FB Procédés celebrates its 30th anniversary! - Robert Lobréau
Today, we're taking a look at a new face on the FB Procédés scene: Robert Lobréau. He joined us in 1993, and has modernized and optimized our in-house operations, which until now had been seen as somewhat traditional. The development of our range and its reliability owe a great deal to him. He had no equal when it came to passing on know-how with calm, humor and pedagogy. Retired since 2016, we take a look back at his "automatic bar screen" years.
Hello Robert, first of all, how are you?
Look, I've been retired for five years now and everything's fine. To be honest, it was a big deal when I stopped. No matter how much you prepare for it, when it happens... it's not the same. I thought I could still make a contribution to the company...
Let's talk about your early career. What was your background before joining FB Procédés?
Basically, I had a BTS in "mechanical manufacturing". After the army, I was hired as a "handyman" in a high school - painting, maintenance or fixing things that broke down - and then I joined Ateliers et Chantiers de Bretagne as a draughtsman. I worked for the CEA and the Mururoa nuclear experiments. We made watertight modules - big steel cigars - that were lowered to a depth of 1200mm, and they put the bombs inside. I went there several times to assemble them on site.
Then, still at ACB, I ended up in composite materials. I was involved in programming and calculation software, and finally ended up in a department specifically dedicated to composite material calculations. With a colleague, we had developed a specific calculation software.
Finally, I was fired because business dropped off and the "calculations" department closed. So I found myself unemployed.
And the FB Procédés opportunity presented itself?
Exactly. One day, I bumped into Jean-Paul Planchot - a high school buddy - at a funeral and, knowing my situation, he told me he had a friend who was looking for someone. That's how I got in touch with Patrick. Before taking over FB Procédés, Patrick worked with Jean-Paul at a company in Nantes. Jean-Paul joined us at FB Procédés in 1998.
So I was hired to do the plans, specifications and design.
What convinced you to set up FB Procédés?
In the beginning, frankly, it was the satisfaction of having found a job. Then came the adventure. I was given carte blanche on a technical level. And a bit of recklessness too. I had to force myself to accept the challenge, because I don't like going into the unknown. But their energy appealed to me, as did the fact that I was starting from scratch. I liked the idea of being able to develop the range and find new solutions.
Then, when you work in a large structure like ACB, it's not easy to become aware of the skills you've acquired. I realized this afterwards.
How did you get started and what were your first "missions"?
I worked with Fernand for six months before he retired. He practically made a new machine for each new order. So I started standardizing the bar screens. It was very interesting, because I had to go back to the drawing board to see what the optimum dimensions were. That's how we started to develop the NG11 or NG21 in a standard way.
They have become standardized, but they have also evolved?
Yes, for example, when I first arrived, the bar screens were made from commercial profiles - U-shaped or angle-formed - which we covered with sheet metal to act as a fairing. And then one day, we realized that this was completely stupid. At the end of the 90s, bar screens became what we know today. In other words, it's the frame that forms the fairing. This eliminates the need for tedious, time-consuming bolt-on assemblies.
They have become standardized, but they have also evolved?
Yes, for example, when I first arrived, the bar screens were made from commercial profiles - U-shaped or angle-formed - which we covered with sheet metal to act as a fairing. And then one day, we realized that this was completely stupid. At the end of the 90s, bar screens became what we know today. In other words, it's the frame that forms the fairing. This eliminates the need for tedious, time-consuming bolt-on assemblies.
In your opinion, what was one of the most important moments for the company?
I'd say the Cran-Gévrier project, near Annecy, with the supply and installation of 3 bar screens and 3 sprinklers in the years 95-96, I believe. It was our first major project. As happened to us afterwards, without calling our bluff, we took the plunge, then managed it to our satisfaction. Even though it was a big challenge for the company at the time, we managed because we didn't do things without thinking.
In the same vein, if you had to highlight any business or technical challenges, what would they be?
I immediately think of the 4 NI13 installed on an existing structure at Le Pontet, which was a bit daring. When I think back to those bar screens and the maintenance walkway on concrete posts... But that's what we did. Fortunately, I had some skills in dimensioning steel structures. Once you've mastered it, it becomes a bit instinctive. To have had the idea of proposing what we did in view of the existing installation... And then, once we arrived on site for the installation, we realized that the bar screens were too long and we had to rework them on site. But there was no stopping us.
Near Foix too. The aim was to fit and install a bar screen, its platform and a compactor in a manhole placed under a road, and the only access being a 750x750mm trapdoor.
And then the latest addition, the new PROSTEP bar screen (a staircase bar screen). Over and above the pleasure of having worked with smart guys on this product, it's the fact of having designed a machine with the FB Procédés spirit. Which wasn't a foregone conclusion.
Alongside that, there were also some real hassles. I remember spending a night cutting bars in a slaughterhouse near Angers with Patrick. Also at La Belle Angèle, an MS15, a bar screen with a rake. It was Fernand's idea, and we never did it again.
Today, when you look back on your FB years, what do you remember?
It's more the relationship I had with the people. I'm proud of the people who made up our team and of the atmosphere we had.
The great thing about this adventure is that we never set ourselves any limits. We always found solutions to the problems we were asked to solve.
We're also proud of our availability - it's a strength - and we're quite inventive. Knowing how to do simple things is a quality.
After that, I wasn't necessarily surprised by the evolution of our company, even on the export market. Although things haven't always been easy, we've always been able to respond. I was carried along by the whole thing!
A final word to conclude...
I'd like to finish by saying that I spent a rather extraordinary period of my life at FB. When I played basketball, it was another, both as a player and as a coach. In fact, the friends I made back then are still with me today. At FB, I did a bit of what I wanted, how I wanted, with no constraints. We did a lot of work. We'd go and set up a bar screen in Marseille, we'd get home in the middle of the night and be back in the office the next morning. Good memories.