Know-how

16/04/2026

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, technical innovation drives every project. Today, we sat down with Rémi, tooling design engineer in our R&D office, to get a behind-the-scenes look at his role.

Can you describe your job?

« My job is to turn a client’s idea into a real, workable product. I design the tools needed for production and act as a bridge between the sales and manufacturing teams.

My role is to make sure the solution is technically feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with the client’s expectations. I’m constantly balancing industrial constraints with commercial requirements.»

Tailor-made engineering

What do you enjoy most about it?

« The exploration. Every new product is a chance to create something different and think outside the box. I love that phase of reflection and innovation.

And there’s also the human side: working with support teams, sharing ideas, guiding, helping… Solving complex problems and finding robust, lasting solutions is really rewarding. »

Your biggest daily challenges?

« Time, no question. Deadlines are often tight, but it’s important to take the time to fully understand everyone’s constraints.

And getting people from very different fields to understand each other—that’s a real challenge in communication and adaptability. »

What key skills are needed?

« A solid foundation in engineering, of course, but also curiosity, patience, and strong teamwork.

You need to be open to feedback, share both successes and mistakes, and lean on the right people. »

Any final thoughts?

« Simplicity. I discovered this job by doing it. It’s not something you learn in school, but it’s essential.

I’d love to share it more—with others, to grow together and find solutions that are even simpler, faster, and more efficient.»

Thank you, Rémi, for this inspiring interview!

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Know-how

19/02/2026

Have you ever heard that studded tyres are noisy? That they damage roads? Or that they are prohibited?

Let’s take a closer look at some common beliefs about studs.

Studs are noisy

FALSE – Today, a studded tyre is a winter tyre. Its rubber compound remains flexible at low temperatures, and its tread patterns are more pronounced than those of summer tyres.

This allows the stud to sit within the tread with a protrusion of no more than 1.2 mm (compared with 3 mm in the 1980s). As a result, they are far less noisy, particularly for the driver inside the vehicle. It is also worth remembering that the tyre itself can generate noise.

Studs damage roads

FALSE – Before the 1985 French regulation concerning anti-skid devices fitted to tyres, studs were heavier, larger and longer. The tungsten carbide tips protruded much further, which did indeed damage roads.
In addition, tyres at that time were thick and made from harder rubber compounds, unlike today’s comfortable, safe and quieter studded tyres.

Studs for safety

Studs make driving uncomfortable

FALSE – Much lighter than their predecessors, modern studs for passenger vehicles weigh around 1.4 g (compared with 4 g in the past), providing driving comfort comparable to summer conditions.

Studs slip on dry roads

FALSE – The construction of a studded tyre is designed to ensure safety and comfort in all conditions. In France, tyres now feature fewer studs, and they are not positioned on the central part of the tread, which prevents slipping on dry roads.

Studs add nothing to winter tyres

FALSE – In general, winter tyres are sufficient in France. However, studded tyres provide added safety on black ice and compacted snow.
Another advantage is that studded tyres reduce braking distances on wet, snowy or icy roads.

During manoeuvres (braking, starting or cornering) without studs, a vehicle may slide on black ice or compacted snow. This is due to the tyre heating the surface, melting the snow and creating a thin film of water — a phenomenon similar to aquaplaning, which typically occurs around 0°C, as is common in the French climate.

Studs fall out and damage tyres

TRUE and FALSE – Today, the tyre-and-stud pairing is carefully engineered. Studded tyres are generally stored unused for one month so that the rubber can conform to the shape of the stud and ensure optimal retention.
A running-in period of around 500 km is then required, at speeds between 70 and 90 km/h, without harsh manoeuvres.
A stud may potentially be ejected if driving is aggressive and smooth manoeuvres (gentle acceleration, braking and cornering) are not respected.

Our advice: adopt smooth driving habits. Every driver shares responsibility for safety and for preserving both vehicle and tyres.

Studs are designed to last as long as the tyre itself, ensuring grip and safety throughout their service life: on average 30,000 to 50,000 km, depending on driving conditions and tyre quality.

Speed is limited with studs

TRUE – Under French legislation, the maximum permitted speed is 90 km/h for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, including on motorways.
This measure was introduced at a time when studded tyres were widely used, and road preservation was a priority.
It is worth noting that every type of tyre has a speed rating, indicated on the tyre sidewall.

Studs are prohibited in France

FALSE – French legislation authorises studded tyres from the Saturday preceding 11 November until the last Sunday of March of the following year (Decree of 18 July 1985 concerning anti-skid devices fitted to tyres). Drivers must also display a “studded tyre” sticker at the rear of the vehicle.

As with all products, quality levels vary. You will gain greater benefits by choosing high-quality tyres and studs. However, the primary guarantee of safety and performance remains the driver’s behaviour behind the wheel.

