Founded nearly a century ago in Grenoble, Minitubes is a family-owned company. A mid-sized enterprise (ETI) specializing in small-diameter, high-precision metal tubing, it is a global leader in tubing for stents and heart valves (intra-arterial implants). The company also specializes in tube transformation for the medical analysis, aerospace, and industrial sectors.
Today, Minitubes employs nearly 550 people in the Technisud industrial zone, with approximately 90% of its production destined for export. Minitubes' history is intertwined with that of its founder, Constantin Szmukler, born in 1891. The Grenoble region also owes him the establishment of Becton Dickinson and Tyco Healthcare. Constantin Szmukler led the company until his death, nearly reaching 100 years of age. For 11 years, three generations worked together! In 1952, Jean Poncin joined his father-in-law in the venture. In 1980, his son, Philippe Poncin, followed in his footsteps by joining the company. In 1991, towards the end of his life, Constantin Szmukler left the company. That same year, his son-in-law Jean retired at the age of 72. 2023: A 4th generation takes over Once again, multiple generations overlap!
Starting in 2016, Philippe Poncin and Louis-Pierre Porte prepared their nephew and son, Julien Van Klaveren and Matthieu Porte, for the potential takeover of the company. In 2020, both joined the venture amid the COVID-19 crisis. After a year of immersion, they officially accepted the leadership role, with their tenure beginning on January 1, 2023, coinciding with the retirement of Philippe Poncin and Pierre-Louis Porte. Julien Van Klaveren and Matthieu Porte now continue to develop Minitubes, a proud industrial flagship of the Isère region recognized worldwide. They remain deeply committed to the family values of the Group, which include transparency, usefulness, kindness, collective commitment, and solidarity.