Matter for… evolution
Always on the lookout for new challenges, he tells us about the evolution of the company, its future and his own, somewhat atypical, path!
Managing Director, Technical Director and Artistic Director: These are a lot of hats for one man to wear, right?
Yes, it’s a lot! In fact, the role of managing director is secondary in my daily life. I have this title because I was involved in the creation of Crystal Group 20 years ago! The role of managing the company is rather that of my partner, Clarisse. For my part, I am much more involved in the technical-creative aspect.
These two, technical and artistic, elements are linked and have always allowed me to realise all kinds of projects, especially thanks to my good understanding of them. Artistic understanding of the customer’s expectations and a technical understanding that makes it possible to understand the feasibility of ideas. Being able to understand both the technical and artistic aspects is a real gift. If, on the one hand, technology works alongside creativity, the latter can break the rules of sometimes recalcitrant technology! It’s about seeing beyond constraints. For example, this makes me think of a project that we are currently working on. The engineer who builds our motors told me that what I imagined is not possible. Indeed, his machine cannot exceed a certain calibration. Even so, we went further and did some tests. The machine has been running for a week!
“The notion of a team is essential“
This ability to combine technical and artistic roles becomes possible as we surround ourselves with people who have the skills to continue along our baseline. It then becomes easy for me to create a plan or drawing of a new effect or machine. Behind me, I know that my team will be able to turn these simple sketches into something concrete. This notion of a team is essential and today brings together people with different profiles and reactions. This is our strength.
So, who are the employees of Crystal Group?
The profiles to be found at Crystal Group are quite varied. There are engineers, electricians, automation specialists, ice sculptors, carpenters, iron workers, welders, programmers, sound engineers… Profiles that are certainly different but that all share the same adaptability and passion. I must admit that working here is not for everybody! You have to share the desire to be confronted with problems on a daily basis. Someone who wants a quiet life might not be comfortable here!
Tell us about your personal journey?
This company owned a small fountains department. Around 2002 to 2003, I wanted to take in hand this new activity and take a step back from ice sculpture. The playing field was different and presented a lot of challenges ahead of us.
Later, we moved into special effects as a logical continuation because we wanted to use flames with our aquatic shows. We also moved into decoration as we wanted to dress our creations. These two activities are now fully fledged departments.
The story continued when I was asked to make an ice rink. We made this first rink with blocks of ice, which, I have to admit, is definitely not the right method! But that was 20 years ago!
Thanks to this customer request, we then added gliding ice, frost and snow to our activities by buying a company that specialised in ice rinks.
This company owned a small fountains department. Around 2002 to 2003, I wanted to take in hand this new activity and take a step back from ice sculpture. The playing field was different and presented a lot of challenges ahead of us.
Later, we moved into special effects as a logical continuation because we wanted to use flames with our aquatic shows. We also moved into decoration as we wanted to dress our creations. These two activities are now fully fledged departments.
The mechanics department was created a few years ago because we had amassed a lot of expertise in automation and robotics. This department allows us to offer another vision of aquatic spectacles and technological innovations.
All these materials really allow you to multiply your skills!
Yes, and I really believe that few companies can pride themselves on diversifying their achievements as much as Crystal Group can. Creations in which we put all our energy, whether permanent or temporary, large-scale or more modest! Which may not be financially wise! But it is passion that dictates our conduct.
Where do you find all the inspiration to create all your projects?
Our ideas come from two essential sources: the trials and tests that we carry out at Crystal Group, but especially our customer requests. They sometimes imagine things that are a little crazy and that always pushes us to take things further.
Are trials and tests important?
They are essential! This is one of Crystal Group’s added values. We are not afraid to carry out significant testing, even for temporary projects. We don’t limit ourselves to using just plans and computers to reflect on ideas. This ‘experiential’ side is essential and enables us to go even further. On average, we perform one test per day. Large or small: a big installation that requires cranes, a new type of flame, an engine, a new software… Our research & development budget represents 10% of our turnover. This in itself is a real challenge for a structure like ours.
How to you see Crystal Group in ten years?
I would like to stay the course of today, that is to say that each project should continue to be a different, elegant and innovative achievement. We must be proud of everything we do. Not long ago a colleague, looking at photos, said: “Wow, look at everything we’ve done in 10 years! “. I would like to hear this same reflection in ten years!
We must also remain accessible and available to our customers. We share the same logic as a local shop and this is something that is close to my heart. The pursuit for a certain autonomy for all our employees is also important. We have created a great momentum and I would like it to continue, even should I no longer be there! That’s why training and sharing experiences are essential.
Of course, I also hope that the next ten years will bring with them as many beautiful projects as the last ten years! I would not want to become dormant. In any case, our customers will always take us in new directions. In addition, because technology is constantly evolving we are bound to evolve and innovate!
Could you tell us about some of the projects that have been most impactful?
A difficult exercise looking back at over 20 years of experience! Especially since the level of projects has changed and things that today seem simple seemed exceptional to me a few years ago.
I remember a glass artist, 15 years ago, who, for the presentation of one of his pieces, asked me to create and deliver a huge block of ice that would be left to melt in a cellar. The transparent block had to contain a piece of blown glass. The work itself was not complex even though the block of ice weighed two and a half tons. I was immediately excited by this project. In fact, the problem arose when it came to delivering this ice block. How to get it into a small Parisian cellar? At the time, we only asked ourselves this question once the block was created! Initially, this constraint seemed impossible to overcome. We even thought about giving up. While today technology allows us to transport mountains, at that time this was not the case! Yet, through perseverance, discussions and exchanges, we found a solution and created a whole system to get it in through the window. Don’t give up on a project! This is what defines us.
Another very beautiful memory also comes back to me: in the year 2000, our first World Ice Art Championships title. Once again, the technique and the relentlessness of a whole team ended up paying off! It was the third time we had participated. A great moment that we shared with all the ice sculptors that came together in this competition.
Finally, how would you summarise Crystal Group in one sentence?
For me Crystal Group is based on three foundations: challenge, respect, both for the customer’s request and for work well done, and the emulation of teamwork.