MARKET LEADER IN FIELD SCIENTIFIC INSTRUMENTATION

Created in 1982, Fondis Electronic has in recent years become the French leader in the market for portable equipment intended for environmental and material inspections, as well as real estate appraisals.
This expansion has notably resulted from the distribution of Niton brand X-ray fluorescence portable analysers, for which Fondis Electronic has been the exclusive distributor in France since 1998.
Historically present in the laboratory equipment sector, Fondis still has a broad range of analysis and measurement apparatus intended for laboratories (CNRS, Inserm, etc.), notably including mass spectrometers and microscopes.

Fondis has a complete range of equipment for real estate appraisals: laser range finders for the Carrez measurement, gas analysers, electrical installation inspection units, lead analysers, interfaces and processing software programs, etc.
The group is also present in markets including industry (distribution of portable XRF alloy analysers intended for scrap merchants and steelmakers) and the environment (waste sorting, analysis of the air, ground, water and quarries).

2010 turnover: 11.7 million euros

Jean-Pierre Daverio,
Managing Director

Prospects
With the market challenges likely to persist, the company has naturally decided to review its strategic outlook. After riding the property wave, this business will be sustained at its highest level while Fondis Electronic now plans to better diversify its markets by developing in three other major sectors: the environment, industry and laboratories. These areas are notably bolstered by the impact of the Grenelle de l'Environnement (Grenelle Environmental Forum).

Fondis Electronic plans to continue developing portable instruments while more generally working to enlarge its range of products.

In terms of structure, the company Bioritech (specialised in diagnostic instrumentation for water and liquids) and its teams were integrated into the Guyancourt site. The organisation was streamlined, and sales operations were placed under the responsibility of a single director. The sales team was strengthened and restructured to be more aggressive to win over new clients.

This new strategy, implemented on the impetus of Eurazeo pme, has been led by a new Chairman, Jean-Pierre Daverio (with degrees from École Polytechnique, École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées, a Master's of Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and an MBA from INSEAD), since August 2010. The impact of this rebound are expected to pick up in 2011 and 2012. Along with the economic recovery, the company has regained its strength and intends to continue expanding its product range with determination and tackle its historical and future markets.

Sustainable Development

Fondis Electronic 's business is directly related to sustainable development because its products are notably used to assess energy performance. Its involvement is virtually mandatory as it may be led to work with potentially radioactive sources. As such, the company pays close attention to the health and safety of employees and to the management of environmental risks :the cost and environmental impact of using its products is carefully examined.

In order to better involve all employees in these issues, working groups were set up at the end of 2010 to focus on the different aspects. Management defined also a company-wide project to mobilise employees: "Communication, Sustainable Development and Improvement in Working Conditions", which will be implemented in 2011. The human resources policy, overseen directly by the Management Board, has integrated the quality management system set by ISO 9001 certification.