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akwel.com

Yesterday
Yesterday

Business creation

Before becoming an international group operating in 20 countries and with a turnover in excess of one billion Euros, AKWEL was the adventure of three brothers united by their laborious childhood and work ethics. A human journey, shaped by pragmatism.

Akwel

The original project —

The ambition?
Work in the plastics processing industry, in which André Akwel hier , Joseph Akwel hier and Roger Akwel hier were trained during their studies. Work to earn a living. The rest would come later.

" One
for all, all for one "

" It was the spring of 1972, I was 23, Joseph 22 and Roger 20. Spontaneously, without thinking about it, we were in tune. We thought, “As we have nothing, we have nothing to lose”, but also “One for all, all for one”. "

— André COUTIER, President of AKWEL's Supervisory Board

First teams —

AKWEL hired its first two employees in the first year, just four months after the set-up. In 1978, the company had about twelve employees.

Akwel
Akwel
Akwel
First press
André Coutier
00:28

First machine —

330 tonne, second-hand Stubb injection press, paid over a 2-year period. Delivered on Friday 18 August 1972 to the Champfromier barn. Started up on 19 August. It was to operate 24/7, 365 days a year.

Akwel

First plant —

270 m², on the current site of AKWEL Champfromier. The building was delivered on 15 October 1973. The company moved in on 18 October and, that day, the machines were operating in the new workshop.

Akwel
Akwel
Akwel
mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – self-watering planters – mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – self-watering planters –  mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – self-watering planters – mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – self-watering planters – 
built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters –  built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters – 
self-watering planters – grower pots – washing machine parts – hinged slalom poles for skiing – putty cartridges – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – self-watering planters – grower pots – washing machine parts – hinged slalom poles for skiing – putty cartridges – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles –  self-watering planters – grower pots – washing machine parts – hinged slalom poles for skiing – putty cartridges – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – self-watering planters – grower pots – washing machine parts – hinged slalom poles for skiing – putty cartridges – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – 
putty cartridges – display cases for pastries such as pièce montée – anti-theft display units for the retail industry – computer disk substrates – putty cartridges – display cases for pastries such as pièce montée – anti-theft display units for the retail industry – computer disk substrates –  putty cartridges – display cases for pastries such as pièce montée – anti-theft display units for the retail industry – computer disk substrates – putty cartridges – display cases for pastries such as pièce montée – anti-theft display units for the retail industry – computer disk substrates – 
computer disk substrates – plastic mailboxes – briefcases – windsurf fins – lawnmower decks – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – computer disk substrates – plastic mailboxes – briefcases – windsurf fins – lawnmower decks – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees –  computer disk substrates – plastic mailboxes – briefcases – windsurf fins – lawnmower decks – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – computer disk substrates – plastic mailboxes – briefcases – windsurf fins – lawnmower decks – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – 
lawnmower decks – lipstick tube bodies – plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – disposable razors for hospitals – grower pots – lawnmower decks – lipstick tube bodies – plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – disposable razors for hospitals – grower pots –  lawnmower decks – lipstick tube bodies – plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – disposable razors for hospitals – grower pots – lawnmower decks – lipstick tube bodies – plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – disposable razors for hospitals – grower pots – 
plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – garden racquets – plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – garden racquets –  plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – garden racquets – plastic car headlight prototypes for Peugeot – auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – garden racquets – 
auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – automatic cat doors with electric motor and built-in sensors – auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – automatic cat doors with electric motor and built-in sensors –  auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – automatic cat doors with electric motor and built-in sensors – auto parts as a subcontractor for tier-one component manufacturers – automatic cat doors with electric motor and built-in sensors – 
disposable toothbrushes with integrated toothpaste – paint rollers with integrated reservoir – mop holders with integrated wringing system – disposable toothbrushes with integrated toothpaste – paint rollers with integrated reservoir – mop holders with integrated wringing system –  disposable toothbrushes with integrated toothpaste – paint rollers with integrated reservoir – mop holders with integrated wringing system – disposable toothbrushes with integrated toothpaste – paint rollers with integrated reservoir – mop holders with integrated wringing system – 
mop holders with integrated wringing system – disposable razors for hospitals – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – lawnmower decks – mop holders with integrated wringing system – disposable razors for hospitals – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – lawnmower decks –  mop holders with integrated wringing system – disposable razors for hospitals – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – lawnmower decks – mop holders with integrated wringing system – disposable razors for hospitals – anti-recoil cross-country ski soles – lawnmower decks – 
mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – disposable razors for hospitals – mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – disposable razors for hospitals –  mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – disposable razors for hospitals – mirror cabinets – laboratory dosing pipettes – boot trees – coffee filters – built-in parts for the building industry – disposable razors for hospitals – 
built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters –  built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters – built-in parts for the building industry – knitting needles – waffle makers – garden sprinklers – garden racquets – self-watering planters – 

