Our craftsmen and their tools
A production site « environmental high quality »
The workshops of Aubert-Labansat have been awarded the title « Environmental High Quality », here in France known as the « HQE ».
We are one of the first companies in Normandy to have designed and built our workshops in full compliance with the scrupulous standards of Environmental High Quality. The « HQE » is the French association dedicated to advancing the respect of the environment for building constructions.
Respect for our history
Located on the site called « Vaud me », formerly known as « Viel-Vaudôme », our new workshops have been built in association with the label « Environmental High Quality ». Here in France, known as « HQE ».
The origins of this site go back to the 1390s when Jean Potier »Sieur de Boisroger » and « Lieutenant au Baillage de Costentin » first purchased the land.
His descendants retained « Viel-Vaudôme » until 1585 when Pierre DAIREAUX, a wealthy merchant acquired the site.
It was in 1735 Robert le Breton, a lawyer in the Parliament of Rouen, bought the residence and in 1788, his grandson, Nicolas-Henry-Robert of Grimouville-Larchant gave it up to the Canon of the diocese of Coutances; Thomas-Francois-Sebastian Fontaine.
At Fontaine’s death on 24th of the Germinal Year V, his heirs sold « Vaudôme », which was divided into several plots. Different families bought the divided land: Families Daniel, Bindault, and Lecourt. Other families followed through the years until 1940 when on 15th August, the Germans requisitioned « Vaudôme » to house a French prison camp. Around 250 prisoners were detained there until 21st November 1940, the date of their departure for Germany.
After the « Liberation », the buildings were occupied from 1944 to 1946 by students of the Germain School of Coutances. It then became an agricultural farm and finally in 2002 Les Ateliers Aubert-Labansat acquired the site.
And so, the long history of « Vaudôme » since the fourteenth century – continues…
Respect for our production site
Preservation. The activities of Les Ateliers Aubert-Labansat on the site « Vaudôme » since 2006 in Coutances has been carried out with a firm commitment to the scrupulous standards of the Environmental High Quality and obtaining the label « HQE ». The origins of the site date back to the fourteenth century, with our firm commitment to preserving the 3.5 hectares of Vaudôme, landscaping the grounds with a respect for its historical identity.
Conservation. To put in place our new production workshop of 2,300m², we were obliged to remove one single hedge of 50m. With our strong commitment to the environment we decided to replant 80m of hedge elsewhere. Similarly, the old stable was dismantled stone by stone, using some of these stones for the construction of the facade of the new production facility. Other stones were stored and used in the restoration of various ancient buildings on the site. The curved shape at the front the workshop echoes of the facade of the mansion that now houses the company’s offices.
The choice of wood. Respect for the origins of Vaudome made the choice of cladding for the front of the workshop all important. Metal cladding, even if quicker to put up has no place here, wood was the only choice. Our commitment to environmental issues meant that we could not use a tropical wood, synonymous with deforestation. Larch, naturally resistant to decay was quickly chosen as it does not require any treatment or preservatives. Over time the 1,600m² of wood cladding turns grey blending with the local stone and the surrounding buildings. The frame and structure are built of spruce.
Respect for our craftsment
Respect for our employees. The HQE does not concern itself just with the natural environment but also in the well being of the employees. We therefore acted in consultation with the Social Security Offices of Caisse Régionale d’Assurance Maladie (CRAM) to create the optimum working conditions for our craftsmen.
Light. In the new workshop, all activity is carried out almost exclusively in natural light. In addition to openings in the front of the building, the parts of cladding made of polycarbonate allow light to pass through it without being completely transparent. The windows and skylights on the roof complete the system and promote a uniform natural illumination.
Noise. A 40m noise absorbent wall separates the machine area from the assembly area. This dividing wall manufactured in perforated wood, lined with a double thickness of Rockwool , is found in such places as concert halls. The wall naturally absorbs the sounds and significantly reduces noise levels. Similarly, the ceiling system is also perforated to minimize the sound of the reverberation of the machines to maximum effect.
Security. Within the different areas (carpentry, joinery, assembly) the « workflow » systems have been optimised through the 2,300 m² of workshop in order to facilitate optimum flow. Each workstation is equipped with a suspended electrical supply to ensure there are no electrical wires on the ground, a real guarantee for the safety of the company’s employees..
Respect for nature
All environmental regulations have been designed and implemented in accordance with the recommendations and specifications described by the French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management (ADEME).
Heating. A large suction device for wood-chips feeds a wood boiler which heats all the buildings, including the offices located 50m away. All this is achieved with a dust level inferior to 0.1mg per m³ of air as required by CRAM. All the machines are connected to this vacuum network. A massive 99% of waste is captured directly at source without ever having touched the ground. The waste is then conveyed and stored in a silo containing only clean wood. In addition to the wooden chips, all clean waste and scrap wood are also recovered to feed the heating system.
Waste. A « drop zone » consisting of bins for sorting not only the « onsite » rubbish but also from the building sites where we are working are placed near to the workshop. Anything that can be recycled is recovered; the old windows are dismantled to recover the glass, iron etc. The employees are actively involved, sorting rubbish just like at home into the recycling bins installed for glass, paper and plastics.
Water. The stripping of old wood as practiced by the Les Ateliers Aubert-Labansat requires a process of rinsing with water. In compliance with the recommendations of « HQE » in conjunction with the Water Agency, a pre-treatment tank was specifically designed to enable the « rinse water » to be cleaned and redirected to the water treatment centres of the town.
Respect for tradition
For Les Ateliers Aubert-Labansat, the disciplines required of a production site labelled Environmental High Quality is also a way to reconnect with the common sense techniques of our elders in their approach to construction. Respect for materials, rationalisation of techniques, and action against waste, working conscientiously and in harmony with the environment. The HQE as it has been implemented on the site is a pragmatic way to inject good practise policies into our company. It is a long process, sometimes with constraints, but always with a profound sensitivity for the ethics of our company.
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