Our story

OPENING OF A PNEUMATIC RETREADING WORKSHOP

A passionate sportsman, Louis Rustin, an amateur cyclist, was familiar with the
challenges of punctures caused by the condition of French roads. Faced with this
problem, he decided, together with his partner Jean Larroque, to open a workshop
for repairing and retreading tires in 1903 on Rue Truffaut, in the 17th arrondissement
of Paris. At that time, repairing inner tubes was long and costly, immobilizing
vehicles. This constraint led Louis Rustin to seek an innovative solution to reduce
the inconvenience of punctures

PATENT FOR ANTI-BURST DEVICE

Louis Rustin and his friend Paul Doumenjou, a chemical engineer, began their
research for a quick and cost-effective repair system. In 1908, Louis Rustin,
together with his partner Jean Larroque, proposed a device to prevent tire bursts for
all vehicles: a leather strip to be glued to the inside of the tire casing (French Patent
No. 397,424 filed on 12/15/1908) “Device to prevent tire bursts for all vehicles.”

INVENTION OF RUSTINES®

After the Great War, Louis Rustin resumed his studies to finalize his invention and
tested a new quick-repair solution for inner tubes with his family on bicycles: the
famous self-adhesive rubber patches. In 1922, he perfected his invention, filed the
patent, and registered the RUSTINES trademark, which would become an essential
reference for cyclists worldwide.

ESTABLISHMENT OF PRODUCTION IN SARTHE

A visionary, Louis Rustin set up his factory in a former cotton mill abandoned since 1917, located in the Sarthe region. This site, favorable for production due to its proximity to water, allowed the mass production of Rustines , reaching 30 million units per month by the 1950s.

With the support of the Marshall Plan, RUSTIN expanded its activity and
entered the industrial rubber production sector.

RUSTIN strengthened its expertise and optimized the quality of its products by diversifying its industrial applications.

RUSTIN became a key supplier for renowned automobile manufacturers such as Peugeot, Talbot, Alpine, and René Bonnet.

.A major player in mastering rubber sealing, RUSTIN developed new products for the automotive, railway, and aerospace sectors.

The Crousilles factory, located in La Chartre-sur-le-Loir (Sarthe), underwent a significant technological upgrade with the introduction of continuous vulcanization.
RUSTIN obtained ISO 9001 certification, ensuring the quality and performance of its products.

EN 45 545

RUSTIN obtained EN 45 545 certification by developing an innovative rubber material for railway sealing joints. This material, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1,000°C without emitting toxic or opaque fumes, significantly improved passenger safety on European trains

The Crousilles factory was equipped with a new production line, further strengthening Rustin’s industrial capacity

RUSTIN invested in building a new production unit in Neuillé-Pont-Pierre
(Indre-et-Loire), dedicated to silicone, to meet the growing demands of high-tech
industries.

RUSTIN stands out in a rapidly changing world.