FAQ

FAQS

Frequently asked questions

What is your Ecovadis score?

Our Ecovadis score has moved up by +2 points this year to reach 66/100. LGC Industries is recognised as Ecovadis Silver, placing it in tier 1 among French factories.

What is your ESG/EHS approach?

In 2008, LGC Industries took on a new environmental, social and governance (ESG) approach, with the aim of representing values other than economic performance. Our ESG policy, which focuses on the social and environmental performance at the core of our company, has been certified IATF 19949-ISO 14001 for several years, and was recently certified ISO 45001 and EcoVadis.

What types of packaging do you use?

We mainly offer "telescope"-style cardboard boxes, allowing us to package our components without exceeding a weight of 12 kg. Our products can be put into VCI bags and other types of packaging such as vacuum bagging. We are also open to looking into any other requests.

What is the difference between a 3-hole Intervis® and a standard Intervis®?

Intervis® are self-tapping threaded inserts. This means that installing them does not require prior tapping. We produce two types of Intervis® - the slotted Intervis® and the 3-hole Intervis®. These Intervis® have the same functions and the same mechanical limitations. However, the 3-hole Intervis®, which is shorter than the slotted Intervis®, is recommended for applications with a problem of space in terms of height. In this case, the slot is replaced by 3 holes that will carry out the self-tapping process and catch any chips resulting from fitting the Intervis®.

Do your pins work as axles?

Our pins can function as axles, ensuring connection, rotation and indexing.

What is the difference between a fluted pin and a grooved or notched pin?

A fluted pin is a cylindrical shaft with three grooves obtained by cold working the material. These elastic-like flutes ensure that the pin stays put in its housing. A grooved or notched pin is made by removing material. However, the line between these terms is very fine and they can be easily confused.

What products do you offer?

Our product range consists of pins (grooved, smooth, grinding), axles, centring spacers, compression spacers, self-tapping dowel pins, etc. We can also produce any fastening and assembly element similar to these ranges should you have a special project in mind.

Do your spacers function as dowels or inserts?

Yes, our spacers work as dowels or inserts for centering, anti-creep/compression, and remote control applications.

What types of material can you provide us with?

The most suitable material is chosen in order to best meet the demands of each particular application, with our main objective being to maintain a certain quality/price/carbon footprint ratio.

What standards are you certified to?

With more than 65% of our turnover originating from the automotive industry, LGC is certified to rigorous standards - ITAF 16 949, ISO 14001 and ISO 45 001. We have been certified Ford Q1 since as early as 2007.

How long do special parts take?

As soon as we begin looking at a project, we can create a Gantt chart in order to lay out the different stages - giving you visibility of progress and allowing us to act as quickly as possible. Once the prototypes have been validated, your order will be delivered according to the conditions agreed in the contract. We have a delivery rate of 97%.

What kind of heat treatment do you offer?

The vast majority of our treatments are carried out by our specialist partner - a collaborator of choice due to their international presence, CQI9 certification and location only 40km from us.

How long do standard products take?

Our lead time is 4-6 weeks for standard products. However, we can make a partial delivery as soon as possible, once you explicitly request it.

What is the product range?

All cylindrical pins including the fluted pin as well as spacers, axles and self-tapping sockets, our added value consists in co-development with our customers in order to obtain the best mix: quality/price/environment/deadline.

Are you available for an audit?

We can easily make ourselves available for an audit, please feel free to use the contact form to make an appointment.

Can you carry out a carbon audit?

For over 5 years, our teams have been constantly trained to calculate carbon footprint audits as accurately as possible. Most of the time, we carry out carbon audits on a component-by-component basis but we can also do an overall assessment.

Where can you deliver?

We currently ship our parts to over 40 countries in Europe, America and Asia. However, we can deliver to any location on the planet.

Are you concerned about the carbon footprint of your factory?

From 2019 onwards, we began to calculate our carbon footprint to be in line with the ESG charter we created in 2008. We also proceeded to set up a multidisciplinary group to reduce this footprint, be it during the production process or during the design phase with our customers. In this way, we are doing our bit to achieve a gradual transition towards decarbonisation.

Can you bag the products?

We offer a wide range of bagging and packaging options - from units in cells, to bulk in VCI bags.

Can you manufacture in large quantities?

Yes, our machinery is suited for mass production, i.e. anywhere between 40K and 1M units per reference.

Do you use sorting machines?

We have several sorting and pollution control machines. We can sort right down to the micron. Most of the time, we put sorting technology in place directly on the machines, in order to optimise the production chain.

What is your quality commitment (PPM)?

Our PPM level is one of our priorities. Our objectives start at stage zero, with our customers' PPM requirements being taken into account right from the design phase in order to determine the appropriate process. In 2022, we had an average PPM of 3 throughout the factory.

What heat treatment is associated with which material?

The most suitable heat treatment process will be combined with the required material in order to meet all product expectations entrusted to us by our customers - with OEM and Tier-1 making up 65% of our turnover.

What are your tooling deadlines?

Our internal tooling workshop allows us to be extremely responsive. Often, we can offer a 48-hour deadline on simple tools. For more complex tools, this timeframe can reach up to 8 weeks.

What is the company's turnover?

Our turnover is around €10,000,000 and is constantly growing and harnessed.

What is the company's headcount (and ratio of the employees)?

The company is made up of 70 professionals: 70% technicians and engineers, and 30% support, sales and management positions.

Where do you produce?

Currently, production is mainly based at our Avrilles/Angers site in western France. In order to better meet our customers' "global footprint" concerns, we are also expanding in the USA, where we already have a supply base.

Do you have stock on your products?

Our work is not based on stock systems, as our components are specially manufactured to meet customers' applications all while aiming for an optimal quality/price ratio.

How often and by whom are you audited?

Our ISO TS 16949 certification requires an annual audit. Additionally, over the past 5 years, we have put in place cross-audits within the industrial group to improve processes from year to year. When requested by customers, we carry out self-audits, and customers can also conduct their own audits. In such a case, the VDA 6.3 format is usually chosen.

Do you have stock on threaded inserts?

We have set up a stock of components that is well-suited to the distribution method for our range of Intervis® brand self-tapping threaded inserts.

How do you take mechanical constraints into account in the design of your products?

Thanks to material strength test software and our 3D printers, our engineering and design department can efficiently co-design with our customer and quickly produce prototypes for fasteners. During this process, we also calculate any mechanical stress exerted on the part. Based on the results of this, we will recommend the best possible solution for you. At LGC, we draw on our 30+ years of expertise in rigorous sectors such as automobiles (engines, gearboxes, etc.), medical equipment and mechatronics to offer customers an optimal service.