Techné Group Completes Strategic Acquisition of French EFFBE, Deepening European High-End Manufactur
Techné Group, a global provider of precision engineering solutions, announced today that its subsidiary, Techné Precision Manufacturing (TDG), has completed the 100% acquisition of EFFBE, a renowned French rubber technology company. The deal marks Techné’s further expansion into Europe’s high-end manufacturing sector while injecting new momentum into EFFBE’s technological upgrades and market expansion.
Acquisition Rationale: Technological Synergy and Market Complementarity
Founded in 1949 and headquartered in Lyon, France, EFFBE is a hidden champion in rubber diaphragms, seals, and pneumatic elastic components for aerospace, automotive, and industrial automation. Its clients include Airbus, Renault, and Schneider Electric. EFFBE’s core strengths lie in its vertical integration from rubber raw materials to finished products and its proprietary ECO eco-friendly material technology, with diaphragms accounting for over 60% of the global regulator valve market.
Marie Fontaines, Chairwoman of Techné Group, stated, “EFFBE’s technological heritage perfectly complements Techné’s precision machining and global supply chain expertise. This acquisition will strengthen our localized service capabilities in Europe and drive joint R&D in emerging sectors like new energy and hydrogen.” Notably, EFFBE’s air spring isolators and low-maintenance pneumatic components will be directly applied to Techné’s vibration reduction systems for aerospace equipment supplied to Airbus and Dassault Aviation.
Industry Impact: Chinese Firms Accelerate Integration of European “Technological Jewels”
The deal represents another landmark Chinese industrial acquisition in France in 2025. According to Business France, while Chinese investment in France slowed in 2024 due to the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation, it rebounded in H1 2025, focusing on high-end manufacturing, green energy, and advanced materials. For instance, China’s Wanrun Group acquired French hydrogen bus maker Safra in May, while Xiamen Tungsten and Orano launched a €1.5 billion lithium battery materials plant in Dunkirk.
French daily Le Monde noted that traditional French industrial firms, burdened by debt restructuring needs, are becoming prime targets for Chinese buyers. EFFBE’s 2024 revenue fell 12% amid automotive electrification shifts, but Techné pledged to retain all 12 French factories and 450 employees, with plans to invest €20 million in digital production line upgrades over three years.
Future Roadmap: Green Manufacturing and Globalization
Techné Group revealed plans to integrate EFFBE’s rubber expertise with its own metal 3D printing and composite processing capabilities, developing next-gen hydrogen storage seals and lightweight aviation components. Additionally, EFFBE’s European sales network will bolster Techné’s EU market penetration, with its Dunkirk plant serving as a hub for the group’s French new energy operations.
Yann Pitollet, CEO of Hauts-de-France Regional Investment Agency, commented, “This merger exemplifies the evolution of Sino-French industrial cooperation—from capital inflows to technological symbiosis. We welcome more EFFBE-style cases, aligning with France’s ‘reindustrialization’ strategy of ‘open innovation.’”