From the Ateliers Legueu de Meaux (ALM) to the Center of Excellence for Operational Maintenance, passing by the Ateliers de Construction Mécaniques de l'Atlantique (ACMAT), relive the great moments of the Saint-Nazaire industrial site.
1948 : ALM, THE ORIGINS OF ACMAT
The long history of ACMAT began in 1948 with the creation of the ALM company in Meaux by René Legueu. Before that, he had specialized in the transformation of agricultural vehicles since the 1920s.
In 1950, René Legueu was entrusted by Panhard with the production of special all-wheel drive trucks. The success of this experiment was such that it led Legueu to manufacture his own off-road vehicles by assembling components from different manufacturers.
ALM's success materialized in 1954 with the release of the TH4, which was nevertheless produced in limited series. In 1959, ALM designed its own vehicle with the TPK4, the forerunner of the future VCOM and famous VLRA.
VCOM produces on the ACMAT site in Saint-Nazaire
VCOM produces on the ACMAT site in Saint-Nazaire
1965: BEGINNING OF ACMAT AND SUCCESS OF VLRA
The end of the Algerian war marked the decline of the French firm, as the majority of the trucks were destined for the colonial possessions. Rather than taking over the company on the death of his father, Paul Legueu moved the company to Saint-Nazaire and created the Ateliers de Construction Mécanique de l'Atlantique (ACMAT) in 1965.
From then on, he undertook a profound restructuring of the company while relying on the models that had made ALM successful. On the basis of the VCOM, Paul Legueu launched the VLRA (Reconnaissance and Support Liaison Vehicle) in 1967. For more than 40 years, the VLRA was by itself the only one to make the success of the brand. This vehicle has become mythical and will be available in 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8 versions.
2006: ACMAT BECOMES A SUBSIDIARY OF RTD
Independent for more than 40 years, ACMAT became a subsidiary of the Renault Trucks Defense group on May 16, 2006. The French manufacturer chose to diversify the ACMAT product range and launched the Bastion in 2008, the ALTV in 2009 and the Trigger in 2017.
The ALTV, a multi-role vehicle with high tactical mobility, is the first military pick-up manufactured in France. By 2014, 20 countries had already ordered one and the 1000th model was marketed at the end of 2014.
Acmat Light Tactical Vehicle (ALTV)