The company

History

The Billion company was founded in 1894 in Lyon and its first activity was the transformation of silk for the weaving industry in the Lyon region.

With the advent of synthetic fibers Billion has been one of the major players in the development of texturing and milling technologies for these new fibers. Billion is the creator, in 1947, of the Nylon foam thread “Hélança Cheveux d’Ange”. The main markets were in the fields of footwear, clothing and seaside clothing.

  • In 1970, Billion is represented in 26 countries and exports 30% of its production. In the mid-1970s, texturing milling suffered a serious crisis following the first oil crisis and the strategic choices of the main European spinners to integrate their activities downstream. During this period, Billion is investing in new industrial technologies, including air texturing and double twist milling.
  • In 1995, merging of 2 centenary companies: Billion and Mayor (creation in 1872) with 10 production sites in France
  • In 2003, BMI – Billion Mayor Industry restructures its French sites and creates BMA, Billion Mayor Asia in Malaysia to support its Asian customers.
  • In 2012, BMI acquired SOFILA from two hundred-year-old houses in the mill: Condamin & Prodon and Schwarzenbach mills.
    SOFILA specializes in covering for the medical industry and sportswear and the milling for lingerie and silk lace.
  • In 2012, BMI closed its Malaysian BMA site to reindustrialise and sustain its French industrial sites.
  • In 2013 BMI took over the business in the trading of artificial and synthetic yarns from Morel-Journel, founded in 1811, for the dress lace market.
  • In 2016, BMI acquires TRANSFIL based in Unieux.
    Transfil is a millage more than centenary which offers many moulin threads for dress lace makers and publishers in home furnishings.

SOFILA Today

SOFILA is made up of 1 head office in Lyon Croix Rousse and 2 production units located in Drôme and Haute Loire.

Company Values

Customer Satisfaction

Sustainability

Innovation

Certifications



We propose a FSC®-certified range of viscose yarn

We propose a range of OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 certified products (certificates CQ12/3, CQ912/5, and CQ912/6 from IFTH)

Our quality management system is ISO 9001:2015 certified on our SOFILA 26 factory

We are certified to the GRS, which certifies recycled material from the source to final product

Sustainability

SOFILA is a company involved in sustainable development, with an activity that ensures the sustainability of environmental resources, economic activity and the local social fabric.

A production that respects nature

The yarns produced by SOFILA are Oekotex Standard 100 certified, guaranteeing the absence of components harmful to health and/or the environment in our products.

We also have a range of GRS certified recycled products.

Bio-inspired innovation

Sofia has developed Greenfil, a 100% bio-based high-performance polyamide 11 yarn made from castor oil. This plant grows in arid lands, and does not compete with the resources needed to feed the population. This makes it possible to halve the CO2 equivalent compared to the production of PA6 and PA 6-6.  The CO2 impact is also limited by achieving 100% European production, thus limiting transport.  The yarn is Anti-odour, Non-allergenic, and chlorine resistant.

Responsible consumption of resources

Sofila was involved in the STEEEP project, a three-year European project that helped 600 European cross-sectoral SMEs to reduce their energy consumption and become more energy efficient. The main actions were :
– Investment in a new compressed air plant
– Heat recovery on compressors for warehouse heating with improved working conditions
– Elimination of leaks on steam and compressed air networks

Water and electricity consumption are also optimized to reduce the environmental impact of our activities.

A strong local presence

We participate in regional actions to promote the recycling and recovery of textile industry waste.
Carpooling is encouraged for employees’ commuting.
The production sites are located in the rural areas of the Drôme and Haute-Loire, thus contributing to the fight against rural desertification.