François Duval takes reins as Managing Director of GF Machining Solutions SAS (France)

Duval spent almost 30 years with the FIVES Group, advancing to global executive roles over the course of his career. Additionally, he can look back at 20 years of experience in the machine tool business, including six years as president of the French machine tool manufacturers and imports group within the Syndicat des Machines et Technologies de Production (SYMOP). His broad, international experience includes extensive travel in Russia, China, and Asia, as well as a period when he was based in Australia. Duval, 54 and a French citizen, currently is vice president of the European Association of Machine Tool Industries and related Manufacturing Technologies (CECIMO), representing France within CECIMO.

“There clearly is a market in France for GF Machining Solutions’ complete solutions. With our broad technology portfolio, including Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM), Milling, Laser texturing and micromachining, Additive Manufacturing, Automation, Tooling, Software, and Digitalization solutions, combined with our expert application engineers, we can truly deliver turnkey solutions to customers in France,” Duval explains. “Our ability to be a partner throughout the full life cycle of the customer’s GF Machining Solutions machine is a key differentiator in the French market and makes us a real source of strength to end users.”

Duval and his team in France are eager to put these success enablers to work for customers in France.

“My message to the French market is: We are here to accompany you in your investment projects, but also to automate and digitalize those processes to provide you with a fully connected, automated manufacturing cell. At the same time, we bring you deep application expertise, and a full range of parts and services to maintain your machine, including full machine retrofits,” he says. “I want our customers to make money with our solutions.”

Scott Fosdick, GF Machining Solutions Head of Sales and Marketing, confirms France is an important market—and one that he is confident will be well-served by Duval’s experience and customer-centric approach.

“François Duval brings with him vast experience within the machine tool industry," Fosdick says. "He is close to the market and well aware of the needs and expectations of the customers. We are fully confident in his abilities to elevate GF Machining Solutions France back to previous levels and then build further upon that. The entire management team of GF Machining Solutions is here to support and to ensure the success of François Duval and the entire GF Machining Solutions France organization going forward."