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The U2R Group

Discover the rich history of our company

There are companies that know how to navigate the decades with agility and emerge stronger from the challenges they face. U2R is one of them. Over a century, the group has been able to adapt and grow while remaining true to its identity and values. Today, the products of its three historic brands RENSON (1923), COGETIL (1947), and CEDREY (1989) are present in the daily lives of thousands of professionals around the world. Let's take a look back at the history of a centenary, humanistic, and innovative company.

1923

Establishment of RENSON by Jules Renson, a family foundry specializing in pumps for the transfer of water and fertilizer.

1947

Establishment of COGETIL, a specialist in equipment for fuels and lubricants.

1977

RENSON decides to close the foundry and collaborate with French subcontractors.

1984

13 employees join Jean-Pierre Renson to take over the business.

1989

Establishment of CEDREY by Jean Caminades. The company specializes in pneumatic tools for professionals.

2003

After 80 years in the family, Jean-Pierre Renson hands over the business to Bruno Chesnel.

2009

The company creates, in Chevaigné (35), the business unit RENSON Élevage dedicated to the management of water and effluents in livestock farming.

2010

Bruno Chesnel seizes the opportunity to acquire the Usines de Rumaucourt (62) brand. The two companies legally merge to become a single entity: the U2R group.

2012

Inauguration of the new headquarters in Raillencourt-Sainte-Olle (59).

2016

Acquisition of COGÉTIL within U2R and relocation of the premises to northern France.

2019

Acquisition of CEDREY within U2R and relocation of the premises to northern France.

2023

In 2023, Renson celebrates its centenary, and the U2R group has become an essential specialist in the transfer, treatment, and storage of fluids for professionals in agriculture, livestock, construction, industry, automotive, and petrochemicals.

Thanks to our clients and our 90 employees, we achieve a turnover of 27.5 million euros.

U2R Group: The Story of a French Designer, Manufacturer, and Assembler

Founded by Jules Renson in 1923, RENSON was initially a family foundry in Northern France. Specializing in liquid transfer and storage, it manufactured agricultural pumps and long-lasting products for animal use. The company's first industrial innovation was a manual water pump. RENSON then expanded its activity to include root cutters for the cultivation of beets and tubers used as feed for livestock. Focusing on this area, the company experienced significant growth until the outbreak of World War II.

The post-war period was marked by technological innovation in agriculture, and RENSON was at the forefront of these advancements. With its new universal cast-iron water pump, the brand revolutionized the daily lives of farmers. The pump allowed them to draw water from ponds and fill a container attached to the back of a tractor for irrigation purposes in the middle of the fields. The success was evident with thousands of annual sales.

An Agile Company Listening to Its Customers and the Field

In the late 1960s, RENSON decided to diversify its offerings in response to customer demand. It started offering electric water pumps for three-phase power systems, as well as pipes and fittings to create complete water storage and transfer systems.

In 1977, after a severe drought following the oil crisis, the agricultural sector faced significant challenges. To adapt to the situation, RENSON made the decision to close down the foundry. The foundry operations were outsourced to French foundries like Fonte Ardennaise, while RENSON retained ownership of the molds.

A Brand Saved by Its Employees

This period marked a difficult time for the company, leading to bankruptcy. However, thanks to the determination of twelve employees who pooled their unemployment benefits and partnered with Jean-Pierre Renson, the grandson of Jules Renson, the company managed to recover. RENSON, resilient in the face of challenges, emerged even stronger from this difficult episode and eventually regained profitability. Today, one of the original twelve employees is still with the company, as well as several of their sons.

Over the years, farms grew larger and specialized in cash crops, shifting away from slurry to focus on pesticides and fertilizers. RENSON once again adapted to this evolution and developed its own fertilizer pumps.

A New CEO and New Ambitions for Renson

In 2003, after 80 years within the family, Jean-Pierre Renson handed over the company to Bruno Chesnel. Coming from a background in commerce and specialized distribution in the automotive industry, the new CEO had the ambition to give RENSON a greater scope. He aimed to develop the company and accelerate its growth using the methods he mastered in the sector while remaining true to the DNA of the French family-owned business that had led to its success. An action plan was put in place accordingly.

The first objective was to strengthen the RENSON brand by marketing products that are manufactured or assembled by RENSON on one hand. On the other hand, complement the product offering with products purchased from industries worldwide, provided they are exclusive to RENSON or customized to the brand.
RENSON has always developed its products according to its own specifications. It is through this approach that our brand offers unique and exclusive products designed for intensive professional use. This expertise allows RENSON to stand out from the competition. Recognizing the added value it represents, we are now getting closer to the end customer to develop more products through industrial partnerships.

The second objective was to increase revenue by developing new distribution networks, such as agricultural sector purchasing centers. Every effort was made to ensure the visibility of RENSON's offering in these centers. This determination paid off as, 20 years later, RENSON products are listed in all agricultural purchasing centers.

In 2006, Bruno Chesnel decided to create a range of products related to animal waste and animal welfare, particularly for pig farming. As a result, RENSON now supports farmers in areas such as water supply, waste management, feeding, and, in recent years, methanization.

In 2009, to complement its water management offering, the company aimed to develop a range of products for effluent management in intensive livestock farming. Since most of the clients were located in Brittany and Pays de la Loire, the company created Renson Élevage, a business unit dedicated to this market, which was established in Chevaigné. The company built significant expertise in areas such as water supply, effluent management, and building cleaning, with the establishment of on-site after-sales service and the presence of a sales force. Today, nine employees work in Chevaigné, and the concept of treatment has been added to the transfer and storage of fluids.

