Concarneau, Ino-Rope and the Winning Bet on Mooring Lines

Ino-Rope Has the Fiber of Success

In Concarneau (Finistère), the now former start-up is solidifying its expertise in the rope market and developing sustainable solutions for the maritime, industrial, and nautical sectors.

Ouest-France Catherine GENTRIC
October 19, 2021

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Awarded the Maritime Initiatives Prize on October 8, during the Adventurers of the Sea festival in Lorient (Morbihan) for its innovative mooring lines, Ino-Rope, specializing in high-performance textile fiber, is now positioned as a key player in the world of rope manufacturing. This recognition honors a project off the beaten track, launched four years ago in the Glénan Archipelago.

Ecological Textile Moorings

The idea: to replace traditional mooring chains that scrape the seabed and destroy seagrass meadows with ecological textile moorings.

This led to a successful bet at the end of 2020 to replace, by 2022-2023, all metal chains immersed in the turquoise waters of the Natura 2000-classified Glénan.

“However,” acknowledges Thibault Reinhart, CEO of the Concarneau-based company, “even though fifteen Breton coastal municipalities are currently experimenting with our now-standardized moorings, we still need to convince users.”

Because despite their advantages (ten times less impact on the seabed; more durable; seven times lighter than traditional chains and adaptable to any geographic area), “users are hesitant to trust innovative solutions.”

“The Age of Reason”

Confident in his ability to develop his sustainable process along the coast “because it’s an emergency, climate change is here, and we must act quickly,” Thibault Reinhart finally sees his company boarding the industrialization train.

“No more start-up phase,” he says. “After eight years of existence, Ino-Rope is entering the age of reason with strong growth in 2021.” And the hope “of achieving financial balance in 2022” without needing recapitalization.

“An Online Store That’s Booming”

Beyond the mooring lines boosting the company in the maritime sector, Ino-Rope also focuses on boating, its historical core business. With an online store (shop.inorope.com) “booming” with double-digit growth. “It consolidates our revenue and gives us a strong financial footing,” he notes.

While the pandemic led to a shift of boaters to online sites due to the absence of trade shows, Thibault Reinhart also attributes this success to the “20,000 references offered online.”

Boaters can “find all the ropes and fittings for their sailboats or motorboats within a single click. We have raw materials in stock. We manufacture on demand, and it’s deliverable in less than 48 hours. Everything is standardized,” he explains.

“We Have managed to attract Professionals”

An online store, created at the beginning of the company, which “establishes our reputation in boating,” he continues. “Not just with individuals. We are now attracting professionals. With the tension difficulties in the raw materials market, many riggers come to us for stock.”

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