A short history
:
In his Diary, Father Buguet often came back to his desire “to reconcile
this twin aim : to obtain prayers for the forgotten souls [in purgatory] and,
in return, to obtain from them the means of providing a livelihood for the
worker “.
In 1887, he installed a little ABAT machine in one of the rooms of his presbytery
in the village of La Chapelle-Montligeon. It was difficult in the beginning.
An apprentice clog-maker, who was one of the church choir-boys on Sundays,
offered his services for typing. Thanks to this rudimentary contraption and
the unexpected help, the priest was able, nevertheless, to print the original
magazine. The date of the foundation of the Montligeon printing press is considered
to be the year 1888. In 1889, he hired a professional printer. Then ten people
were recruited for the printing works: five men, and five women to do the
folding . Little by little, Fr. Buguet trained the inhabitants of Montligeon
to be printers.
In 1894, the enterprise was set up in new premises and in 1899 it became a
legally registered society : La Société Anonyme des Etablissements
de la Chapelle-Montligeon. The printing works quickly prospered. From 31 workers,
it rose to 50 in 1900. to 77 in 1913, 150 in 1926, 160 in 1934 and around
200 in 1970… The little seed, sown by Fr. Buguet had become a great tree.
The printing
works today :
The Montligeon printing works, presently managed by Vincent Dartiguenave,
PDG, involves a surface area of 11,000 sq. metres, 200 employees, and the
printing of 3,200 tonnes of paper and 5,500 tonnes of cartons per year, that
is a business turnover of 167963.92
€
The customers are varied and cover a whole range, whether in publishing (books,
magazines, brochures, prospectus, catalogues, notices …) or in packaging
( wrapping for food products, pharmaceuticals or industrial items).
The printing works, having been able to adapt to the evolving technology,
uses the latest equipment, allowing it to compete for all kinds of work, ranging
from graphic design to the finished article.
However, the Montligeon printing works is one not quite like any other: it
is situated in the heart of the countryside, surrounded by green fields and
forests. This quality of life has undeniably contributed to the know-how and
the attitude which drives the 200 collaborators in the enterprise, who carefully
and perseveringly seek to satisfy their customers every day.
In addition, the only shareholder of the printing works is l’Oeuvre de
Montligeon (the Work of Montligeon), that is, the diocesan Church. And even
if the management has been in the hands of lay people for a long time, the
undertaking assumes operational regulations which are compatible with Christian
values: openness with the staff, as well as with the customers; the respect
for the person in management selection and, as far as possible, in long-term
prospects of employment on the site. This type of demand can fit in completely
with the proper functioning of the enterprise.
Strengthened
by its long history, the Montligeon printing works is able to enhance its
experience by judicious use of technology and by a constant effort in personnel
training. Faithful to its vocation, it is able to detect in tomorrow’s
technology new tools to be used to provide a quality service.
Montligeon
Printing Works
61400 La Chapelle Montligeon
Tel. (from abroad) 00 33 2 85 80 00
Fax (from abroad) 00 33 2 85 80 07
E-mail : imprimeriedemontligeon@wanadoo.fr