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Know-how

12/02/2026

Whether it concerns a tyre stud, an industrial fastening component, a jeans button, a furniture rivet, a saddlery nail or a component for an outdoor sports product, the custom-made solutions we offer provide a response genuinely tailored to your context and specific needs.

So, when does bespoke truly become the best option?

Understanding the Difference Between Standard and Custom-made

A standard solution is designed to meet a generic application. It is readily available, cost-effective and perfectly suited to simple, repetitive requirements.

By contrast, a custom-made solution is developed specifically for a particular environment, use or constraint. It takes into account all project parameters: dimensions, materials, finishes, operating conditions, standards, and integration into an existing product or manufacturing process.

Bespoke is not intended to replace standard solutions, but rather to intervene when standard options are no longer sufficient.

Standard VS custom-made

When Standard Solutions Reach Their Limits

The first indicator is often the repeated failure of existing solutions. When several standard products are tested unsuccessfully, it generally means that the real requirement is not being met.

This frequently occurs in situations such as:

Non-standard dimensions or shapes,
Integration constraints (within a product, garment, object or machine);
Specific operating conditions (outdoor use, humidity, friction, intensive use);
Aesthetic requirements;
And more.

Whether for a tyre stud, an industrial component, a jean button, a furniture rivet, a saddlery nail or an outdoor sports stud, a custom-made solution provides a response genuinely adapted to the context and your needs.

Thinking in Terms of Total Cost Rather Than Purchase Price

A standard solution is generally less expensive at the point of purchase. However, it may generate indirect costs: frequent replacement, quality defects, customer dissatisfaction, limited performance, and so on.

Although a bespoke solution may involve a higher initial investment, it fits within a total cost approach:

Improved durability;
Reduced defects,
Higher perceived value,
Product differentiation.

Over the long term, it often proves more cost-effective — both economically and in terms of quality and market positioning.

A Strategic Choice Beyond the Technical Aspect

When reliability is a priority, custom-made solutions provide greater control over design parameters. Each component is engineered according to its actual use: strength, longevity, ergonomics, visual appearance, mechanical constraints, etc.

The objective is to guarantee optimum performance, whatever the sector of application.

Choosing a bespoke solution is also a strategic decision. It means investing in a product that integrates perfectly into its final application and supports performance over time.

In a context where personalisation and differentiation are increasingly sought after, bespoke solutions become a genuine lever for competitiveness.

Unsure Whether to Choose a Standard or Custom-made Solution for Your Project?

Our teams are here to advise you on the best option and, where appropriate, to support you in designing components tailored to your technical, aesthetic and functional constraints.

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Know-how

13/01/2026

Like almost all industrial companies, we deliver the parts we design and manufacture.

But how are they packaged to ensure they reach our customers while maintaining their quality and compliance? And how do we contribute to a more sustainable environment?

Our Packaging Solutions

Once production is complete, our parts move to the packaging stage. Depending on the customer’s request and the quantity to be delivered, they follow one of two routes:

Cardboard boxes

For orders requiring smaller batch packaging, our parts pass through a dedicated machine. They are placed on a conveyor belt and distributed into boxes according to a precise weight. Each box is then checked on a scale to ensure gram-level accuracy, corresponding to an exact number of parts.

Once verified, the boxes are manually closed and carefully arranged on pallets, ready for shipment.

Wooden crates

For certain orders — and always at our customers’ request — we adopt a different approach. Each batch of parts is weighed before being grouped in bulk into sturdy wooden crates. These are suitable for secure transport and ready for delivery by road, sea or, more rarely, air.

Compliance and safety

The Advantages of Our Packaging

Short supply chain: both types of packaging are manufactured in France by local partners, such as Socarbois (wooden crates) and Seyfert (cardboard boxes).
Transport compliance: securely positioned in suitable containers, our parts can be transported and handled safely.
Recyclable: these containers are reusable or can be given a second life through repurposing.

Our packaging solutions allow us to combine efficiency, safety and flexibility. At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, packaging is far more than a final step — it is our promise of quality and reliability with every delivery.

Discover our packaging processes in our YouTube video “Episode 5: Production Launch”.

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Know-how

13/11/2025

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, quality is not just a requirement, it’s a core value that guides everything we do.
Our ISO 9001 certification demonstrates our commitment to maintaining the highest quality standards – not only for our finished products, but also throughout our manufacturing processes and working methods.

A structured and sustainable approach

Every year, an external audit is carried out to reassess our system’s compliance and renew our certification.

This annual evaluation is part of a three-year renewal cycle that ensures the continuity, rigor, and transparency of our quality management approach.

But beyond the audit itself, ISO 9001 is something we apply and live by every single day.

Continuous improvement

Ensuring continuous quality

Quality control starts on the ground.

