YOU ARCHES® Philippe Villemin, Processing and Finishing Manager at the Arches paper mill

Published on: 3 marzo 2025 Published in: YOU ARCHES®

Introduce yourself briefly

My name is Philippe Villemin, I’m 58 and I live in Le VAL D’AJOL, a village about thirty kilometres from the paper mill.

Have long have you worked for ARCHES®?

I recently celebrated 36 years in the company, on 17 October.
I answered an ad in the local newspaper and after a two-week trial period, I was hired as a gelatin sizing machine operator.

What is your job and what does it involve?

I’ve been processing and finishing manager for a few years now.
Processing includes, among other things, the gelatin sizing process for ARCHES® Aquarelle paper. I also supervise the finishing operations in the unwinding room and the workshops where blocks and pads are made.
I have to ensure that everything runs smoothly in the workshops on a day-to-day basis, organise the workload of each workstation, deal with unexpected production incidents and manage a team of about 20 people. I make sure the quality of the products is always impeccable and that orders arrive in shipping on time.

Did you have any specific training?

No, not really. At one stage during my career I did go back to school at the paper industry training centre in Gérardmer, but mainly it’s the experience gained over all these years that has qualified me for this job.

What qualities are needed to do your job?

Curiosity, an ability to listen to your workers, a perfect knowledge of your tools and the related processes, the ability to anticipate and to be responsive and proactive.
And you need to be in good physical shape! I cover quite a few kilometres every day toing and froing between the different workshops… 😊

What does the ARCHES® brand mean to you?

A brand with a proven track record, which is continually striving for excellence for its customers.

In your opinion, how do artists see the ARCHES® brand?

I hope that they are as attached as we are to this great ARCHES® brand.

What would you like to say to the people reading this article?

Behind the ARCHES® brand, there are people who love their job, who have often spent their whole working life in the firm and whose motivation is the desire to satisfy the artists who are its end customers.