Vehicle armoring from 1 to 40 tonnes – SUVs, pick-ups and trucks built to ballistic requirements
Centigon SAS (Centigon France)
Lamballe-Armor · AntonyNew on Amplifa
About Centigon France
Centigon France is a manufacturer of armored vehicles based at its site in Lamballe-Armor (Brittany), with roots dating back to 1948 (formerly Labbé). The company, with around 170 employees, upfits approximately 350 vehicles per year ranging from 1 to 40 tonnes: SUVs, pick-ups and heavier commercial vehicles for CEOs, diplomats and heads of state, cash-in-transit vehicles, and vehicles for the Gendarmerie and armed forces. Armored steel is cut, bent and welded in the company's own plant to form the protection cell without compromising the material properties; aramid ballistic protection fabric (IMPAK) and ballistic glass are also used. An in-house R&D department develops ballistic protection solutions that are tested both internally and by independent partners. Reference projects include the Renault Rafale Présidentiel for the French Presidency; since 2023 Centigon has been recognized as a 'Carrossier Certifié Renault Pro+' (Certified Renault Pro+ Bodybuilder). In 2026, Centigon joined Canada's Roshel Group.
- Site
- Lamballe-Armor
- Processes
- Cutting of armored steel (couper), Bending of armored steel (plier), Welding of armored steel (souder), Vehicle armoring / installation of protection materials (SUV, pick-up, truck), Manufacture of armored vehicles from 1 to 40 tonnes, Ballistic testing and certification (internal tests, independent partners), Research & development of ballistic protection solutions, Manufacture of ballistic glass for vehicles and buildings
- Materials
- Armored steel (aciers blindés), IMPAK aramid ballistic protection fabric, Ballistic glass, Armored steel
- Certificates
- Approval 'Carrossier Certifié Renault Pro+' (Certified Renault Pro+ Bodybuilder), Carrossier Certifié Renault Pro+ (Certified Renault Pro+ Bodybuilder)
- Founded
- 1948
- Employees
- 170
- Industries
- Defense and security, Internal security, Government and security forces, Cash-in-transit, Close protection (executives, diplomats, heads of state), Defense and security
- 01
R&D in ballistic protection solutions
- 02
Cutting of armored steel
- 03
Bending of armored steel
- 04
Welding of the protection cell
- 05
Installation of protection materials (armored steel, IMPAK fabric, ballistic
- 06
Ballistic testing (internal/independent)
- 07
After-sales service and training
Materials & Processes
Armored steel
Cut, bent and welded in-house, forming the protection cell of the vehicles.
IMPAK aramid ballistic protection fabric
Aramid fabric for integrating ballistic protection behind the vehicle body.
Ballistic glass
Produced as laminated glass units and used for vehicles and buildings.
Locations
Lamballe-Armor
FRHeadquarters, production, workshops
- Part weight / size
- 1–40 t vehicle weight
- Lot size
- One-offs to small series
- Materials
- Armored steel, aramid fabric, ballistic glass
- Production facilities for cutting, bending and welding armored steel
- Group's Design Center of Excellence
Antony
FRTechnical Center Île-de-France
Vehicles & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cutting of armored steel (couper)Machining | – | – | – | – | Armored steel |
| Bending of armored steel (plier)Forming | – | – | – | – | Armored steel |
| Welding of armored steel (souder)Joining | – | – | – | – | Armored steel |
| Vehicle armoring / installation of protection materials (SUV, pick-up, truck)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Armored steel, Ballistic glass, Aramid fabric (IMPAK) |
| Manufacture of armored vehicles from 1 to 40 tonnesAssembly | – | – | 1 t – 40 t | – | Armored steel |
| Ballistic testing and certification (internal tests, independent partners)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
| Research & development of ballistic protection solutionsEngineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Manufacture of ballistic glass for vehicles and buildingsJoining | – | – | – | – | Ballistic glass |
| Design and development of special-purpose vehicles (Design Center of Excellence)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality & Certification
The quality, safety and environment department is involved in all process steps and issues a 'Quality Environment' manual with detailed work instructions. Ballistic testing is carried out internally as well as by independent partners; as a Renault 'Carrossier Certifié Pro+' (Certified Bodybuilder Pro+), the conversions are certified to Renault standards.
| Evidence | Lamballe-Armor |
|---|---|
| Carrossier Certifié Renault Pro+ (Certified Renault Pro+ Bodybuilder) |
History
- 1876
Roots: founding of the coachbuilder Sayers & Scovill in Cincinnati, Ohio (later Hess & Eisenhardt, O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt)
- 1948
Centigon France founded under the name Labbé in Lamballe
- 1998
Centigon brand created as a subsidiary of O'Gara-Hess & Eisenhardt in Colombia
- 2001
Acquisition by Armor Holdings (USD 53.7 million)
- 2007
Armor Holdings acquired by BAE Systems (USD 4.1 billion)
- 2008
Sale of Centigon to Carat Duchatelet Holdings (February 26)
- 2010
Centigon becomes a brand of the Carat Security Group, headquartered in Lamballe, France
- 2014/2015
Acquired by the Chinese Dongfeng Group (Dongfeng Design Institute Co Ltd.)
- 2016
Founding of the Centigon Security Group with five plants worldwide
- 2023
'Carrossier Certifié Renault Pro+' approval since July 1
- 2026
Centigon joins the Roshel Group (operations in France, Mexico, Colombia)