Through established and well-mastered inspection procedures, our teams continuously verify the conformity of every production batch.

Some of our machines are equipped with vision inspection cameras and SPC (Statistical Process Control) systems, allowing us to monitor performance in real time.

These practices ensure full traceability and consistent reliability of the final product.

Standardizing processes and maintaining document compliance

ISO 9001 also relies on clear, documented procedures.
Every workstation has up-to-date instructions, every operator is trained, and each stage of the process is monitored using performance indicators.

Our system is built on strict document management: every procedure, work instruction, and form is identified, version-controlled, and regularly updated.

We use shared digital tools to make sure all employees have access to the latest versions of every document.

This discipline ensures consistency in our practices and reliability in our quality management system.

Engaging our teams in quality

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, quality is a team effort, every employee plays an active role in the process.

Regular meetings allow us to discuss objectives, achievements, and areas for improvement.

We also encourage suggestions for progress and recognize both individual and collective initiatives.

In fact, our 2025 company seminar focused entirely on the theme of continuous improvement at Ugigrip-Vallgrip.

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Know-how

14/10/2025

Cold-forging and rolling are key manufacturing processes at Ugigrip-Vallgrip, enabling the production of a wide variety of metal components: screws, rivets, studs, spacers, nails and many more. These techniques offer numerous benefits in terms of performance, durability and environmental impact. Discover why they stand out as reliable solutions for your industrial needs.

A controlled production rate

Cold-forging and rolling are particularly well suited to medium and high-volume production runs, thanks to high output rates (around 200 parts per minute, depending on product complexity).

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, quality is never left to chance: our inspection process begins at the design stage, ensuring compliant, high-performance and durable components.

This high standard requires carefully controlled and optimised set-up and adjustment times, enabling us to deliver reliable products within the shortest possible lead times.

Attention to detail in service of the planet

Strong and reliable components

One of the main advantages of cold-forging and rolling lies in the increased strength of the parts produced. These processes preserve the natural grain flow of the metal and do not create fracture initiation points, unlike other techniques such as machining. This structural continuity enhances the mechanical strength of the components, ensuring long-term reliability and durability.

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, even the holes in drilled rivets or tyre studs are produced by cold heading rather than drilling, thereby maintaining the integrity of the material.

Each project undergoes a feasibility study prior to launch, ensuring that processes are perfectly tailored to the technical and functional requirements.

Environmentally responsible processes

Cold-forging and rolling are distinguished by their environmentally responsible approach. Unlike other methods such as machining, they generate little to no material waste. The part is formed by deforming a section of metal wire, without producing swarf.

There are a few exceptions, such as the manufacture of nails, whose tips are formed by rolling. In such cases, excess material is collected and recovered by specialised partners who remelt it to produce new metal.

Nothing is lost: everything is recycled.

To find out more about our expertise, explore our detailed articles on cold heading and rolling processes.

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Know-how

15/09/2025

Assembly: the final step towards the finished stud

After the cold-forging stage — and rolling, where required — comes assembling: a key step that transforms the body into a finished stud ready for delivery to the customer.

This process involves inserting the tungsten carbide pin into the body previously produced using our two metal wire forming techniques. Assembling therefore joins the two components of the stud — the pin and the body — by means of shrink fitting.

Precision work

A precise operation tailored to each stud design

Each stud model requires specific tooling, defined according to its shape, size and the customer’s technical requirements. We therefore adapt our assembly lines to ensure perfect positioning of the components, using for example:

Vibratory bowls to correctly orient the parts;
Feed tubes to guide the pins and casings;
Presses to carry out the assembly operation, ensuring a strong and durable bond.

Essential expertise

As with the previous stages, precision and rigour are paramount. We carry out inspections at every stage of production, following dedicated procedures and using tools adapted to each type of component.

To guarantee consistent quality, each machine is equipped with monitoring systems, including control cameras and SPC (Statistical Process Control) devices, enabling the automatic detection of any deviation or non-conformity.

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Know-how

21/07/2025

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, technical innovation drives every project. Today, we sat down with Rémi, tooling design engineer in our R&D office, to get a behind-the-scenes look at his role.

Can you describe your job?

« My job is to turn a client’s idea into a real, workable product. I design the tools needed for production and act as a bridge between the sales and manufacturing teams.

Tailor-made engineering

What do you enjoy most about it?

« The exploration. Every new product is a chance to create something different and think outside the box. I love that phase of reflection and innovation.

And there’s also the human side: working with support teams, sharing ideas, guiding, helping… Solving complex problems and finding robust, lasting solutions is really rewarding. »

Your biggest daily challenges?

« Time, no question. Deadlines are often tight, but it’s important to take the time to fully understand everyone’s constraints.

And getting people from very different fields to understand each other—that’s a real challenge in communication and adaptability. »

What key skills are needed?