More than

30 types of products
manufactured by our teams

Amazing ability to rebound —

" During the oil crisis, we wondered what we could come up with to pick up the pace. We quickly focused on self-watering planters. It was a new product that was booming at the time. We decided to make moulds. With a range of ten containers, within two years we had 6% of the French market share. "

— André COUTIER, President of AKWEL's Supervisory Board

Akwel

Then and now

  • 1972

    Creation of the Coutier SARL Company, a subcontractor specialising in the manufacture of plastic parts, by three Coutier brothers, André, Joseph and Roger, in Champfromier.

  • 1978

    First direct order from a motor manufacturer – approved Peugeot supplier.

  • 1983

    One year after initial contact was made with MGI, mutual exchange of 20% of the capital between Coutier and MGI.

  • 1988-89

    Concerted action by Peugeot and Renault to consolidate the supply side. MGI and Coutier embark on the adventure.

  • 1988-90

    Coutier begins its transformation: takeover of MGI and establishment of MGI Coutier, a components manufacturer specialising in plastics and metal.

  • 1990

    First equity investments abroad, in Spain.

  • 1991

    MGI Coutier’s turnover reaches 500 million Francs.

  • 1990-94

    Continued global expansion in Spain and Turkey.

  • 1994

    Listed on the Stock Exchange
    (Paris – Eurolist).

  • 1994-98

    Continuation of global expansion
    (China, Tunisia, Argentina, Brazil)
    and strengthening of activity in France (acquisitions and internal growth).

  • 1998

    New organisation with an Executive Board and a Supervisory Board. The Coutier family takes back control.

  • 2000

    Integration of the SAP management tool for optimum running of the 12 French sites and 9 global subsidiaries.

  • 2004

    Deployment in India.

  • 2006

    Development in Eastern Europe with the opening of a site in Romania.

  • 2011

    Strengthening of tooling expertise with the takeover of the mould-manufacturer Deplanche and the implementation of a major external growth transaction through the acquisition of the Avon Automotive components manufacturer in the USA.

  • 2014

    Acquisition of Swedish components manufacturer Autotube AB.

  • 2015

    The second generation of Coutiers takes the helm with the appointment of Mathieu Coutier as President of the Executive Board.

  • 2016

    The group introduces a new organisation structure with the creation of departments dedicated to product lines and industrial departments by geographical zone which manage the group’s plants.

  • 2018

    The MGI Coutier Group changes its name and becomes AKWEL. Accelerated growth in Asia with the opening of a 3rd  site in China and another in Thailand. The Group’s turnover exceeds one billion Euros for the first time.

  • 2020

    AKWEL forms a partnership with Tallano Technologie, which has developed and patented the TAMIC® solution, a system for collecting harmful micro-particles emitted during vehicle braking.

From

Coutier SARL

Akwel
  • Akwel
  • Akwel
  • Akwel
  • Akwel
  • Akwel
  • Akwel

To

AKWEL

After taking over from André, Mathieu Coutier decides to focus on the group’s mission and values, to reinforce, assert and redefine them. The name changes to be in sync with what the company has become as well as with its ambitions.

Akwel
Akwel

Why AKWEL?

We needed a short name and, more importantly, a name capable of creating a blend of the group’s international dimension and roots. We opted for AKWEL, which sounds English but in fact comes from Savoy dialect akweli, meaning going forward.

Yesterday’sToday's customers

PONTAROLI
GROSFILLEX
UNICO
INTERMARCHÉ
LECLERC
CARREFOUR
BARBATO


9 customers:
BMW
DAIMLER
FORD
GEELY
GM
RENAULT-NISSAN-MITSUBISHI
STELLANTIS
TATA-JAGUAR-LAND ROVER
VOLVO GROUP


30 brands:
BMW
CHRYSLER
CITROËN
DACIA
DAIMLER TRUCK
DS AUTOMOBILE
EICHER
FIAT
FORD
GEELY
GENERAL MOTORS
INFINITI
JAGUAR
LAND ROVER
MACK TRUCKS
MERCEDES BENZ
MINI
MITSUBISHI
NISSAN
OPEL
PEUGEOT
RENAULT
RENAULT TRUCKS
SMART
UD TRUCKS
VAUXHALL
VOLVO
VOLVO TRUCKS