Cooperation with Oerlikon and Safran is the culmination of two long-standing partnerships
In June, a press release was sent to the media: “Safran, Oerlikon, CNRS and the University of Limoges create a joint research lab and technology platform for surface treatment in southwest France,” was its headline (see next page). High-ranking representatives of the participating partners had signed a corresponding contract at the “Paris Air Show” trade fair. The two projects that are at the center of this: PROTHEIS, a joint research institute, and the technology platform SAFIR.
For Philippe Thomas and Alain Denoirjean, this is the culmination of two long-standing partnerships linking the IRCER with both Oerlikon and the French Safran Group operating in the aviation sector. “The fact that we are now realizing a joint institute with these two partners means that we can join forces and transfer our research directly to the aerospace industry!” PROTHEIS is reserved for basic research and innovation in the field of TLR 1–4 of the Technology Readiness Level* and exclusively for the project partners.
The SAFIR technology platform, on the other hand, will cover the areas up to TLR 6 (definition: prototype in the operational environment), depending on the research object, and is open to the entire industry. “This means that we can offer ‘saleable’ research while still improving coatings – which is essential for us,” says Alain Denoirjean. His enthusiasm is contagious, and he is looking forward to working in this new platform during the last quarter of 2020: “We will be able to work with the latest generation of equipment, including an INNOVENTA Kila from Oerlikon Balzers, and a Thermal Spray system from Oerlikon Metco, and with test tracks that we can work with under industrial conditions ... but unfortunately we still have to wait until the new building is finished, because we are talking about around 1,000 square meters of laboratories and offices!”