Interview Rémy Le Roux : Guelt Nautic works across all classes

Guelt, a Quimper company created in 1978 which specialises in the manufacture of industrial equipment has developed a widely recognized expertise in mechanics and precision machining for marine sports as Guelt Nautic over the past twenty years. Rémy Le Roux, head of this department explains.

How has Guelt Nautic’s business developed?

In 2002, when I joined the company as head of the machining department, I had the opportunity to work with CDK Technologies to produce some small mechanical parts. A few years later, Michel Desjoyeaux asked us to manufacture the keel for his Imoca for the 2008-2009 Vendée Globe. The production of this fairly substantial part allowed us to get ourselves known and the offshore racing teams then came directly to see us. And so in 2010, we decided to create the Guelt Nautic brand to give better visibility to this activity.

What exactly do you manufacture? And for whom?

We produce complex parts, machined from solid material or mechanically welded, such as deck fittings, keels, bulbs, keel bearings, daggerboard shims, rudder bearings, mast feet or foil shims. Our activity is mainly focused on racing boats and we work across all classes. 90% of the Vendée Globe 2024 teams have called on us as well as all the Ultims, on a more or less large scale. We were also present at the America’s Cup, since we produced parts for Ineos Britannia for both the 2021 and 2024 editions and we hope to collaborate with them again for the next one.

Have you developed any specific techniques for this sector?

We work in close collaboration with the teams and regularly offer them new materials or different ways of machining. In some cases, we develop very specific and precise welding methods in order to lighten the parts. We also use 3D printing on certain plastic or titanium parts to limit material loss.

Today, what does this activity represent for the company?

It represents 10% of Guelt’s overall turnover. Of the 350 people who work for the company, around 30 are employed in this sector. Although we are now well-known in the world of ocean racing, we want to expand into the market for exceptional boats, which is still a little marginal. We have built a few Wally 80 keels as well as the SP80 support surfaces, a Swiss project that aims to break the world speed record on water. Next year, we hope to contribute to the manufacturing of a 100-foot trimaran and a 125-foot carbon catamaran that will be built in Lorient.