Since the late 1950s, Agencement Déco Touraine – ADT – has specialized in custom furniture design and manufacturing. Joël Bette, its current director, tells us about its history and development.

It all began in 1959 in Maurice Bette's workshop in Tours (Indre-et-Loire). After completing his apprenticeship, he set up his own general carpentry business (buildings, fittings, cabinetmaking). At the time, his clients were mainly businesses; Maurice hired architects for interior design and created some facades. His son Joël grew up in the workshop, where he learned the trade from his father: "When he was very young, my brother and I would help our father during the holidays. At the age of 5, I was already saying that I wanted to do this job when I grew up." Later, I hesitated between a career in IT, then I decided that I preferred design." Joël Bette therefore decided in 1996, at the age of 23, to take over the company, without forgetting to take his father on as an employee to accompany him until retirement. In 2008, the company changed its name to become Agencement Déco Touraine (ADT) after several moves, going from 220 m2 to 600 m2, and today to 1,700 m2.

"We no longer make parquet floors, which are often replaced by laminate flooring. For example, we make reception desks, archive furniture..."

Business Renewed

The workshop is located north of Tours. The clientele has followed suit, and the company rarely works for individuals: "I do a lot of bank renovations. I only work with a few former individual clients now; it's simpler. Contracts for businesses are larger, ranging from €15,000 to €40,000; they are major projects where we do everything from A to Z." The interior design covers floor to ceiling, but "we no longer do parquet flooring, which is often replaced by laminate flooring. For example, we do reception desks, archive furniture, and vanity units for bathrooms." Maurice Bette once had seven employees, then business slowed down and ADT was down to two, the Bette family, father and son. But for the past fifteen years, there have been ten full-time employees. Everyone in the workshop is a multi-skilled worker, except for two exclusive installers. “If we’re working with solid wood, I still have my father’s machines. Before, we had a circular saw for cutting wood or panels, a jointer-planer for planing and smoothing logs, and a router for making moldings. That was all, and we managed with that! Now, we need lots of machines…”

“We often hire people from other sectors, such as precision mechanics, or machine operators who have the ability to work quickly.”

From jointer to digital

ADT is now equipped with a sliding table saw consisting of a fixed sawing unit. The operator himself pushes the workpiece using the moving table: "The saw cuts by itself, but it's computer-controlled." This tool is used to cut several types of materials, including wood and its derivatives, plastic, and metals. SCM sliding table saws cover all configuration requirements and are suitable for all levels of use. The workshop is also equipped with an SCM nesting machining center, controlled by Cabinet Vision France software: this CAD/CAM (computer-aided design and manufacturing) software is intended for woodworking professionals, particularly fitters, kitchen designers, and joiners producing custom furniture. Over the years, Joël has been able to combine his passion for IT and his job as a designer by setting up a complete digital chain, from design to delivery, thanks to the SCM nesting machining center, but also to the IT solutions offered by Cabinet Vision France.

CNC Machine Operators

In the company, the craftspeople don't necessarily come from the wood industry: "We often hire people from other sectors, like precision mechanics, or machine operators who have the ability to work quickly. I don't do it myself; I'm interested, but I don't know how to manage. I handle contracts, quotes, and construction sites..." While the basics remain the same, the finishes have changed since 1959. Matte is the trend. The new laminated panels imitate solid wood perfectly! The designer also works with PVC, stainless steel, and aluminum: "We know how to do it! And also paint, lacquer, and even the electrical system when we're creating a dressing room that needs lighting. It's quite simple. You have to provide a complete project. I have a draftsperson, but we're not designers." Each client comes with their wishes and we have to study the feasibility of their project, then we make our technical plans and it goes to the machines." A recognized adaptability and know-how that allows this family business to respond to all types of projects.

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