ARaymond Network celebrating 155 years as a fastening leader

It’s a long way from crafting custom-made buttons in France to creating fastening and assembly solutions for vehicles being built around the world — 155 years long to be exact.

The global ARaymond Network of companies — including its Rochester-Hills based North American headquarters — are celebrating its 155th anniversary in 2020, looking ahead to the next phase of the company’s history, and reflecting on ARaymond’s tremendous adaptability as it has survived wars, depressions and recessions by continuing to reinvent itself and thrive through difficult times.

ARaymond operates two manufacturing facilities in Rochester Hills, and also has a sales and engineering office and its North American headquarters/administrative offices in Rochester Hills. Its presence in the state of Michigan dates back to 1987, when it launched a joint plastics venture with Molmec. A total of 400 employees currently work in Oakland County, Michigan, for ARaymond.

Lonnie Jenkins, who works as an ARaymond Plant Manager in Rochester Hills and has nearly 40 years of experience in the industry with 20 of those years working at the Rochester Hills plant, credits ARaymond’s longevity to the following:

“The success and longevity of ARaymond is the result of many things, but most importantly, it is the spirit of the people driven by a history of innovation, collaboration, culture and strong core values. When all of these are in place, as we have here at ARaymond, then the ability to grow and adapt to ever changing customer requirements and needs can be assured.”

ARaymond’s Michigan operations focus on the design and manufacturing of fasteners and quick connectors — addressing a wide range of automotive applications, including car body trim, electrical distribution systems, powertrain, fluid handling systems and glazing.

In the community, ARaymond also remains committed to local charities, having supported Grace Centers of Hope in Pontiac, Gleaners Food Bank and Blessings in a Backpack, among others.

Started by Albert-Pierre Raymond and continued by four more generations of entrepreneurs from the Raymond family (Achille, Albert-Victor, Alain, and Antoine), the ARaymond Network has become a leading global supplier to the automotive industry. The roots of its exponential growth can be traced to its innovations, such as the 1886 invention by Albert-Pierre of the press-stud, which would soon became a worldwide success for ARaymond.

The ARaymond Network remains headquartered in Grenoble, France — where it all began in 1865 — and today employs 7,250 employees in 25 countries throughout the world.

"155 years is a long time to run a family business, and few have been able to adapt the way ARaymond has, in large part due to the quality and dedication of our workers. We truly view all of our team members as family, and the results are undeniable." said Antoine Raymond, president of ARaymond. “I’m excited about the new frontiers we are exploring and to see where the future takes us — including expansion of our work related to new market trends within the automotive industry, but also pharmaceutical, solar energy equipment, and so much more.”

The ARaymond Network is an industrial success story that started in France in 1865, and was initially focused on creating custom button designs for gloves and boots, before developing into the modern fastener supplier it has become today.

Among the most disruptive times for the company were during both WWI and WWII, when it stepped up and transformed into a wartime supplier. Later, the company was among the first in the industry to digitize and develop electronic tracking methods, modernizing how business was done.

In 2009, ARaymond acquired Tinnerman, and its North American operations expanded to Hamilton, Ontario; Flemingsburg, Kentucky; Logansport, Indiana; and Brunswick, Ohio. In 2017, ARaymond added operations in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

A family business since 1865, the ARaymond Network has been defined by key inventions over the years. Here are some key dates and innovations from the company’s history:

— 1886: Albert-Pierre invents the press-stud, which becomes a worldwide success for ARaymond

— 1925: Launch of the Vitex zipper

— 1935: First spring steel clip developed for the automotive industry

— 1955: Beginning of plastic molding process

— 1989: Launch of first generation of quick connectors for automotive fuel systems

Alain Raymond, who led the company during a period of major growth from 1965 to 1999 when it became a truly global entity, said he is proud of the legacy and reputation of his family’s company.

“Today, more than 20 years later, ARaymond’s future is as bright as the day I left,” Alain said. “That’s all I could wish for. What has been done is quite remarkable in every respect.”

For more information, visit www.araymond.com.