Clouterie Rivierre: transmission at its heart

We met with Manuel and Anthonyboth working at Clouterie Rivierre, Creil. A unique place, unique machines, unique expertise and... unique... unique men.

Meet Manuel and Anthony, employees with unique know-how

Manuel, close to retirement, and Anthony, 4 years with the companywalk the aisles of the Rivierre nail factorywaving at each other. Holders of unique know-howHere, every turn of the key counts. Here, every turn of the key counts, and while the machines dictate the rules, everyone gets to know them over time...

Nails in stainless steel, copper, brass, aged steel, gold-plated, short, long, galvanised or upholsterer's nails: Clouterie Rivierre exports all over the world 2,800 references thanks to the work of some fifteen discreet men, involved in a chain of transmission that the company is keen to perpetuate.
Behind every gesture, precise know-how, handed down in the intimacy of the factory for 135 years. Manuel, Anthony and others bring this expertise, recognised by major brands, to life...

Take part in unique and prestigious projects

Unique companies mean unique customers!

From the outset, the two men expressed their satisfaction: not everyone can take part in European or international projects! A smile lights up their faces, and tongues are loosened. Manuel recalls The Hermione, a replica of an 18th century warshipand Anthony Drakkar de Vendée, still under construction : " [...] it's a source of pride to know that our nails are being used in historic shipyards [...] they'll still be around decades from now [...]" says Anthony, happy to be doing his bit for heritage restoration.

Enthusiasm is essential, because at Clouterie Rivierre, there's no shortage of challenges. Historic monuments, works of art, cutlery, leather goods, outdoor equipment, arts and crafts... all the different trades are represented, giving men and machines alike a hard time!
Manuel, who seems unfazed by any project after 36 years in the business, recalls designing lag screws for model railways, or aluminium nails used by the Office National des Forêts to mark plots of land without damaging the equipment when the trees are cut down... from diversity comes the most cutting-edge expertise!

Teamwork, handing over the reins

A nail may sound simple

However, manufacturing remains is an art in itself and requires a great deal of knowledgeThe result of teamwork. Here, metals are received in the form of coils of large-section wire.

Once the wire has been drawn according to the customer's requirements, i.e. reduced to a suitable cross-section, it is passed through the machines, using special tooling that has been specially designed or adjusted for each reference: "[...]. It's a collaborative effort, with everyone having their own particular skills. I work on forged nails, Manu on tapestry seeds, Fred on mechanics and adjustment, and so on - we all have a speciality! [...]" says Anthony, affably.

"Craftsmanship is about complex simplicity".

When Anthony arrived at the clouterie in 2019 with a CAP and a vocational training certificate in car mechanics in his pocket, he knew very little about the craft. Within the walls of this gigantic factory, he learnt from the elders, in particular from Émidio : " [...] He was retired, but came to see us in the mornings. He was very attached to the place, as his brother Paulino still worked there. [...] he contributed to my training and gave us a lot of experience. "he adds.

Between two answers, we understand the hours spent observing and then adjusting the machines. For these two enthusiasts, craftsmanship, a word that is sometimes overused, is still a way of paying attention to detail and of satisfy all customer requirements... without forgetting the need for humility in the background: "[...] sometimes you have to try to respond to a request that you've never dealt with before. So we look, we try, we try again [...] over time, the elders have left and sometimes taken some of this know-how with them, but we're still getting there "says Manuel, falsely detached.

Working in the right direction and meeting specific needs

Know-how passed down from man to man, yesterday's gestures have sometimes been lost along the way. There's no manual or practical guide, just a lot of brainwork to tame the sometimes temperamental equipment! Anthony and Manuel work with their knowledge, their hands, their eyes and their analytical minds. Sometimes you can spend hours setting up a machine!

The technical challenge pushes the two men to give their best. They enjoy the variety of their work and are satisfied with their progress: " [...]. understanding why things don't work any more, finding solutions, researching and racking our brains - we love that! [...]", they declare almost in chorus.

And if they put so much heart into their work, it's not for the beauty of the gesture: "[...]. Here, we don't create any needs, we just respond to them in an ultra-precise way. It's a gratifying and rather topical message, isn't it? [...]", Anthony aptly puts it, sensitive to the company's values.

The Clouterie Rivierre, the jewel in the crown of the Creillois basin, shines far beyond the borders of the Oise region, thanks to the incredible energy of its employees. 75% of production dedicated to exports! Shipyards, luxury goods, top-of-the-range shoemaking, model building and even mussel farming: if the nails made in Creil see the country and wear the colours of France loud and clear, it's thanks to Manuel and Anthony, and all those men behind the scenes...

Céline Weissier – Words on the page

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