From Lyon to Annonay, via Europe and the United States, Robert Favre has devoted his life to the paper industry. A mechanical engineer by training, he has become a global authority on paper machine start-ups, overseeing more than 27 start-ups around the world. Working with big names such as Béghin-Say, James River, Georgia Pacific, PMT, Toscotec and, more recently, MPH1865, he has successfully combined technical expertise, strategic vision and the transmission of know-how. His exceptional career, marked by industrial and human successes, testifies to his undiminished passion for paper and those who make it.
After training as a mechanical engineer in Lyon, I took my first steps in the industry by working at the Darblay paper mill in Bellegarde in the Ain department. It was by assisting the operators and spending nights at the paper mill that I discovered the manufacture of mechanical pulp and the production of newsprint.
After completing my military service, I was sent by my company to study engineering at the paper industry school in Grenoble. I didn’t complete my two years of study because a year later, I was called back by my company. I did a six-month internship at the La Chapelle Darblay factories in Grand-Couronne, Normandy. When I returned, I took on the role of mechanical pulp production manager, then newsprint production manager. This period marked the beginning of a long adventure in the paper industry for me. This allowed me to spend nights at various printing plants to monitor the passage of our paper through rotary presses, including those used by newspapers such as Le Progrès, Le Dauphiné Libéré, L’Est Républicain, La Montagne, and La Provence.
My career has been marked by many significant events:
After retiring in 2002, I continued to work with certain companies, including the Italian group PMT (formerly Beloit Italia) on projects in the cotton wool sector, which involved several machine start-ups and training sessions. Between 2002 and 2008, I also provided support to the American group Marcalus in New Jersey for one week per quarter.
In 2008, the former sales director of PMT changed companies to join Toscotec and asked me to bring my expertise and know-how to this Italian manufacturer until 2017, when I decided it was time to stop. During this collaboration, while I was visiting Toscotec in December 2010 for a project in Germany, I met Marc Miribel, president of MPH1865, and Jean-Paul Ferrière, engineer and former employee of Canson. I was invited to a presentation they were giving, which resulted in a collaboration between Toscotec and MPH1865, on the condition that the latter invest in a paper machine from the Italian manufacturer—which it did.
Once the collaboration was finalized, I was sent to Portugal to the factory of Portuguese manufacturer AMS BR Star Paper, which I started up alongside MPH1865 staff to train them on the Toscotec paper machine. Events unfolded rapidly, until August 2012, when I started up the winder, enabling the mother reels to be unwound, cut, and reconditioned. This is a major piece of equipment that must be fully operational when the paper machine is in service.
October 12, 2012 marked the date of the first production run on this machine, attended by around 50 guests at the Pupil site in Annonay. For the occasion, I supervised operations alongside Jean-Paul Ferrière and MPH1865 employees, who had been working on the project for several weeks. Starting up a paper machine is always a delicate stage where many incidents can occur. Fortunately, this first production run was a great success.
Starting production on the very first day a paper machine is commissioned is like being a conductor. This success was greatly appreciated by those present, particularly Mr. Lapize Sr., who praised my efficiency and ability to implement such a start-up, a stage that usually takes several months to perfect.
In total, I have overseen the start-up of 27 paper machines around the world, thanks to the experience I gained at Béghin-Say, James River, Fort James, Georgia Pacific, PMT, and Toscotec. I put this expertise to work for MPH1865 in the launch of their first paper machine in 2012, and I was also involved in the launch of their second machine in 2024. I was not directly involved in the project, but I was able to contribute my expertise in choosing the machine from among various suppliers, as well as in installing an deinking system, which I believe represents the future for the products manufactured by MPH1865.
Today, I attribute the positive development of MPH1865 to the efficiency of its sales department and the management led by its CEO Marc Miribel, who I believe is a visionary like Mr. Béghin was. I remember the latter’s philosophy: “You build and start up a paper machine when you are able to transform the product and sell it.”
Even after my retirement, I am actively sought after by various companies thanks to my reputation in the paper industry. My reputation is also based on my collaboration with the world leaders Georgia Pacific, Beloit, PMT, and Toscotec. For me, the greatest achievement of my professional life has been to be able to pass on my knowledge to many people and to have conducted numerous training courses around the world.
I am a mechanical engineer trained in Lyon, who became a globally recognized specialist in the start-up of high-speed paper machines. My expertise has been developed throughout a busy and international career—in France, Europe, the United States, Asia, and Africa—working for major groups such as Béghin-Say, James River, Georgia Pacific, PMT, Toscotec, and MPH1865. I have held successive positions in production, training, technical support, and project management, taking on key assignments until after retirement.
I think I will be able to take a step back after my last assignment at MPH1865 and reflect a little on my later years.
