A question of know-how

In the Franche-Comté, tradition and technique go hand in hand. From wood working to micro-technology, the fist industrial region of France does everything in its power to ensure the long-lasting quality of what it produces.

Of wood

The Franche-Comté is rich in forests and exploits wood as part of its craft industry as well as on an industrial scale. Pipe-manufacturing in Saint-Claude, cheese-boxes carved in spruce at Bois d'Amont, small wood-carved boxes in Lajoux... The activity is diversified but not entirely safe from competition. In the region of Moirans-en-Montagne, the sector of wood-turning and cabinet-work (toys, spinning tops, whistles) managed successfully to convert to the use of plastic materials while remaining nevertheless a reference in the domain of the traditional wooden toy.

Meticulous specialists

With glass and crystal manufacturing at Passavant-la-Rochère, a clocks-foundry in Morteau, a conservatoire for lace at Luxeuil, diamond-cutting in Saint-Claude, the region manages to conserve its technical and aesthetic specificities. Among these, the clock-industry in Morteau and the glasses industry in Morez, two flourishing sectors in the past and which today must adapt to new markets. They have found the necessary impetus thanks to the development of micro-technology and plasturgy in the region, two of its competitive strenghths.

Industrial heavy-weights

The Franche-Comté is the first industrial region of France. Alstom, Peugeot and Solvay are the three major implantations which ensure its dynamism. Linked with the competitiveness poles, they open up many perspectives for development. Developing alongside this major industry are new structures such as the University of Technology of Belfort-Montbéliard, laboratories and numerous smaller subcontracting enterprises and industries. In this way, the region's skills and know-how become increasingly specialized, modern and spread beyond her frontiers.