Framatome in Le Creusot, Awarded for Successful Reindustrialisation
The development of nuclear power is a key factor in reindustrialisation. A prime example is the industrial facilities of Framatome in Le Creusot, which have experienced a massive expansion in their activities and number of employees. The company has been awarded a prize dedicated to relocalisation.
On April 4th, the “Reindustrialization-Relocation” award was presented to Framatome at Creusot-Montceau. Supported by the two media outlets “La Gazette des Communes” and “Usine Nouvelle,” the 7th stage of the “Territoires & Industrie” tour honoured the major industrial players in Burgundy-Franche-Comté.
As the largest private employer in Saône-et-Loire, the Framatome site in Le Creusot, a subsidiary of EDF, is heavily investing to relocate certain activities. The decision a year ago to develop the manufacturing of reactor core internals at the Creusot site from 2026 marked the group’s ambition to gain sovereignty over the supply and manufacturing of key components of nuclear boilers. “We also want to improve in terms of delivery times, quality, and flexibility by bringing this activity back to Le Creusot,” stated Laurent Gless, director of the Framatome site at Le Creusot (source Usine Nouvelle, 10/04/2023). An investment package of 100 million euros has been decided to transform the site. The activities of the forge, the Technical Centre, and the future stainless steel workshop will enable the creation of hundreds of direct jobs within five years.
An Employment and Professional Attractiveness Hub
The Le Creusot site positions itself as a true giant of regional employment with a rapid expansion of its workforce, which has grown from 250 to 1,500 collaborators in just five years (source Usine Nouvelle, 5 April 2024). Framatome is also investing in its Saint-Marcel site, on the production school project, and in training high school students and job seekers to meet its labour needs.
To meet the skill challenge, its strong involvement within the Nuclear Club Burgundy Franche-Comté allows it to work with the 270 companies in the sector in the BFC region, employment actors, and the support of the University of Nuclear Trades (UMN). This club is integrated into the “Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications Industrie Technologique Innovante et Performante” (ITIP), at the heart of the territorial ecosystem of employment-training skills.■