Nearly 400 years of Guillet craftsmanship

Awarded the ‘Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant’ (Living Heritage Company) label, Guillet has been perpetuating its blacksmithing expertise since 1643, serving the stone, construction and heritage restoration sectors. From the village smithy in Villebois to today’s certified factory, we look back over nearly four centuries of history.

Few French companies can trace their history back nearly four centuries. Ours began in a small village in the Ain, at the foot of its stone quarries.

1643: a master blacksmith in Villebois

The municipal archives of Villebois mention Jacques Guillet, a master blacksmith, as early as 1643. His work met a very local need: to supply and maintain the tools of the stonecutters who quarried Villebois stone, a renowned limestone used throughout the Lyon region. For over two centuries, the family forge thus supported the village’s stonemasons. This original connection with stone remains at the heart of our identity today, and our stone-cutting tools carry on this blacksmithing expertise.

From Hydraulic Power to Industry

At the end of the 19th century, the use of hydraulic power marked the first mechanisation of the workshop. In 1910, the installation of a turbine made it possible to introduce a drop hammer and significantly increase production. In 1955, the workshop’s floor space tripled, a range of tools for pneumatic hammers was launched, and tungsten carbide was introduced into our manufacturing processes. In 1965, the company moved to its current site and began developing tools for power tools, anticipating developments in the construction market.

Opening up to the world and modernisation

From the 1980s onwards, Guillet expanded into export markets and invested in a fleet of numerically controlled machines, which has been regularly expanded ever since. The computerisation of production management, followed by the introduction of computer-aided design and drafting, transformed our design office. In 2008, the celebration of the company’s 365th anniversary bore witness to this commitment to constant innovation. Today, the 13th generation, represented by Cédric and Florent Gireau, continues this momentum, guided by two key principles: quality and service.

The ‘Living Heritage Organisation’ label

In 2023, the French government awarded Guillet the ‘Living Heritage Organisation’ label. This distinction recognises French companies possessing outstanding artisanal or industrial expertise. It highlights the high calibre of craftsmanship and products, the emphasis placed on in-house training, a technically and socially innovative approach, and a dynamic commercial strategy. Awarded for a period of five years, this label commits us to passing on our expertise and continuing to innovate in the service of our customers.

Serving the built heritage

Our history is inextricably linked to that of cut stone. Even today, our tools are used by stonemasons, sculptors and companies specialising in the restoration of historic monuments. Stepping chisels, chisels, bush hammers and jointing tools enable us to faithfully reproduce traditional stonework and restore façades in accordance with original techniques. Contributing, tool by tool, to the preservation of France’s built heritage is a source of pride shared by all our teams.

From Jacques Guillet’s forge to the ‘Living Heritage Organisationt’ label, our history is one of expertise passed down and reinvented. Thirteen generations on, we remain faithful to Villebois and to stone. Discover our full history on the ‘Company’ page of our website.