Reporter: Didactic is a company that designs, manufactures, and distributes medical devices for hospitals and nursing homes, focusing on infection prevention and hygiene for dependent patients.
You acquired this company in 2007 and now you have three main locations: one in France, one in Canada, and, most recently, one in the Netherlands. You’ve just acquired Arion Group, which consists of gloves and other hygiene-related devices.
You’re about to introduce a revolutionary hygiene product line—can you tell us what makes it so innovative? You’ve also announced a turnover of €100 million, a workforce of 250 employees across all locations, and an international presence in over 60 countries.
Your company is clearly in a phase of rapid growth. Following your expansion to Canada, you’re now entering the Netherlands. What does this alliance with Arion signify?
Frédéric Viguié, CEO Didactic: It reflects our commitment to strengthening our presence in Europe. Until now, France was our only European base. Arion’s unique position—literally straddling the Dutch-German border—gives us strategic access to Northern Europe, where Arion
already has a strong foothold. This complements our leadership position in the French market.
Arion was founded over 30 years ago and has built its reputation on innovation. Their products are transforming patient hygiene. Traditionally, patient cleaning involves soap and water, but their products help reduce hospital-acquired infections while also improving working conditions for healthcare staff. This is crucial for patient comfort and caregiver well-being.
Arion’s manufacturing technology allows for significant water savings—up to 250 kg per patient wash. In France, these products are not yet widely adopted, so part of our mission is to support healthcare workers through this transition. We have dedicated commercial and marketing teams
working closely with healthcare facilities to drive this change.
On-Site Production & Sustainability
Reporter: You’re finalizing a new factory in Saint-Jean-de-la-Neuve with the goal of relocating production that was previously outsourced to Asia. Is this about regaining control over the supply of medical products, given the shortages experienced during COVID-19?
Frédéric Viguié, CEO Didactic: Absolutely. We were on the front lines during the pandemic, supplying infection-prevention products, and we faced significant challenges due to global supply chain disruptions. A large portion of medical devices are manufactured in Asia—China or India—which led us to rethink our production strategy.
Post-COVID, we’ve prioritized in-house manufacturing. We’re shifting from being primarily a distributor to becoming a manufacturer, giving us control over production and supply. We’re building a new factory from the ground up to produce IV infusion sets. Our first production line is in Saint-Georges-de-la-Neuve, Normandy, in a fully automated facility.
We are currently qualifying the plant, with plans to launch products by 2025. At full capacity, we’ll be able to produce 25 million IV sets annually—covering a quarter of the French market. Given that IV therapy is often one of the first interventions upon hospital admission, securing local production is critical.
Carbon Footprint Reduction
Reporter: By relocating production, are you able to quantify the reduction in your carbon footprint?
Frédéric Viguié, CEO Didactic: Yes, we conducted a thorough study with an independent organization. The results show a reduction of 40% to 50% in carbon emissions when producing IV sets in Normandy versus Asia.
International Growth & Product Portfolio
Reporter: Your products are exported to over 60 countries. What types of products are included in this export portfolio?
Frédéric Viguié, CEO Didactic: We focus on hygiene solutions for dependent patients. In addition to Arion’s products, we acquired an innovative Canadian company, Hygie, in 2022. They specialize in hygiene solutions and fluid management products for healthcare settings.
In 2019, Hygie exports accounted for less than 1% of the revenue. Today, they represent 15%, and our development plan aims to increase that to 40%. This international expansion is supported by both industrial transformation and the evolution of our teams to manage this new scale.
Employment & Recruitment
Reporter: Today, you are really in a development phase. Do you have ongoing recruitments, do you have special needs?
Frédéric Viguié, CEO Didactic: “Yes, we are constantly hiring. Last year alone, we recruited around 40 people—almost one new hire per week. There are strong development challenges, especially now at the international group level, including cultural challenges as we integrate closely with our Dutch colleagues.
We also work extensively with our Quebec-based teams and have refined our recruitment methods. The goal is to stand out in a highly competitive job market. Our HR team is focused on innovation, and one of our core values is authenticity. As part of this, we invite candidates in the final selection stage to spend a full day immersed in our company. They experience the workplace, see how teams interact, and understand the role firsthand. At the end of the day, we conduct a debrief to assess whether the candidate aligns with the company’s vision and the job requirements.”
Reporter: Thank you, Frédéric, for joining us today.