2023-11-28 10:14:13
Perched at the top of an electricity pylon, suspended from the metal structures of a bridge or posted in the cabin of a factory, the industrial painter is an ace with the spray gun. It is his tool of choice for carefully applying anti-corrosion and finishing coats. And this, on a multitude of spare parts or entire constructions, from the nose of an airplane to a submarine, including the Gare d’Austerlitz or the Eiffel Tower.
“There is the workshop painter, who works in a cabin, and the site painter,” explains Philippe Sanfilippo, head of the Group of Industrial Painting Entrepreneurs (GEPI). It’s varied, team-based, hands-on work. » In summary, “we paint everything that can be painted, except houses and the bodies of light vehicles”, declares Michel Peyrefitte, director of IFI Peinture, the historic training center for the sector which set up the whole thing. first official diploma in 1994.
“Our professionals are found in the railway, aeronautics, agricultural machinery, furniture, fine sheet metal work, etc. », he lists. Industrial painters operate in three major sectors: engineering structures (bridges, stations, monuments, etc.) or industrial structures (reservoirs, refineries, gas holders, oil platforms, etc.) and those made of concrete (drinking water plants, floors of parking, nuclear power plants, etc.).
Open to all school levels
In any case, the work is quite physical. The industrial painter works standing up, in the open air when he is mobilized on construction sites and he must wear personal protective equipment: cartridge mask, gloves, overalls, glasses, etc. Which does not prohibit access to women, far from there ! “We have 20% among our trainees,” underlines Claude Lafargue, regional manager at IFI Peinture. Companies are demanding because they are more careful. »
Big advantage of this career: no minimum educational level is required. “It’s the least important, motivation and the desire to work prevail,” emphasizes Claude Lafargue. “We don’t necessarily need qualified people, we train them ourselves,” confirms Philippe Sanfilippo, from GEPI. We are looking for dynamic and, above all, mobile candidates, because you don’t necessarily have a bridge or a factory being built near you! “.
The only imperative: knowing how to read and speak French, if only to be able to understand the technical sheets provided by the manufacturers. “And yes, painting in our field is not ready-made,” recalls Claude Lafargue. It must be prepared, some must be cooked in ovens. You also need to know how to calculate thicknesses and areas. »
Trained in four months
The career is open to an adult audience only. “There is no national education diploma for industrial painters. And we handle potentially risky material, it would be far too restrictive with young minors,” indicates Michel Peyrefitte. When the students learn about shot blasting – a stripping technique – they brandish a tool that projects microbeads at 150 km/h!
IFI Peinture can thus train unemployed people who request it via Pôle emploi, people undergoing retraining or even temporary workers seeking to qualify. All in record time. “In a maximum of 4 months full-time and an internship, they take the exam,” declares Claude Lafargue. And since last September, young people over 18 have been able to join the brand new apprentice training center (CFA) opened by the organization.
Participants leave with a diploma equivalent to a CAP. With a guaranteed job. “We have calculated that 86% of a promotion gets a job,” announces Michel Peyrefitte. Specialists do not agree on the figures, but the need for labor in France is counted in the thousands.
The salary reaches “on average 2,000 euros, according to Philippe Sanfilippo. But with major travel allowances, this can rise to 25,000 euros or even 30,000 euros per year.” At the start of your career, however, you must count on a minimum wage. “The offers I have at the moment range between 1,800 euros and 2,200 euros gross,” notes Claude Lafargue.
Career development exists for workers. They can quickly become team leader, then site manager, and why not works supervisor. “In my company, I saw an operator become a site manager in 7 to 8 years,” says Philippe Sanfilippo.
It’s up to you: the training organization IFI Peinture organizes information meetings every Friday, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., open to all, without registration. IFI Peinture: rue Camélinat, in Pierrefitte (Seine-Saint-Denis). Such. 01.49.71.19.00. Information about training on www.ifipeinture.com. Information on professions and companies recruiting on www.gepi.fr.
He recruits
“Always looking for one or two people”
Sylvain Billebault, director of operations of the Aertec group
The company of 150 employees, which has two factories – in Villeron (Val-d’Oise) and Toulouse (Haute-Garonne) – and local agencies, specializes in maintenance and manufacturing for the aeronautical world. Its painting branch deals with entire aircraft (helicopters, private planes) and spare parts such as engine components and fuselage pieces. “We are constantly looking for one or two painters to meet customer needs,” explains Sylvain Billebault. Right now, we need two to three people but it could go up to five or six.”
PROFILES. “We need people with a diploma in industrial painting or bodywork, this is important to respond to calls for tenders. We also hire washer-cleaners who prepare the parts, strippers in sandblasting booths and sealers (sealing joint specialists). »
EVOLUTIONS. “A painter with good expertise can become a leader; he distributes the work and stays in the cabin with his colleagues. Then you can become a team leader; it is he who organizes the workshop, the schedules, manages the relationship with the customer, makes computer entries for traceability. Finally, with around ten years of experience, the position of controller, link between production and the quality department, is possible. »
SALARIES. “All combined – hourly rate, bonuses, night hours, public holidays – a beginner painter earns on average 25,000 euros to 30,000 euros per year, a specialist 28,000 euros to 33,000 euros, an experienced painter 30,000 euros to 35,000 euros. A team leader receives 40,000 euros and a controller 30,000 euros to 35,000 euros. »
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