identity and developing the first digital tools: website, video content, online catalogue, etc. All these pioneering initiatives, reinforced by a clear positioning and targeted press and advertising campaigns, have helped to establish INFACO's reputation on a lasting basis internationally.
During the 2000s, INFACO enjoyed sustained growth, thanks in particular to the success of the F3010, F3015 and their successor, the F3020 electric pruning shears, a real concentrate of technology. Lightweight, easy to handle, compact and powerful, this product from the Electrocoup range has been designed for optimum use and long-lasting performance. It is now recognised as the world's best electric pruning shears for professional pruning, with continuous improvement with each new version.
But this rise has not been without obstacles. In 2010, the company was faced with a dilemma: demand was exploding, but INFACO could no longer manufacture: there wasn't enough manpower. A letter was sent to all customers, explaining that in view of the situation, servicing could only be carried out on certain models (those less than 15 years old). Some customers responded by writing letters, and Davy reports that the feedback was overwhelming and that "we felt like we were abandoning our users".
Faced with the emotion generated, Davy convinced his father to invest and take things to the next level. A new building was constructed, 25 people were recruited and working conditions were redesigned to improve the service provided to users. "We've heard you", he announced in a second letter. This rapid transformation demonstrates INFACO's ability to adapt its resources to needs on the ground.
It's no coincidence that INFACO has remained loyal to Cahuzac-sur-Vère, in the Tarn region of France: "We're committed to supporting the local, regional and national economic fabric... and only internationally when we can't find what we need here", insists Davy. The electronics come from Toulouse or Castres, the machining has always been done 10 km from home and the company proudly bears the Origine France Garantie label.
But this rural location hasn't held back its development. INFACO has been able to attract talent from all over France, as it has not been able to find all the profiles locally. Today, this diversity contributes to the company's wealth of human resources.
With its integrated R&D centre, INFACO designs its innovations in-house. Each new model takes between 5 and 6 years to develop by the in-house R&D centre: that's the time needed for in-depth research and numerous test phases to guarantee a reliable tool with innovative options. "It's all about constantly challenging yourself," says Davy, a phrase his father often repeated to him.
Today, INFACO is the world leader in professional electric pruning shears. This recognition is the result of constantly listening to our users, the quality of our equipment and our long-term vision. Because at INFACO, we don't do things by halves: when we plant a seed, it's for it to last.
Davy now shares this vision with his daughter Angy and son-in-law Fabien, who have both joined the company. " Each generation contributes its stone to the edifice", he says, proud of this continuity. And even though the company is a family business, INFACO's values are passed on to all its employees beyond the bloodline.
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Stay tuned for episode 5 of our special 40th anniversary series, featuring an interview with Olivier Fraysse! To celebrate our anniversary, the company's key figures look back at its history, from the very first Electrocoup to flagship models such as the F3010, F3015 and F3020.
It's called "INFACO, the series" and it's broadcast all year round on our website and social networks in 10 episodes! 👉 Subscribe to our newsletter for exclusive content!