Over the past five years, OberA has established itself as a key player at WorldSkills in France. To find out more, we spoke to Sacha Wehrli, sales manager and leader of the Taille de Pierre project at OberA.
Hello Sacha, OberA has become a key partner of WorldSkills France. Can you tell us more about this commitment?
Sacha Wehrli: Hello! For the past five years, we’ve been supporting WorldSkills in France. We took part in the national finals in Bordeaux in 2022, in Lyon in 2023, and we ended 2024 with a huge event, the Worldskills Mondiales finals, which took place in Lyon. We were also present very recently at the Grand-Est regional finals, in Metz at the end of January 2025. Our aim is to provide concrete solutions for current and future stonemasonry professionals.
What equipment do you offer for stonemasons?
Sacha Wehrli: We have developed a complete range of products tailored to the needs of stonemasons. These include our Dustomat 16 industrial dust extractor, which effectively captures the fine particles generated by stonemasonry work, and our mobile suction box .
ePURbox, which offers additional protection for marble workers. We can also mention our ePUR050 purifier , which plays a crucial role in environmental treatment. But our mission is not limited to equipment: we also play a fundamental educational role.
You mention an educational role. Can you tell us more?
Sacha Wehrli: Absolutely. Stonemasonry is a noble profession, almost a historic art in France. Since the Middle Ages, stonemasons have contributed to the construction of emblematic buildings, from cathedrals to castles. But this exceptional know-how must also be accompanied by optimum protection. Today, respiratory diseases are a vital issue. Silicosis, for example, is a common ailment among stonemasons. It is imperative that the new generation becomes aware of the risks and adopts appropriate solutions.
You also work in partnership with industry experts such as Guillaume Cahen. Can you tell us about this collaboration?
Sacha Wehrli: Yes, we recently started a partnership with Guillaume Cahen, a stonemason trained by the Compagnons du Devoir. He shares our vision of passing on this know-how, educating and, above all, protecting young craftsmen. Thanks to his experience, he makes young people aware of the importance of good practices and the use of appropriate equipment to protect their health.
What are OberA’s future plans for continuing this commitment?
Sacha Wehrli: We’ll be continuing our presence at major industry events, and continuing to innovate in order to offer ever more effective solutions. We also intend to step up our awareness-raising initiatives, notably in partnership with schools and training centers. The idea is to support these young people throughout their apprenticeship, so that they can practice this profession with passion, but also in complete safety.
A final word for young people who want to take up stonemasonry?
Sacha Wehrli: Stonemasonry is much more than a profession: it’s a passion, an art, a heritage. But to practice it sustainably, it’s essential to protect oneself. OberA is there to support this new generation, and we’ll always be committed to working alongside them.
Thank you Sacha for this fascinating exchange!
Sacha Wehrli: Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you at the Worldskills national finals in Marseille in October 2025!
Find all our stone-cutting solutions on Obera.fr.
