FLEXIBLE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS
At its plant in Sarre-Union, France, Cerenn Industrie designs, manufactures and markets removable steel partitions with high acoustic performance for the French and European markets. In this demanding production environment, technical performance, aesthetics, fire compliance and installation speed must coexist within extremely tight tolerances.
As Vincent Limagne, Technical Director, Cerenn, explained:“ We must adapt to each project and create variants to meet customer requirements for installation configurations and aesthetics. To guarantee aesthetics, quality and technical performance at the same time, every millimetre counts.”
These requirements explain why automation has long been central to the company’ s industrial strategy. In 1992, Cerenn installed its first automated Salvagnini S4 + P4 line, transforming the way its production was organised. This flexible manufacturing system punches, shears and bends sheet metal continuously and automatically, without any intermediate manual handling.
Jehan Pelletier, Process & CAM Manager, Cerenn Industrie, recalled:“ We reached 120 panels per shift, while reducing scrap by 30 %. We gained repeatability, productivity and process stability.”
A flexible manufacturing system
After more than thirty years of operation, however, the original machine tool installation was reaching its limits. Stéphane Massing( Plant Manager, Cerenn Industrie) summarised the new challenges: further reducing waste, increasing responsiveness and more easily producing small batches, sheet by sheet.“ We wanted more automation and a technology capable of better integrating our production constraints,” he said.
The new installation is based upon a Salvagnini flexible manufacturing system integrating MBT bi-tower store, SMD, S4,
About Cerenn Industrie
The Cerenn team in front of the new installation, based upon a Salvagnini flexible manufacturing system integrating MBT bi-tower store, SMD, S4, MCU and P4.
PUNCH, CUT
AND BEND
Cerenn Industrie in France has reached a new industrial milestone with an automated S4 + P4 punch, cut and bend flexible manufacturing line from Salvagnini.
“ Removable partition and pod designer,
Cerenn Industrie, has increased its panel production by 180 panels per shift and reduced its energy consumption, cycle times and scrap rates with a new FMS line.
Punching operations with Salvagnini’ s P4.
Cerenn Industrie is part of the SAPHYR group and is the product of Someta( founded in 1898) and Matfor( founded in 1954).
It specialises in the manufacturing and installation of removable partitions and stand-alone bubbles / pods, bringing together its design and manufacturing skills at two industrial sites. From confidential projects to 60-storey towers, its project teams handle all types of modular partitioning and installation projects.
24 | ismr. net | ISMR September 2026