Mondragón Opens in Álava the Largest Sawmill in Southern Europe to Lead the European Forest Industry
yesterday at 12:58
,Spain
LCA Construction Bois is investing 5.9 million euros in the expansion of its industrial site in La Boissière-de-Montaigu, Vendée. The goal: to support sustained double-digit growth, enhance the production of high-precision wooden components, and incorporate more bio-sourced materials. The new facility is expected to be operational in early 2027.
Located on a 34,000 m² site, LCA Construction Bois plans to construct a new 4,220 m² industrial building. The building permit has been submitted, land acquisition is underway, and production equipment has already been ordered.
« We are aiming for delivery by the end of 2026, with commissioning in early 2027 », the company states.
Owned by the Bonnin Charbonneau family group — also a shareholder in Vendée Étanchéité and HCL Le Foyer Design — the SME explains that this investment primarily addresses the strong growth in its activity. Its turnover doubled between 2021 and 2025, reaching 28 to 29 million euros for the 2025 fiscal year. After recruiting 40 employees in 2024 and another 40 in 2025, the workforce now stands at 140. The expansion is expected to create around ten additional jobs within two years of commissioning.
« 2026 should be a year of consolidation. Investing was essential, as our industrial tool reaches its limits during peak demand periods », emphasizes the management.
The new unit will be equipped with a high-precision machining gantry for the production of wooden framework components and timber-frame walls incorporating bio-sourced materials such as straw or hemp. The company is pursuing a dual objective: increasing production capacity and optimizing logistical flows, while adapting its industrial tool to the rise of low-carbon construction.
LCA Construction Bois prides itself on a distinctly technical positioning and a desire to anticipate regulatory changes.
« Wood is a low-carbon material, but it remains technical and complex to implement. We enjoy working with it and take on increasingly ambitious projects, with the aim of staying ahead of standards », the company explains.
This strategy is supported by several flagship projects in western France: the high school in Saint-Philbert-de-Grand-Lieu, the Séché Group headquarters in Laval, a regional excellence hub in Le Mans, and a CSTB building in Nantes, which is described as particularly advanced in the use of geo- and bio-sourced materials for insulation.
The project benefits from €200,000 in public funding from the Green Fund, aimed at accelerating the ecological transition in local areas. At the same time, LCA Construction Bois is structuring its innovation efforts around three key areas: construction processes, bio-sourced materials, and reuse.
The company notably mentions a partnership with K-Line (Liebot Group), which is committed to a circular economy approach through its low-carbon recycled aluminum foundry, Coralium, to gain valuable industrial insights and feedback.
With delivery expected by the end of 2026 and commissioning in early 2027, LCA Construction Bois is banking on a clear triptych: strengthening its industrial capacities, accelerating its low-carbon strategy, and creating new jobs in its Vendée region.
