The family business began in 1962 when Oscar Hege, a botanical enthusiast, set up a landscape nursery with the support of his father. Thanks to his hard work and human qualities, the business flourished. In the 1980s, his sons Denis and Michel joined the company and developed the maintenance of sports fields, despite technical and financial challenges. This diversification led to the creation of Hege Sports & Jardins in 1991, combining landscaping and sports maintenance activities.
Hege
To guarantee top-quality services, the company invests in specialized machinery from the German company Fischer, thus reinforcing its reputation. In 1994, the company carried out vertical drainage operations for Monaco and Toulon, becoming the only company in France to offer this service.
To improve profitability, the company began designing its own machines. Denis and his team take advantage of the winter to improve their tools, combining field expertise, a high-performance workshop and creativity. In particular, they develop a custom-built 260 hp machine with the agricultural machinery manufacturer Horsch. The company is now equipped to handle all sports field maintenance, renovation and creation work.
In 2008, Samuel Escach, Denis Hege's son-in-law and an Arts et Métiers engineer by training, joined the company and helped design and manufacture a 6-meter, 200-horsepower drainage machine. This project rapidly improved the company's competitiveness and performance on major worksites. But the team's efforts did not focus solely on developing machines for large-scale works. Many customers were confronted with earthworm castings that choked the turf and degraded the land. The ban on chemical treatments with zero phyto limits the available solutions. The R&D team then works on a mechanical solution and in 2009, the Joker turf comb joined the company's fleet of machines. Designed and manufactured in-house, the tool is extremely precise, and is quickly offered for sale. Practical and ecological, it is particularly popular with local authorities for the maintenance of sports complexes. With the addition of numerous accessories over the years, it has become highly versatile and effective on natural turf as well as synthetic and gravel surfaces. In just a few years, the range of machines for sale has become more precise. Landscapers, equestrian center managers and golf course operators all came to the attention of the development team. They design machines to solve problems specific to each context. The company continues to evolve, perfecting its services and expanding its range, while remaining firmly rooted in its traditional values of quality and customer satisfaction.
In 2019, the service and machine manufacturing businesses will split into 2 separate companies. The development and manufacturing division will become Hege Applications, entirely dedicated to the design and manufacture of excellent machines. With 15 years' experience in the sports field sector, Samuel Escach takes over the management of this new structure. The company subsequently acquired a 400 m² hall dedicated to the manufacture of prototypes.
Hege
In 2022, the company took on the huge challenge of designing and manufacturing the first XXL Joker: 7.40 m wide, they were ordered by the ADP Group to equip the Roissy Charles de Gaulle and Le Bourget airports.
Two years later, Hege Applications inaugurated a state-of-the-art 1,100 m² production hall to support its innovation projects, meet growing demand and develop exports. This investment improves productivity, working conditions and reduces energy consumption. The project benefited from a grant from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Hege
In recent years, Hege Applications has been looking to expand into neighboring countries: Switzerland, Germany, Belgium and the UK. In September 2024, to accelerate its international visibility, the company exhibits at the GaLaBauEurope's largest landscape exhibition in Nuremberg. Several German Ligue 1 clubs have equipped themselves with Hege machines during the year, and these references are an excellent way of gaining the confidence of our future partners in Europe.
Other projects are in the pipeline, so keep up with us on Linkedin!