Expanded Expertise and a New Identity

In 2010, Bruno Chesnel continued the company's development by seizing the opportunity to acquire the Usines de Rumaucourt brand (62), whose facilities are located just 50 kilometers from RENSON's headquarters in Landrecies (59). This was a natural convergence as both companies shared the same market and customer base. The significant advantage of Usines de Rumaucourt was its expertise in fluid management related to engines (diesel, oil, and grease) and high-pressure cleaners, which perfectly complemented RENSON's know-how in water, fertilizers, and effluents. With this acquisition, RENSON once again expanded its scope of expertise.

After several years of working closely together, RENSON and Usines de Rumaucourt merged legally to become a single entity: the U2R Group, combining the names Usines de Rumaucourt - RENSON. This was a logical step as the activities of both companies were fully complementary. The U2R Group now operates in the field of all farm liquids (excluding human consumption), as well as building, automotive, and industrial applications.

Modern and Spacious New Facilities

In 2012, to accommodate this new entity, the group embarked on the creation of a new building in Raillencourt-Sainte-Olle, near Cambrai (59).
Several reasons explain this choice:

  • Firstly, the roots of the company are located in northern France, so it was obvious for Bruno Chesnel that the U2R group would expand where it originated. It was also natural to retain the production and assembly lines there, as the employees of the company possess all the necessary expertise.
  • Furthermore, there is a mutual loyalty between the company and its employees, which is reflected in the longevity of careers. The grandparents of some current employees already worked at RENSON in their time! Preserving this mutual attachment was essential.
  • Moreover, the geographical location, close to highways, was deemed ideal to facilitate logistics and the delivery of products to all corners of Europe, and even the world.
  • Lastly, to energize the Cambrai region, the municipality of Cambrai offered support to companies establishing themselves there, an additional advantage for the U2R group.

In October, the inauguration of the Raillencourt-Sainte-Olle factory takes place. Its brand new premises consist of:

  • The manufacturing workshop with an area of 1,500 m². It includes machining areas for the production of cast iron pumps, painting, cutting, and crimping zones for high-pressure and hydraulic hoses, as well as a dedicated space for testing to ensure the shipment of U2R group products.
  • The assembly workshop of 2,500 m² where the assembly zones for high-pressure cleaners, washing station assembly, pump assembly, as well as packaging and conditioning areas are located.
  • The warehouse of 5,000 m² where the storage locations are optimized with a Warehouse Management System (WMS) specially designed for this storage space.
  • 1,000 m² of spacious, bright, and fully glazed offices designed to facilitate communication within teams.

Being aware of the ecological challenges that are a fundamental value for the company, the U2R group has designed all of its premises in an eco-responsible approach while promoting the well-being of employees on a daily basis. Energy consumption is limited through specific cladding to maintain ambient temperature and LED lighting, the roof is flat and bituminous to achieve the best possible insulation, the workshops are illuminated with natural light, and the handling equipment is 100% electric.

Continuing sustainable growth through new distribution networks

In 2014, U2R decided to diversify its commercial activities by targeting the distribution sector through hardware store networks catering to professionals and industrial supply. Following the successful model of RENSON in the agricultural industry, the company was listed with sector purchasing centers and major professional equipment rental companies.

Acquisition of brands: COGETIL and CEDREY

In 2016, the U2R group aimed to further expand its presence in the distribution field. In line with this goal, it acquired COGETIL (Compagnie Générale d'Outillage). COGETIL is a French brand with a unique distribution network for the group, specializing since 1947 in the development, production, and distribution of equipment for the transfer, metering, and storage of fuels, lubricants, and other technical fluids.

Who are its clients? Oil producers with their own distribution subsidiaries and the 700 to 800 independent companies delivering fuel to municipalities, owners of oil-fired boilers, firefighters, and small businesses. Acquiring COGETIL allows the U2R group to expand its distribution networks. Its products are now marketed by energy suppliers to new markets such as municipalities or small businesses.

In 2019, another key milestone in the history of the U2R group occurred with the acquisition of CEDREY, a specialist in professional pneumatic tools. Founded in 1989 by Jean Caminades, the company has built a unique expertise based on products with high technical quality and responsive after-sales service. This time, it was an opportunity for the U2R group to expand its product range and enter a new sector: the automotive industry. Although it was a new field for the company, it already had mastery over associated distribution networks, which was a significant advantage. With CEDREY, the U2R group continues its diversification and expands its expertise to an entirely new sector. It once again demonstrates its ability to adapt and its appetite for challenges.

The board of the U2R group from left to right: Bruno CHESNEL, Léopold CHESNEL, Audrey DENIAUD, Tanguy DESROUSSEAUX

Family succession to the new generation

In 2019, Bruno Chesnel continued the succession of the company to his son-in-law Tanguy Desrousseaux and his son Léopold Chesnel, who took over the operational management. Both have been with the company since 2013. Audrey Deniaud joined them to oversee finance, administration, and HR.

With this new leadership, the company reaffirms its commitment to remain a family-owned, independent company firmly rooted in northern France.

In 2021, the company embarked on a CSR initiative to obtain Lucie 2600 certification for its centenary, propelling the company into the future.

In 2023, the company celebrates its centenary. Throughout the decades, it has demonstrated agility and reinvented itself to become and remain a leader in the production and distribution of innovative solutions for fluid transfer and storage in the professional user industry.