——————– ADVERTISING ——————–
This year, Dron Location celebrates its 100th anniversary. The opportunity to return to the itinerary all mapped out for this centenary rental company which, despite its beautiful age, still and always looks ahead of it as a fourth generation takes over.
“The creative spirit, the vision of the future, the will of the Entrepreneur are at the start of the adventure. Of course, in 100 years, we have had ups and downs like any society. But we have never turned away from our original identity. The Entrepreneur is a marathon runner, he has the endurance, he anticipates, he communicates the spirit and transmits his passion to the heart of the reactor: the people around him. The family business is like a farm, each generation cultivates, adapts to the climate by imposing its style and perpetuates our social and solidarity commitment, then passes the baton ». These words are those of Jacques Massieux, president of Dron Location, the person who embodies the third generation at the head of a company which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
Words that are not innocent as the leader is slowly preparing to give way to the fourth generation embodied by Olivier Poisson, managing director already in place and nephew of the president, and Arnaud Petit, director of operations. “You have to know how to take the right steps and put everything in place before the expiry stage”also has fun repeating Jacques Massieux who has therefore prepared for the future via an LBO with other members of the family to ensure continuity.
As for a century, it is therefore once once more change in continuity that has presided over the destinies of a company that has stood the test of time. At the service of professionals, Dron Location is now specialized in the rental of equipment for construction, public works but also for industry, communities and events. A direction chosen following many strategic reversals linked to the vicissitudes of life.
Indeed, it was in 1922 that the “Etablissements DRON” were born in the North of France, founded by Maurice Dron. In 1928, a first establishment was made in Paris before the repair workshop, warehouses and offices were all grouped together in Pantin (93) ten years later, once more where the company’s headquarters are still located. Initially, it was in the marketing of machine tools that the company specialized before beginning, particularly at the end of the war, a broadening of skills towards the wood and plastics industry. “The company even attempted an incursion into printing with the publication of a catalog which was printed in 100,000 copies”, specifies Jacques Massieux. But it was during the 1950s and 1960s that the first step towards rental was taken.
First turn to rental
“Maurice Don was still living in the United Kingdom and had rightly observed that renting was becoming widespread among professionals”, explains the manager. In addition, Maurice Dron had also noted in the middle of the 30 Glorious years that the needs of companies were sometimes precarious and did not justify expensive fixed assets for them in investment, Maurice Dron re-established in 1955 a company specializing in the rental of equipment for construction sites and industry in the broadest sense. From machine tools, Dron is diversifying into the rental of equipment such as cantonment and storage on site, temporary energy production, lifting and handling equipment, pollution control equipment, bungalows, site trailers, etc. . A universe that will completely take precedence over the initial activity in the 80s with deindustrialization. “The definitive shift was taken in the 90s when the company refocused on three main rental activities”adds Jacques Massieux.
The new management now looks to the future and has also accelerated the structure of the company to consolidate future developments. Thus, range manager positions, an operations director (Arnaud Petit, editor’s note), a sales director and a technical & methods director have strengthened the group. In addition, Olivier Poisson reflects on “a CSR policy defined internally, as well as offering viable and new solutions to customers and matching the environment and technology with the economy while maintaining our independence”. A new roadmap for Dron Location, back for 100 years… .
