Hiab France receives official visitors

On Wednesday 11 January, Olivier Véran, spokesperson of the French government and Minister Delegate for Relations with Parliament and Citizen Participation, and Aurore Bergé the local deputée (member of parliament) of the National Assembly visited the Hiab’s new National Support Center in Coignières.

The visit was initiated by Aurore Bergé who was a guest of honour and speaker when Hiab France opened its new facilities in September 2022 where she met Scott Phillips, Hiab President, and returned for a new visit in December. She has high opinions of Hiab’s vision, entrepreneurial approach and the way the building has been designed with an Employee First spirit. Olivier Véran is a high-profile politician in France who was the Minister of Solidarity and Health during the height of the corona pandemic. 

The visit consisted of a tour of the workshop and warehouse with ten stops where The Minister Delegate could have informal discussions with the people manning them. Oliver Véran, a qualified neurologist, was, in particular, interested in the technicians' working conditions, strain at work, professional path and education. 

Olivier Véran wanted to talk directly with employees working with manual labour to understand their viewpoints on a pension reform affecting them proposed by the French Government and see the operations of a company with excellent occupational health and safety. 

The workstations were selected to offer the visitors a comprehensive overview of Hiab France’s operations and included maintenance, painting, welding and installations. In between the workstation stops Oliver Véran got to learn more about Hiab’s opportunities and challenges in France. 

The press conference afterwards was well attended.

The visit lasted for 90 minutes and ended with a press conference in the yard with Hiab’s signature black and red colours as a backdrop.

Commenting on the visit Aurore Bergé said: “In Coignières, at Hiab, a global provider of load handling equipment and services, with the government spokesman Olivier Véran, we were able to speak directly with employees about the topics of training, professional mobility and the proposed retirement reform. It was also an opportunity to visit a company that is a shining example of occupational health and safety and the prevention of workplace wear and tear.”

Accompanying the MP and Minister Delegate were the Mayor of Coignières, Didier Fischer, the Prefect of the Department and the Deputy Prefect, as well as the Deputy Managing Director for Economic Development,  Anne Fahy.

From L-R: Didier Fischer, Aurore Bergé, Jean-François Asset (Hiab), Olivier Véran, Vincent Duteriez (Hiab), Samuel Carlier (Hiab) and Anne Fahy (Deputy Managing Director Economic Development).

News coverage in French from TV78

Aurore Bergé Instagram post