The electricity sector

A technician climbing a 40-meter pylon to connect an EHV line, an agent working in a nuclear power plant in a controlled area, a telecom climber installing antennas at the top of a wind turbine mast in strong winds: these three professions seem to have almost nothing in common, but they share the same fundamental requirement. Their equipment must function from the first day to the last, without failure, in conditions where a belt breaking or a poorly secured tool holder can quickly become a serious problem. It is precisely this kind of situation that SASSI has always kept in mind when manufacturing its parts.

We have been working for network operators for a long time. Enedis, RTE, and their European equivalents (National Grid in the UK, Terna in Italy, Red Eléctrica in Spain) have technicians who work on infrastructure sometimes fifty years old, in conditions that standard equipment is not always designed to face. The same logic applies to telecom operators: an Orange or SFR technician who climbs 4G or 5G pylons every week needs their carrying equipment to keep up. And for the rapidly developing wind energy sector, the requirements for PPE and work-at-height equipment are becoming increasingly precise.

What we offer is the ability to manufacture tailor-made products, in leather or technical fabric depending on the sector's constraints, with reasonable lead times and a contact person who knows the applicable standards. We don't sell from a catalog. We ask questions, understand the context, and we manufacture what truly fits the use. For sectors as constrained as nuclear power or high-voltage networks, this is the only way to do things correctly.

What the energy and telecom sector demands from work equipment

Electricity and telecommunications network technicians work in conditions that many people never see. The network maintenance technician who climbs a 60-meter very high voltage pylon in the middle of winter, the fiber optic cable layer who works on a telecom mast in an industrial zone, the wind turbine mechanic who goes up into the nacelle in all weathers: for these professionals, equipment is not a comfort, it is a working condition. If it fails, if it gets in the way, if it doesn't fit with intervention gloves, it's not just an inconvenience.

High voltage electrical grids: very specific constraints

Working on very high voltage (THT) or high voltage B (HTB) lines of a transmission network like RTE involves draconian safety protocols. Personal protective equipment must not only be certified (EN 361 for fall arrest harnesses, EN 362 for connectors), but it must also integrate into an environment where anything metallic, poorly insulated, or poorly secured represents a potential risk.

For Enedis technicians or regional distributors working on low voltage (BT) and medium voltage A (HTA) networks, the constraints are slightly different but just as real: often emergency interventions, in sometimes cramped transformer stations, with equipment that needs to be transported quickly from one point to another. We manufacture pouches and tool holders for them that are organized around the type of intervention: quick access to frequent tools, protection of measuring instruments, comfortable carrying for a full day of travel.

The same needs are found among their European counterparts. A National Grid technician in the UK, Terna in Italy, or Amprion in Germany works with different procedures but very similar physical constraints. We can work with teams based outside France, particularly for group orders during equipment renewals or infrastructure projects.

The nuclear sector: when material becomes a safety criterion

The nuclear sector is probably the most demanding in terms of traceability and control of equipment introduced into the zone. In an EDF power plant (or in a European equivalent such as the Electrabel power plants in Belgium, or EDF Energy facilities in the United Kingdom), everything that enters a controlled zone is subject to a strict procedure: inventory, material control, decontamination conditions upon exit.

For these environments, classic leather is not always the right choice. We offer equipment made of technical fabric, industrial canvas, or mixed materials that better meet decontamination requirements. Treated cotton canvas, for example, can withstand decontamination protocols that vegetable-tanned leather does not always tolerate. This is a reality we take into account from the initial brief: we do not recommend leather on principle; we recommend the material that suits the job.

For fall arrest and safety equipment (harnesses, lanyards, work positioning belts), the standards are the same as elsewhere: EN 361, EN 358, EN 355. But the configuration can differ: certain nuclear zones prohibit exposed metal on body parts close to sources (to avoid activation risks), which influences the design of fasteners and buckles. This is precisely the type of custom request we can handle.

