Mer Forte joins the CT Engineering Group
Created in 2009 in Port-La-Forêt by skipper Michel Desjoyeaux and his partner Denis Juhel, the engineering company Mer Forte is moving into a new phase in 2020. The company was bought on 30th November 2020 by the Spanish group CT Engineering. Already with 5 business units in France, in Guyancourt, Nantes, Toulouse, Marignane and Saint-Nazaire, active in the space, aeronautics and naval sectors, the new Finistère business unit completes its establishment. "Michel (Editor's note: Desjoyeaux) and I remain in the capital. I remain managing director, only the president changes. Michel will remain involved in the choices and strategy," explained Denis Juhel.
Taking the naval diversification strategy further
For the co-founder of Mer Forte, this new owner is a new opportunity to pursue the strategy he has been pursuing with Michel Desjoyeaux since the company was founded. "We have successfully diversified into the naval sector, starting with offshore racing, working with Naval Energies on offshore wind power, on the Neoline sailing cargo ship project or with Windstar Cruises on sail control. Now we will be able to go further in service and engineering, offering our services to more important players. This gives confidence to more important clients for something other than five-legged sheep. At the same time, we're going to stay in our place in relation to other design offices such as Arco (Editor's note: a specialist in professional ships based in Saint-Nazaire and bought out by CT Ingénierie), but it allows us to help each other on certain subjects. We're also going to stay in touch with ocean racing and yachting" explains Denis Juhel.
CT Engineering and Mer Forte are both resellers of Dassault Systèmes software solutions, a common element useful for development in the naval sector. "Today, we also sell Solidworks in addition to all the 3D Experience software, Catia, Simulia, Abaqus... We are the only distributor in the naval sector to offer everything, with a good command of the 3D Experience as a user" underlines the co-founder of Mer Forte
Perpetuating Mer Forte and creating a solid naval company
Mer Forte employs 8 people in 2020. It should quickly recruit a sales representative and intends to continue this dynamic. "We can absorb 5 new hires quickly in Port-La-Forêt, and we'll be happy with Michel if in 5 to 7 years we've managed to anchor a larger company here," concludes Denis Juhel.
