HECLA, EFLA´s subsidiary in France, celebrates its 25th anniversary today, denoting a significant milestone in its progress in power transmission engineering and energy infrastructure. Over the past quarter-century, the company has grown into a reliable international engineering partner, building its reputation on technical excellence, innovation, and lasting client relationships.
To mark this special occasion, HECLA’s COO, Christophe Baldet, has written this article to reflect on the company’s development, achievements, and ambitions for the future.
25 Years of HECLA: A Milestone, a Continuity, an Ambition
In 2001, HECLA was founded with a clear ambition: to provide high-level expertise to energy sector stakeholders, particularly in the field of power transmission networks, building on the experience of seasoned engineers and strong industrial partners. From the outset, the company was structured around a well-defined core business: the engineering of power transmission lines, with a strong focus on technical rigor and a deep understanding of transmission system operators’ needs.
Twenty-five years later, this foundation remains unchanged — and has only grown stronger.
Today, HECLA is a recognized, independent engineering company, part of the EFLA group, and firmly established within the power transmission ecosystem. Our long-standing relationship with RTE since 2003 is a strong testament to this, as is the continued trust of our clients in France and internationally. With more than 1,000 projects completed, we have built on our historical expertise while gradually expanding the scope of our activities.
In its early years, HECLA developed its expertise around the modeling and reinforcement of steel structures applied to overhead lines, addressing key challenges related to network reliability. This positioning was shaped by a specific context: following the severe storms of 1999, which significantly impacted infrastructure across France, a large-scale national program was launched in the early 2000s to strengthen and secure the transmission network.
From its very first years, HECLA contributed to this effort by supporting transmission system operators in strengthening and improving the robustness of existing assets. This period played a defining role in the company’s development, anchoring its expertise in technically demanding projects with high strategic value for network operators.
Initially focused on the modeling and reinforcement of individual structures, HECLA progressively expanded its scope to address entire transmission lines, particularly through network reinforcement and security studies. This evolution naturally led to a broader, more integrated approach to infrastructure.
Today, HECLA operates across the full lifecycle of power transmission assets: from the design of new lines to capacity optimization (uprating), modernization of existing infrastructure (upgrading), reinforcement and rehabilitation, as well as field measurements, diagnostics, and advanced technical expertise. The integration of technologies such as distributed temperature sensing (DTS), the use of drones for inspections, and increasingly advanced modeling capabilities all reflect this evolution.
Beyond tools and technologies, our organization has also evolved. HECLA is now a compact team of experts, able to combine engineering, field measurements, and technical support to project owners, with a strong commitment to quality and responsiveness. This agility is one of our key strengths: it allows us to adapt to the specific challenges of each project while maintaining a high level of technical excellence.
This anniversary is also an opportunity to reflect on how far we have come in terms of positioning. From a specialized engineering office, HECLA has become a comprehensive technical partner, capable of supporting both design phases and expert assessments of existing assets, in France and abroad.
This is also something I have experienced personally. After nearly twenty years with the company, I have seen HECLA evolve without ever losing its identity: no abrupt shifts, but rather steady progress, project after project, client after client. This long-term approach, built on expertise and trust, is a key factor behind the strength of our position today.
But these 25 years are not just about looking back — they are a foundation for what comes next.
The energy sector is currently undergoing profound transformations: energy transition, network adaptation, integration of renewable energy sources, and increasing environmental constraints. In this context, the need for specialized engineering, optimization of existing infrastructure, and network reliability is greater than ever.
HECLA is fully committed to playing its part in these challenges.
Our ambition is to continue developing in line with what has defined us from the beginning: recognized technical expertise, close relationships with our clients, and the ability to deliver on complex projects, both in France and internationally.
Above all, this journey is driven by the people of HECLA. Their commitment, expertise, and ability to work together are the true engines of our development.
Celebrating HECLA’s 25th anniversary is both an opportunity to take pride in what has been achieved and to reaffirm a conviction: our value lies in our ability to evolve without ever losing what defines us — technical excellence, client proximity, and a strong appetite for complex challenges.
HECLA’s story is one of continuity. The next 25 years have already begun.