Duralex

Duralex is a French tempered glass tableware and kitchenware manufacturer located in La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin in Loiret, France.[3] Using a technique developed in the 1930s by Saint-Gobain, moulded glass is heated to 600 degrees Celsius then cooled very quickly, giving it twice the impact resistance of normal glass.[4]

The Picardie tumbler and the Gigogne glass are two of the company's best-known products.[3] The "Gigogne" glass is in the permanent collection of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.[5]

The brand name is derived from the Latin motto dura lex, sed lex ("the law is harsh, but it is the law").[6]

History

Acquisition

In January 2021, Duralex was acquired by International Cookware group, the owner (outside the USA) of the rival PYREX brand, for 3.5 million euros ($4.2m).[7] International Cookware promised to maintain the majority of jobs, create a turnaround plan through investment of several tens of millions of euros (including modernization of the antiquated Orléans plant) and create commercial synergies with Pyrex, especially in sales and purchasing.[8][9][10] The company's expertise in high strength tempered glass was of interest to the American brand, even though its production facilities were outdated. The company's vintage image, with its two best-sellers, the Gigogne and the Picardie, more than half a century after their creation, is also an obstacle to change, as Duralex's reputation does not extend beyond these two models: the company is working towards a more modern image.

In 2022, the International Cookware group changed its name to La Maison française du verre.[11]

Energy crisis

In November 2022, following the rise in energy prices, the company was forced to cease operations and put its furnaces on standby. The 250 employees were placed on short-time working.[12]

Financial troubles and transition to cooperative

The furnaces were restarted on April 17, 2023, five months later. During this period, the company benefited from 15 million euros in state aid to cope with the crisis.[13]

Duralex was placed into receivership in April 2024 for the fourth time in 20 years, which created a six month observation period during which a buyer for the company would be sought.[14] In July, the Commercial Court of Orléans accepted a proposal supported by 60% of employees to transition the company to cooperative ownership, with all jobs to be retained.[15]

The company was in financial difficulty again in 2025, largely due to increasing energy prices—glass-making uses a great deal of energy. An appeal to the public to raise €5m of emergency funding, the maximum allowed, to secure its immediate future generated pledges exceeding €19m.[16]

type	Cooperative
foundation	1945
location city	La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin
location country	France
key people	Antoine Ioannidès
owner	International Cookware Group
industry	Glass
products	Tempered glass tableware and kitchenware
revenue	€30.097M (2013)‡R1R‡
num employees	220 (2013)‡R2R‡

History

Acquisition

Energy crisis

Financial troubles and transition to cooperative

Awards

External links

References