« A solid foundation in engineering, of course, but also curiosity, patience, and strong teamwork.

You need to be open to feedback, share both successes and mistakes, and lean on the right people. »

Any final thoughts?

« Simplicity. I discovered this job by doing it. It’s not something you learn in school, but it’s essential.

I’d love to share it more—with others, to grow together and find solutions that are even simpler, faster, and more efficient.»

Thank you, Rémi, for this inspiring interview!

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Know-how

02/06/2025

People at the heart of our company

Have you ever started a new job and felt completely out of your depth? Unsure of who does what, how your role fits in, or even who your manager is?

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, we believe every newcomer deserves a smooth and memorable onboarding experience. Whether you’re joining us on a permanent contract, as a temp, an intern or an apprentice, you’re a unique individual stepping into our world. Your interpersonal skills are just as important as your experience — they’re what help you thrive in a team shaped by shared values. So, how do we help you feel at ease from day one?

Let’s walk you through the onboarding journey we’ve designed just for you.

A tailor-made journey

A thoughtfully crafted onboarding process

Your integration actually starts before your first day! During the interview process, we include fun activities to help you learn more about your future colleagues—and yourself.

One week before you officially join, you’ll receive a survey via Klaxoon, a collaborative platform we use, so you can start settling in and share a bit more about who you are and what motivates you.

On your first day, get ready for some surprises: a welcome breakfast, a scavenger hunt to discover your godfather or godmother, a deep dive into our different departments, and more.

Your first week will be a mix of learning about our jobs and easing into your role, all with the support of your manager and team.

To wrap up the week, our HR and communications teams will sit down with you for a one-on-one chat to hear your feedback and make sure everything’s going smoothly.

And onboarding doesn’t end there—check-ins are scheduled throughout your trial period to make sure you’re feeling confident and supported.

Bringing your unique strengths to the team

At Ugigrip-Vallgrip, we believe every new team member brings something valuable to the table, and we want you to feel right at home from the start.

To help you thrive from day one, we focus on:

Creating a strong sense of belonging so you feel comfortable joining the team
Building cohesion to foster smooth, day-to-day collaboration
Encouraging open communication and feedback as part of our culture of continuous improvement

Because each person is unique, and every individual contribution strengthens our collective success.

One step closer to success

A happy employee is a motivated, positive, and high-performing one.

Onboarding isn’t just a formality—it’s a crucial first step toward professional and personal success.

So go for it: invest in your people from the very first minute.

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Know-how

19/05/2025

Let’s aim for engagement!

Tired of endless meetings that go nowhere? Unprepared, one-way sessions where only a few speak up? You’re not alone! “Meeting overload” is a common affliction.

But imagine meetings where everyone has a voice, where participation and engagement are the norm. It is possible!

Here’s how we transformed our meetings into dynamic, efficient, and inspiring moments.

Together, we go further

A successful bet

As part of our broader restructuring journey, we realized that rethinking our meetings was essential. How could we foster more engagement, participation, and energy?

We explored various training programs in management and personal development to breathe new life into our meeting culture.

With innovative tools and facilitation methods, we’ve successfully turned our work sessions around. Ready to learn some of our secrets?

Speaking up and active listening

So what methods do we use? Here are a few of our favorite techniques:

T.O.P (Topic >> Objective >> Process): To frame the meeting properly, we start by clearly stating the topic, the goal, and the process. For example:

Topic: Launch of the “Working Better Together” project
Objective: « Understand the concept of working better together and put it into action »
Process: Inclusion → Defining ground rules → Sharing views and brainstorming → Identifying risks → Next steps → Wrap-up

Ground rules: Defined collectively, they boost commitment. Examples: punctuality, active listening, non-judgment, confidentiality, setting time limits, etc.

Inclusion: A question or card game to get everyone to speak up and open up. For instance: “How are you feeling today?” or “What does this project mean for our company, in your view?”

Sharing perceptions: Everyone explains what a word or concept means to them—this fosters mutual understanding and builds consensus.

Wrap-up: End the meeting by inviting each participant to share their thoughts or feelings. Examples : a “ROTI (Return on Time Invested)” score from 1 to 5, or asking, “How do you feel as we wrap up this meeting?”

A host of benefits

What have we gained from this?

Structured meetings: Sessions that are clear, focused, and productive
More openness: Inclusion and wrap-ups have become second nature
Increased participation: Everyone has a chance to speak, encouraging open dialogue
Autonomy: Team members are now empowered to organize their own meetings
Meeting evolution: More creative and participatory sessions, fewer top-down ones

By embracing these methods, we’ve not only improved the quality of our meetings but also strengthened our team’s cohesion and engagement.

What about you? Ready to transform your meetings? Share your experiences and draw inspiration from our secrets to host more dynamic and productive sessions!