26.09.2026

Alain Henri Freche 1937 – 2026

We have received the sad news that Alain Freche, co-founder of French equipment rental company FLS has died.

He passed away on September 20th just a few weeks shy of his 89th birthday.

Alain Freche started the company that he has dedicated his life to in 1966 in partnership with his father, Alexis. The business started out as Freche Père & Fils renting forklifts to local industrial users in the town of Vitrolles, next to Marseille airport north west of the city.

Alexis and Alain had previously worked in Algeria where they ran a construction equipment rental business, largely outside of the urban areas. After independence in 1962 they returned to France and considered their options. They initially traded in new and used equipment, mostly American and distributed Mills Scaffold products.

The company entered the aerial lift rental market in 1980, starting out with truck mounts, before expanding into self-propelled booms and scissor lifts. At around the same time it began building its depot network, and in 2015 acquired FBL with locations in Fos-sur-mer and Martigues which focused on the petrochemical industry.

The FLS brand came in 2023 by which time the company operated from 25 locations in France. Last year it acquired a number of locations from Locomod, taking its network 33 locations, while extending its area of operation. Revenues now exceed €50 million, with a 6,000 unit fleet, which includes all types of aerial lifts and telehandlers, with more than 300 employees. Today the company is managed by Laurence and Eric Freche, with two members of the fourth generation, Thomas Ichai and Justine Freche, now working in the company.

The company posted the following tribute:

“It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of Mr. Alain Frecche. Deeply attached to the company he developed, he was just as attached to the men and women who accompanied him and helped it grow over the years. A committed entrepreneur, he was guided by strong human values and has profoundly marked the history and identity of the group.”

“We will remember him as a passionate man, close to his teams and deeply invested in this human and entrepreneurial adventure.”