07/30/2025
Guy Avril: Living Memory of Obut
A Life Devoted to the Art of the Boule
At OBUT, some journeys leave a lasting mark on the company’s history. These individuals are privileged witnesses to our story. Guy Avril is one of them. For decades, he worked in the workshops of Saint-Bonnet-le-Château, embodying the passion, precision, and loyalty that have made OBUT an iconic brand. Through his words, a whole chapter of pétanque and French craftsmanship comes to life.
Back in Time: His Early Days at OBUT
When Guy Avril joined OBUT in 1958, he had no idea he would dedicate 39 years of his life to the company, until his departure in 1997. At the time, the company was just starting out, located in a small building called Montchaud in Saint-Bonnet-le-Château. The workshop was rudimentary, with a dirt floor, and one of Guy’s very first tasks was helping to lay the cement slab that would give this workspace a whole new dynamic.
In the Beginning, OBUT Was a True Artisan’s Workshop
In its early days, OBUT operated like a genuine artisan workshop, where each boule was shaped by hand, with an almost instinctive precision. The machines were basic, sometimes improvised, but the skill and precision required were very real.
"At first, the working conditions were really basic — the entire storage area was outside. And in winter, believe me, it wasn’t warm. We would bring in 6-meter steel bars and cut them by hand. Production was very limited."
Guy Avril: Obut’s Beginnings in His Hands
In the early days, making pétanque boules was a true manual choreography.
"We would first cut metal discs. Then, once we had enough, we’d dismantle the cutting press and set it up again for stamping. The discs were heated on a gas or oil-fired furnace, and then stamped into half-spheres. Once they had cooled, we’d chamfer them. Then the two shells were manually assembled, the guy would weld them with a rod, and after that, they’d go on to be grooved."
From Discs to Billets: Guy Avril, Witness to OBUT’s Industrial Evolution
Throughout his 39-year career, Guy Avril was a privileged witness to OBUT’s major industrial transformations. In 1964, he joined the current workshops—marking a key milestone in the company’s growth. Gradually, manual tasks began to give way to early forms of automation: a round, semi-automatic furnace where metal discs were stacked, heated, and then stamped one by one by the operator. It was the beginning of modernization.
At the time, OBUT worked only with flat steel, without any forging, focusing on cutting and stamping operations. But as tooling capabilities expanded, the company entered a new era: welding was brought in-house, followed by heat treatment, and then the introduction of the induction furnace. In 1972, the arrival of shearing technology marked yet another step forward.
A Remarkable Rise in Power
Productivity increased tenfold, driven by the first waves of automation, improved processes, and more powerful equipment. The small original group became a tight-knit team of around twenty people—and then growth accelerated rapidly. Guy Avril recalls it all, his eyes sparkling with memories.
OBUT in Full Expansion, Through the Eyes of Guy Avril
By the late 1970s, especially in 1976, OBUT had nearly 160 employees. It was an impressive expansion, which Guy witnessed from the inside—proud to see the company grow while staying true to its spirit. He remembers a sense of collective momentum, a shared pride in building something strong, together.
The Pride of a Life Well Lived
After 39 years spent at the heart of OBUT’s workshops, Guy Avril looks back on his journey with calm and humility. “I’m proud of what I did in my life. I loved my job. I did my best for 39 years, and I have no regrets,” he says, with the quiet humility that defines him. What he remembers most aren’t the numbers or the machines, but the passion for a job well done, the workshop’s atmosphere, and colleagues who became friends.
Guy Avril: A Living Memory of the Company
He is the living memory of the OBUT factory. He witnessed nearly four decades of transformation—from pure craftsmanship to industrial modernization—without ever losing touch with the heart of the know-how.
To continue the journey, watch the portrait of Guy Avril in video.
Through his words and his gaze, relive a chapter of OBUT’s history—filled with sincere gestures, treasured memories, and a deep love for the craft.
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