New products . JAB surfboards Soustons ( France ), surfboards make their revolution

Photo Isabelle Louvier

Both partners JAB Surfboards had the idea to use polycarbonate to produce surfboards ecological, sustainable and fully recyclable.

Who has never seen a surfer breaking the nose of his board against the windshield of his car does not know anger.

But it is something that is more likely to happen with boards JAB Surfboards. "Just a board," the brand Pierre Vergne Pascal Cazadieu and develop in their workshop of 200 m² of industrial area of ​​Soustons. "It is not unbreakable, prevents the first. But it is completed 90% of "pets" coming out of the water. "

After four years of hard work and some doubts, both Landais were rewarded for their efforts last month. Their method - 100% home - has indeed attracted the jury Inosport Prize, which was awarded the trophy in their Eco-innovation category. The production, now in its second year, is also launched with "400 boards produced in a year and a half."

Solid, so their boards are also 100% recyclable and customizable through the use of polycarbonate. "We are not the first to have considered leaving the fiberglass and resins, we contrast the first to have done," says Pascal Vergne.

No more fumes of resin and solvent, dust arising from successive sanding during the laminating step. JAB Surfboards revolutionize the genre with this material, also used - because of its transparency and its strength - the bubbles motorcycles or the world of aviation.

Colorful and original, different models of the first collection are just a few examples of what this material can do as decoration. "Digital printing on polycarbonate sheet to customize your board, explains Pierre Cazadieu, as is already the case in the world of skateboarding and snowboarding. With a brush or airbrush it finds herself limited in the traditional shape. "

Polycarbonate sheet and its twin on the other side will actually be put to press to protect the heart of the board. "It" encapsulates "the foam," explains Pascal Vergne.

Mechanical engineer training when Peter Cazadieu went through several workshops shape, the two men have thought and created their own machine, called Thermoshell: "It was made next door in local Ecolocup. Jean-Luc Lacoche, boss, we also advised his experience with the machine manufacturer. "

The company, aided by business incubators, posted last year "a capital of 450 000 euros." The first users of these boards for "beginner surfers or intermediate level" returns are good. Sustainability boards also marvel at surf schools.

If the price goes from 380 to 560 euros, depending on the length of the board, the surf shops are to convince a board made Soustons might as well sell the products on the shelf. "It's always annoying when you're shapper to see that 80% of the boards coming from Asia," Pierre Cazadieu plague.

With Pascal Vergne, they dream of change. "Our goal is to offer our technology to other manufacturers of surfboards," confesses the first ... Without even say more.

Source Benjamin Ferret , .sudouest.fr