Telecom and 5G: climbers who work fast and often

A network technician for Orange, SFR, or Free climbs regularly, sometimes several times a week. 4G/5G masts are everywhere: on building roofs, water towers, pylons in the open countryside. This is not the height work of a roofer or an arborist, who stays in one position for a long time. It's repetitive work, with a lot of rotations, a lot of quick movements, and real time pressure.

For this profile, an EN 358 work positioning belt is often more useful than a full harness on a daily basis, in addition to a regulatory fall arrest system. It allows the technician to brace themselves against a mast to work with both hands without being suspended. And it must be compatible with the tool holders attached to it, because a telecom technician climbs with their tools and cannot afford to make multiple trips.

We manufacture complete configurations for telecom teams: belt + tool holders + technician's pouch. In leather for those who prioritize durability, in canvas for those with weight or decontamination constraints. European operators (Cellnex, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Infrastructure) have similar needs, and we work on group orders for teams renewing equipment.

Wind power: a growing sector with still poorly met needs

Onshore and offshore wind turbines represent a rapidly developing sector, and work equipment for maintenance technicians has not yet reached the maturity seen in construction or nuclear. We still see many wind technicians using generic equipment that does not exactly match their needs: pouches that don't fit into narrow nacelles, tool holders that pivot when descending into the shaft, belts that deform under the weight of onboard electronic equipment.

The nacelle of a 3 MW wind turbine is a confined space, at height (sometimes 100 meters or more for offshore machines), with permanent vibrations and access via a steep internal ladder. The equipment taken up must be compact, securely fastened, and designed so that nothing falls into the machinery. We develop specific configurations for this sector: secure closure pouches, anti-rotation tool holders, retention systems for heavy tools.

SASSI France and our clients' CSR approachMore and more companies in the energy and telecom sector are integrating CSR criteria into their purchases. Choosing SASSI France means choosing French manufacturing (Paris 11th, since 1955), materials traced from European tanneries and suppliers, and equipment that lasts 5 to 10 years instead of 1 to 2 years for imported synthetics. This is concrete: less replacement, less waste, less logistical impact. We can provide a manufacturer's origin certificate, a material balance sheet, and a CSR sheet upon request, to help you document your responsible purchases for your stakeholders.

Custom canvas manufacturing: not a compromise, a full-fledged option

SASSI France is often associated with leather because it is our historic material and the one we master best. But for a long time, we have also manufactured in canvas. Not because we seek to expand our range on principle, but because certain contexts demand it: decontamination zones, chemical environments, positions where equipment weight is a criterion, or simply client preference for a lighter material.

Treated cotton canvas, 600 gr/m² industrial canvas, mixed canvas/leather materials to combine lightness and reinforcement at stress points: we master these techniques and apply them with the same level of demanding standards as to our leather pieces. The seams are the same, the hardware is the same, the internal organization of the pieces is designed with as much care. We do not have a sub-range.

For electrical sector clients who hesitate between leather and canvas, we systematically offer a technical brief: we ask questions about the work environment, the site's regulatory constraints, the team's habits, and we recommend the material and configuration that match. It's not a sale; it's a discussion between manufacturer and user.

Frequently Asked Questions: electrical networks, nuclear, telecom, wind power

Does SASSI manufacture equipment suitable for nuclear constraints?Yes. We work on specific configurations: decontamination-compatible materials, absence of exposed metal in certain areas, full traceability. Every nuclear order begins with a technical brief.

Can we have equipment in canvas instead of leather?Absolutely. We custom manufacture in treated cotton canvas, technical canvas, or mixed canvas/leather materials. We adapt the material to the use and site constraints, not the other way around.

How does SASSI support CSR initiatives?Manufacturing in Paris 11th, materials traced from European tanneries, durability 5 to 10 years, repairability in the workshop. We provide a certificate of origin, material balance sheet, and CSR sheet upon request to document your responsible purchases.

Do you equip network technicians, nuclear power plant agents, or telecom and wind power teams?Contact the SASSI France workshop. We ask the right questions before offering you anything.