Les Companions is fully committed to the commercial roll-out of the painting robot in Europe, while continuing to improve and develop the product to meet market and customer needs: Antoine Rennuit

“We are launching a product commercially in partnership with our two industrial partners, Unikalo (France’s #2 decorative paint manufacturer) and AkzoNobel (the world’s #1 decorative paint manufacturer).”

Antoine Rennuit, founder of Les Companions, worked in Oxford, UK, in the field of video games before transitioning to special effects for the cinema. During this time, he developed software used in blockbuster films such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Poseidon. He then took over the management of an R&D team in Brussels that integrated a 3D camera technology for cars. While working on this technology, he realized that the applications went far beyond the world of cars. With his entrepreneurial drive behind him, he reviewed multiple business sectors suitable for the application of the technology: automotive, aeronautics, and other fields already incorporating robotic technologies.

In the construction industry, on the other hand, there were very few robots, and these 3D cameras were a highly appropriate technology for understanding the complex world of building sites. The decision to prioritize painting stemmed from its practicality and the value it added to the profession.

Les Companions is a start-up specializing in designing and developing robotic assistants for painters. Its vision is to have skilled tradesmen work hand-in-hand with machines in a collaborative way on the building sites. The machine achieves the hard, repetitive, and dull tasks, while the worker works on the more skilled and noble tasks, where his know-how is highly valued.

The company is located in Lille, northern France.

The Silicon Review contacted Mr. Rennuit for an interview, and here’s what he had to say.

Interview Highlights

Q. What strategies does Les Companions implement to exceed patient expectations?

At Les Companions, our approach is based on interaction with our customers and prospects. We carry out many test projects to find out about their issues and understand their expectations. This gives us a clear, on-the-ground view of the changes we expect to see, as well as enabling us to anticipate our partners’ expectations. It’s an iterative, continuous improvement process.

Q. As a start-up specializing in designing and developing robotic assistants for painters, what are Les Companions’ key focus areas?

We mainly work on new construction and renovation projects. We have completed projects in offices, server rooms, schools, industrial premises, libraries, and all types of establishments open to the public. We also work with painting companies, traditional and off-site construction companies, and architectural firms.

Q. Tell us about the Les Companions team. What value do they bring to the company?

The members of the Les Companions team have in-depth expertise in robotics, engineering, and technology. Their knowledge enables them to design and develop innovative and efficient painting robots.

The team members work closely with each other, sharing their knowledge and skills to achieve common goals. Their ability to collaborate effectively helps to build team spirit and foster a positive corporate culture.

Each member of the Les Companions team is passionate about their work and determined to succeed. Their commitment to the company and its mission is reflected in the quality of their work and their willingness to overcome challenges. In short, the Les Companions team brings a valuable combination of technical expertise, creativity, collaboration, passion, and commitment to the business. Their contribution is essential to the company’s success and growth in the robotics and paint sectors.

Q. What new endeavors is Les Companions currently undertaking?

We are launching a product commercially in partnership with our two industrial partners, Unikalo (France’s #2 decorative paint manufacturer) and AkzoNobel (the world’s #1 decorative paint manufacturer).

Les Companions is organizing demonstrations of the painting robot in several European countries, including France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, and the UK. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s capabilities and efficiency to potential customers.

Les Companions is now beginning its first commercial deployments, marking the start of the product’s commercialization. We are actively working on the first commercial deployments of PACO (the painting companion) to install the painting robots on real worksites and demonstrate their added value.

In addition to our commercial deployments, we are actively developing new features for the robot. However, this information is strictly confidential for now.

To sum up, Les Companions is fully committed to the commercial roll-out of the painting robot in Europe while continuing to improve and develop the product to meet market and customer needs.

Q. Is there anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

Robotics for the building industry will be an obvious choice in a few years’ time. The problems in the field of low margins, variable quality, and shortages of skilled labour and arduous work are such that only a major change in production methods will make it possible to rationalize processes. It’s a way of bringing industrial techniques to the world of construction.

About | Antoine Rennuit

Antoine Rennuit has a background combining engineering, algorithms, and robotics. Today, he heads up a team of engineers, marketers, and business developers to drive the PACO^® painter assistant project. For over 51 years, he has managed various teams of professionals in the aeronautical industry, 3D animation for cinema special effects and video games, and automotive applications. Antoine has a good head on his shoulders; he’s an entrepreneur and a leader of men. After living in Oxford, Paris, and Brussels, he settled in Lile to develop his innovation and the Les Companions start-up. At the head of a cosmopolitan team, his ambitions are resolutely international!

“Les Companions is organizing demonstrations of the painting robot in several European countries, including France, Holland, Germany, Belgium, and the UK. These demonstrations showcase the robot’s capabilities and efficiency to potential customers.”