Exokit makes van life more comfortable
Grand Ouest Innovations Fair in Saint-Brieuc
Van and panel van owners are clamoring for Exokit's flat-pack furniture. Morgan Barroux and Raphaël Guigo, its founders, will present their innovative solutions at the Grand Ouest Innovations Fair on Saturday, March 4, in Saint-Brieuc (Côtes-d'Armor).
Morgan Barroux and Raphaël Guigo, the founders of Exokit, in their 1,000 m² premises at Carré Rosengart, on the port of Légué, in Saint-Brieuc. | OUEST-FRANCE
Their reputation has far surpassed the Légué docks, where they have been moored since late 2020. A little over two years after creating Exokit, Morgane Barroux and Raphaël Guigo, who have since been joined by Gabin Harivel and Alexis Alain, are still amazed. "We saw +60% growth in 2021 and 2022, probably double that this year. It's beyond what we had imagined. At all levels. "
Their company manufactures flat-pack, self-assembly furniture for fitting out vans and panel vans, then ships them all over France and Europe.
3D scanning and numerical control
In addition to the boom in the van market, observed for ten to fifteen years and even more so since the lockdowns, Exokit's success is based on the design of the furniture, using 3D scanning, and its manufacturing, " by numerical control, on one of our two machines." Thanks to digital cutting, there are no touch-ups and wood waste is minimal. Finishing is done by hand. Fifteen vehicle models are compatible with the proposed fittings.
A single screwdriver to fit out your van
The innovative technologies used are not the only reason for this success story. The quality of the materials (solid and light birch plywood), the customization of the fittings, the wood tones... And above all, the ease of assembly, with a screwdriver as the only tool, are their strength. "We tried to simplify the uses in terms of assembly and fitting as much as possible. In half a day, the person can fit out their van," boasts Raphaël.
The young entrepreneurs have attached Homad, a company specializing in van conversions (insulation, heating, plumbing, furniture, etc.), to Exokit. The latter has created a network of five brand-licensed workshops in western, southern, and eastern France.
In total, nine people work on the same site for both companies. In a few months, their number will increase to twelve to meet demand. Because today, the startup's biggest difficulty is, "managing hypergrowth. Our goal is to become the leader in flat-pack vehicle conversions within three years. We'll get there," assures Morgane Barroux.
Saturday, March 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Grand Ouest Innovations Fair, Carré Rosengart, Légué port, in Saint-Brieuc. Free admission.
Source: Ouest France article
