Plastimo:

Plastimo was born  with the growth of modern recreational boating
In 1963, Antoine Zuliani believes that a real opportunity exists to make yachting more accessible to a larger public and creates Plastimo on the Lorient fishing harbour. 
A 24-page catalogue showcasing 80 products : Plastimo enjoys a 25 to 30 % growth every year until 1975 and employs 35 people in 1964.
The "Plein Ciel" buoyancy aid is a must-have on board and becomes the uniform standard in the most prestigious French sailing schools until the '80's.

Safety at sea
The brand's DNA stands out immediately. Plastimo's awareness grows quickly in France with lifejackets and fenders. The initial family business turns into an industrial company with its own R & D department. Plastimo is awarded the Hermine d'Or de l'Exportation in 1970 (golden award for export activity).
The catalogue now features 2000 products out of which 85 % are manufactured in Lorient by a 150-staff team.

Jeweller's craftmanship and compass precision from our Lorient workshop

The Navigation department is created in 1972. The launching of the Contest compass is a major milestone : the first magnetic compass entirely manufactured in plastic materials, featuring the unique double reading (from both cockpit and cabin). This ambassador product contributes largely to the brand's nternational awareness and positions Plastimo as the first European compass manufacturer. 
In 1974, the compass range includes 20 models made from complex composite materials, specifically designed for recreational boating and costing 3 to 4 times less than traditional instruments in brass and mineral glass. 

First liferaft
Capitalising on its unique experience in sewing and welding coated fabrics, Plastimo innovates and launches its patented tube-within-a-tube construction. 
This technology is still exclusive today and guarantees technical reliability and durability. From then on, Plastimo will always be THE pioneering liferaft manufacturer who innovates and sets the tone in the industry : vacuum-packed liferaft, assisted firing head...

Compass design wins awards
The Offshore compass is awarded first prize for Industrial Design from professional jurys in France, Germany, USA and Japan.

Pioneering the inflatable lifejacket technology
Anticipating the future of safety on board, Plastimo launches its first inflatable lifejacket model : the Admiral lifejacket. 
French authorities will authorize inflatable jackets on French recreational boats only in 1995 : Plastimo already has a complete range on shelf, validated and appreciated by export customers. 

Plastimo pioneer partner of Lorient, epicentre of the Sailing Valley 
Right from the very inception of a professional racing hub in Lorient - La Base, Plastimo is at the forefront of the project. Factory and offices are historically there and Plastimo organises its international logistic platform in bunker K2.

The Plastimo factory in Lorient becomes ISO 9001 certified for the design, manufacture and servicing of liferafts.

Around the world with one single compass ! 
Plastimo is the first compass manufacturer who integrates universal balance technology on its compass (i.e. double-dip) : a real technical achievement which facilitates product management for the trade and makes choosing the right compass a no-brainer for round-the-world sailors. 

SLR196 : first inflatable lifejacket with integrated AIS beacon and quick deflation and easy control valve system, developed in cooperation with professional skippers. 
Specific liferaft is developed for Class IMOCA racing boats : building on professional skippers' feedback, the Plastimo R&D constantly adapts and upgrades the products.
Plastimo co-develops a collection of seawear with sister company Typhoon and distributes clothing and protection accessories for offshore and shore sailing. 

60 years summed up in a few figures : 
100 empoyees in Lorient with perfect 50-50 gender equity.
Plastimo sells to 98 countries, achieving 40% turnover on export markets. 
Catalogue now features 600 pages and 13,000 products. 
5 million compasses sold worldwide.
60 years after the company was created, Plastimo remains true to its original identity : designer, manufacturer and distributor. 
The right balance between products designed and manufactured internally, products designed in Lorient and manufactured by sub-contractors, and bought-in products from prestigious brands who trust Plastimo as the expert  of the international boating market.