Petit Forestier Group invests in its refrigerated vehicle manufacturing industry

A new milestone in the Group’s industrial development

This opening marks another step forward in the Group’s industrial development, driven by a clear strategy: strengthening its production capacity while embracing the transition toward more sustainable mobility solutions.

The Group’s activities span the entire cold chain — from design and manufacturing, to rental with services of refrigerated equipment worldwide, and the recycling of assets at the end of their life cycle. With this new workshop, we are consolidating our position as Europe’s leading player in on-board refrigeration, while reaffirming our commitment to producing in France, at the heart of an industrial ecosystem renowned for its expertise.

Lecapitaine stands as a true internal hub of industrial innovation, embodying the Group’s ambition to combine performance and sustainability. This new facility is a concrete illustration of our determination to modernize our industrial tools, preparing for the future through fleet electrification and streamlined production processes.

A new, modern, and optimized assembly workshop dedicated to refrigerated van production

The new Lecapitaine refrigerated van assembly workshop in Saint-Lô has been designed as a modern and efficient industrial site.
Across 3,560 m² of production space, two automated assembly lines enable the manufacturing of refrigerated vans from start to finish — from the assembly of integrated kits and the installation and commissioning of the refrigeration unit, to the fitting of accessories, application of branding, and final inspection by a qualified operator.

Every stage of the production process has been rethought to improve flow, safety, and quality.

The result: six refrigerated vans roll off the production lines each day, fully meeting the needs of the market.

This performance is also driven by state-of-the-art industrial equipment, which contributes not only to greater operational efficiency but also to enhanced working comfort for operators.

Increased production capacity to support the Group’s growth

With the opening of this new workshop, Lecapitaine increases its annual production capacity from 7,000 to 8,000 refrigerated bodies, across all categories.
This growth responds to the rising demand from cold-chain players in a world where expectations around freshness, food safety, and sustainable urban delivery continue to intensify.

For Léonard Forestier, CEO of Petit Forestier Group:

“This investment confirms our determination to strengthen our industrial division in France and to anchor our development for the long term.”

This choice of maintaining a strong industrial base in France also sends a clear message to clients and partners: it reflects the Group’s confidence in national expertise and in the ability of its teams to innovate.
Producing locally means choosing quality, responsiveness, and responsibility.

By reinforcing its production sites in France, Lecapitaine strengthens the complementarity of all the Group’s business areas — manufacturing, rental, resale, and recycling.
This industrial coherence enables full control of the cold-chain vehicle lifecycle — from design to second life — offering customers comprehensive, efficient, and sustainable solutions.

A French industry innovating in the field of on-board refrigeration, driven by its people

Beyond the infrastructure, this project is above all a human adventure.
The design and implementation of this new plant brought together dozens of employees, all contributing to the creation of a site that reflects the Group’s ambitions — where innovation and high standards meet passion for the trade.

For decades, Lecapitaine has been recognized for its expertise in refrigerated body manufacturing and its ability to design tailor-made solutions.
Teams work hand in hand with Petit Forestier, the Group’s rental brand, to adapt vehicles to customers’ specific needs.

This collective momentum is part of a long-term vision: building a competitive, responsible, and attractive French industry.
As technologies evolve rapidly — electrification, natural gas refrigeration units, and beyond — Petit Forestier Group intends to remain at the forefront of these transformations.

The inauguration of the Saint-Lô site is a powerful illustration of this ambition:
a project that symbolizes a company continuing to invest in its sites, its people, and its technologies — because the cold chain of tomorrow is being built today.

👉 To discover all of Petit Forestier Group’s activities, click here.