Custom Manufacturing of Technical Plastic Parts

Founded in 2001 and based in La Forêt-Fouesnant, ActuaPlast specializes in the design, manufacturing, and assembly of technical plastic parts, from prototypes to mass production. In 2024, the company gained new momentum when it was taken over by two of its managers, Fabrice COLLET and Céline LE GALLIC. We spoke with Fabrice COLLET, now co-owner and co-director of ActuaPlast.

ActuaPlast has recently undergone a governance transition. Could you tell us about the company as it stands today?

We are aiming for an ambitious growth dynamic. It is based on several strategic pillars: organizationally, by developing a LEAN approach (an industrial management method whose main objective is continuous improvement), as well as through continued investments and the expansion of our facility. This strategy also relies on recruitment and investment in our human capital, while placing innovation at the heart of our development dynamic through three full-time positions dedicated to R&D, and by participating in innovative collaborative projects supported by the CIR and the CII.

What are your key areas of expertise, and how are they reflected in the sectors you serve?

Our core competencies lie in injection molding and extrusion-blow molding of 2D and 3D tubing. Concretely, we start from plastic pellets, which we melt in a screw-barrel unit, then transform this material within a mold into either injection-molded or blow-molded parts. The company has established itself in the automotive market by supplying French and international equipment manufacturers with technical parts. Its expertise also positions it as a key supplier in the agricultural machinery, aerospace, and naval defense sectors.

You are a partner in the collaborative PHARE 2 project. What is your role?

This project involves developing a hydrogen tank demonstrator. To achieve this, several contributions are required: the ComposiTic laboratory serves as the research center for the project; SENSE-IN is responsible for the sensors to be integrated into the tank; CORIOLIS provides expertise on filament winding. Our team contributes its know-how in producing liners through blow molding. Bringing together all these skills within the region helps advance the state of the art in hydrogen tanks and supports the development of hydrogen-related projects locally. The targeted market primarily concerns Type 4 tanks (designed to withstand 700 bar of pressure) for road and maritime transport, but could also include Type 3 tanks (for buses and trucks) and Type 5 tanks (aerospace), which are largely made of composite materials, as well as tanks for other applications (such as underwater drones), depending on the required performance.

What benefits are you expecting?

The PHARE 2 project will enable us to strengthen our positioning in the hydrogen liner market and to develop diversification toward the maritime, naval, and yachting sectors. This growth will be supported not only by the investment in a new machine, but also by an expansion of our production area.

How do you support skills development in a context of innovation and diversification?

Skills development is a cornerstone of our strategy. In a context of innovation and diversification (hydrogen, naval, defense), we place people at the heart of our growth. Continuous training, support in developing expertise (injection, blow molding, prototyping), recruitment, and the implementation of a LEAN approach all structure this dynamic, allowing us to strengthen our skills and anticipate technological and industrial changes.

source: Technopole Quimper-Cornouaille

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