A new site dedicated to carbon masts at Seldén France
The Seldén France factory, based in Le Poiré Sur Vie in the Vendée, underwent a major expansion in April 2022. The site, which until now has covered 3,300 square meters, including 3,000 square meters for the production of its aluminum masts, booms, spinnakers, standing rigging and currents, now has an additional 1,500 square meters devoted to carbon masts. The new space also includes a new 38-meter-long paint booth, which can be divided into three sections depending on the size of the masts to be treated.
Growing demand for carbon masts
Seldén has a good reputation in the production of aluminium masts all over the world. The French factory, which operates in France, Spain and the whole of Southern Europe, employs around 30 people in all its trades, production staff, warehouse, sales and administration. It produces 800 aluminum masts each year and sells various parts and equipment to nautical professionals, builders, sailboats, riggers and furlers, including Furlex spars and headsail furlers, spinnaker and gennaker furlers, Rodkicker rigid boomvang, sail cars, blocks and tracks.
"We are well known for our aluminum, but we have also been producing carbon masts in the UK since 2007. We are present in one-designs and IRC, but also in shipyards like Hallberg Rassy. The demand is increasing" explains Ondine Bigot-Retornaz, marketing manager at Seldén France.
Towards Made In France carbon masts
Since April 2022, Seldén France has started to assemble its first carbon masts in France, from tubes received from the UK. These are fully equipped in Poiré-sur-Vie before delivery.
But in view of the high demand, Seldén does not intend to stop there. A place is planned for an autoclave oven and a filament winding machine to enable the complete manufacture of masts at the French site of the equipment manufacturer.
