Orleans: metropolis and region support the creation of SCOP to save Duralex

With a few days left before Duralex’s takeover bid closes, employees at the renowned glass factory are hard at work completing their SCOP (Cooperative Joint Venture) project. They have yet to convince banks to finance the operation, worth around 15 million euros. And time is running out as they must submit a formal proposal to the arbitration court by this Friday, June 28, 2024.

Along with them, elected officials are mobilizing to help them save the company. During the last metropolitan council, the mayor of Orléans, Serge Grouard, proposed to the community to buy the site of a glass factory in Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin (Loiret) in the metropolitan area of ​​Orléans. The 14-hectare site represents an investment for the metropolis of between 5 and 8 million euros.

“The Scop project has the attention of all government agencies, who are very united on this issue,” assured the elected official, who considers the project “very reliable” at the industrial level, while not forgetting the preservation of all jobs.

Four projects in progress since June 5

The region has also expressed its support and intends to increase its credit guarantees to secure loans. He is also willing to invest in the future of Scop at the same level as employees.

But for these promises to become reality, the file must be funded and submitted on time. And nothing suggests that the court will then rule in favor of Skop. Everything will depend on other proposals in the works.

During the June 5 hearing, the court received three more letters of intent. According to the representative of the Center-Val-de-Loire region, François Bonneau, there will be one project of an industrial nature and two others of a financial nature, which are only interested in the Duralex brand.

The answer should be known at the end of the hearing on July 17, during which judges will consider proposals received before June 28.