Terraillon
Encyclopedia
Terraillon is a producer of household
goods. Its products include consumer and medical weighing scale
s, consumer healthcare products and water filtration systems.
in 1946 by Paul Terraillon, a watch and clock
maker. Terraillon adapted the skills used in clock-making to design kitchen weighing scales. He soon began manufacturing these kitchen
scales in his workshop and in 1956, to cope with the rising demand, he incorporated his business and moved to a larger manufacturing facility.
By the 1970s, Terraillon S.A. made up over 80% of the bathroom and kitchen scales market and the company began to expand into the international market. Export sales were initially focused in Western Europe and some French overseas territories but in 1988, with the company's acquisition of Hanson
, a major UK-based competitor, it inherited a network of importers and agents in over 80 countries.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the company went through a turbulent transition from a family-owned manufacturing and engineering company to a more market-focussed company. During this time, the company was purchased by French tycoon Bernard Tapie
, who lost the company to the Crédit Lyonnais
bank.
By the mid 90s manufacturing had been outsourced and Terraillon began to specialize on innovation
and design
, while leveraging its distribution coverage, marketing skills and brand
equity.
This transition was completed with the MBI/MBO of the company in 1999, led by two Irish businessmen, Fergal Mulchrone and Chris Duggan, with the backing of a European venture capital fund managed by Hibernian Capital Partners for 33 millions francs. In two years, the company began a period of growth, regaining European leadership of the consumer scales market, while also diversifying into healthcare products and water filtration. It was sold to Measurement Specialities for 125 millions franc
s and then to the japonese Fukuda
. Terraillon opened several regional sales offices in Hong Kong
, Germany, Italy, and Spain to cope with their international size.
Terraillon is now a global company, with 2 well-known brands, Terraillon and Hanson, and sales of over USD 50 million. It is part of an international
holding
group which incorporates its high-tech sensors division in France, manufacturing division in China and its regional sales and marketing offices in various international locations.
Household
The household is "the basic residential unit in which economic production, consumption, inheritance, child rearing, and shelter are organized and carried out"; [the household] "may or may not be synonymous with family"....
goods. Its products include consumer and medical weighing scale
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
s, consumer healthcare products and water filtration systems.
History
The company was founded in the French Alpine town of AnnemasseAnnemasse
Annemasse is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the border with Switzerland. It is the second town in the Haute-Savoie department with a population estimated to 29'450 in 2010.-Geography:...
in 1946 by Paul Terraillon, a watch and clock
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
maker. Terraillon adapted the skills used in clock-making to design kitchen weighing scales. He soon began manufacturing these kitchen
Kitchen
A kitchen is a room or part of a room used for cooking and food preparation.In the West, a modern residential kitchen is typically equipped with a stove, a sink with hot and cold running water, a refrigerator and kitchen cabinets arranged according to a modular design. Many households have a...
scales in his workshop and in 1956, to cope with the rising demand, he incorporated his business and moved to a larger manufacturing facility.
By the 1970s, Terraillon S.A. made up over 80% of the bathroom and kitchen scales market and the company began to expand into the international market. Export sales were initially focused in Western Europe and some French overseas territories but in 1988, with the company's acquisition of Hanson
Hanson plc
Hanson plc is a British based international building materials company, headquartered in Maidenhead. Traded on the London Stock Exchange and a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index for many years, the company was acquired by a division of German rival Heidelberg Cement in August 2007.-History:Hanson...
, a major UK-based competitor, it inherited a network of importers and agents in over 80 countries.
During the 1980s and early 1990s the company went through a turbulent transition from a family-owned manufacturing and engineering company to a more market-focussed company. During this time, the company was purchased by French tycoon Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie
Bernard Tapie is a French businessman, politician and occasional actor, singer, and TV host. He was Ministre de la Ville in the government of Pierre Bérégovoy, a businessman specializing in recovery for bankrupted companies, among which Adidas is the most famous ; and owner of sports teams...
, who lost the company to the Crédit Lyonnais
Crédit Lyonnais
Crédit Lyonnais is a historic French bank. In the early 1990s it was the largest French bank, majority state-owned at that point. Crédit Lyonnais was the subject of poor management during that period which almost led to its bankruptcy in 1993...
bank.
By the mid 90s manufacturing had been outsourced and Terraillon began to specialize on innovation
Innovation
Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society...
and design
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
, while leveraging its distribution coverage, marketing skills and brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
equity.
This transition was completed with the MBI/MBO of the company in 1999, led by two Irish businessmen, Fergal Mulchrone and Chris Duggan, with the backing of a European venture capital fund managed by Hibernian Capital Partners for 33 millions francs. In two years, the company began a period of growth, regaining European leadership of the consumer scales market, while also diversifying into healthcare products and water filtration. It was sold to Measurement Specialities for 125 millions franc
Franc
The franc is the name of several currency units, most notably the Swiss franc, still a major world currency today due to the prominence of Swiss financial institutions and the former currency of France, the French franc until the Euro was adopted in 1999...
s and then to the japonese Fukuda
Fukuda
is a Japanese name. People with the name include:*Arihiro Fukuda , Japanese historian of political thought*Asuka Fukuda , Japanese singer*Eriko Fukuda , Japanese politician*Fukuda Eiko , Japanese author...
. Terraillon opened several regional sales offices in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Germany, Italy, and Spain to cope with their international size.
Terraillon is now a global company, with 2 well-known brands, Terraillon and Hanson, and sales of over USD 50 million. It is part of an international
International
----International mostly means something that involves more than one country. The term international as a word means involvement of, interaction between or encompassing more than one nation, or generally beyond national boundaries...
holding
Holding company
A holding company is a company or firm that owns other companies' outstanding stock. It usually refers to a company which does not produce goods or services itself; rather, its purpose is to own shares of other companies. Holding companies allow the reduction of risk for the owners and can allow...
group which incorporates its high-tech sensors division in France, manufacturing division in China and its regional sales and marketing offices in various international locations.