Chronicles of a small industrialist who dreams of re-enchanting France  – Episode 89

Chronicles of a small industrialist who dreams of rekindling France’s spirit – Episode 89:

DIATEX: 40 years of boldness, weaving the future!

Some companies live through the decades; others transform them.

Since 1986, Diatex has been weaving a remarkable industrial story. From technical textiles to high-performance composites, from agricultural applications to aerospace and defence programmes, the Lyon-based company has reached new heights without losing its soul.

Bernard de MULATIER shared this heroic journey with a sincerity that commands respect. The bold bets. The expertise patiently built over time. The hardships too, from the founder’s passing to the Covid crisis and the mobilisation to produce face masks.

A company that has sometimes had doubts, but never given up. It brings its capabilities in-house, innovates, grows and is already preparing for what comes next. With a revenue target of €60 million and an international outlook.

Forty years is not about looking in the rear-view mirror. It is about having learned to stay the course.

Alongside him, together with Laurent Fiard from Visiativ and Matthieu Heslouin from Bpifrance, we discussed what makes the heart of French industry beat.

My firm belief? We are living in extraordinary times. Biology, energy, robotics and artificial intelligence are opening up incredible possibilities. But between a brilliant idea and a technology that truly changes lives lies a crucial step: industry.

This is where entrepreneurs step up and take responsibility. This is where talented individuals become teams, innovations become products and ambitions become factories.

But we still need to inspire people… Young people to join us, investors to support us, our regions to believe in their future, and our leaders to safeguard a framework that allows businesses to operate with confidence. There is plenty of work to do!

This is the very purpose of La French Fab and the ecosystems that bring together industrial leaders, entrepreneurs, researchers and financial backers. Accelerating is no longer optional. It has become essential to our sovereignty.

And optimism? It is not about denying difficulties. It is about refusing to let them have the final say.

Congratulations to Bernard and all the Diatex teams for these 40 years of industrial dedication. And thank you to Laurent and Mathieu for this shared conviction: France still has great chapters of industrial history to write.

Industry does more than manufacture objects. It creates possibilities!