Industry
The industrialists of the Route des Lasers competitiveness cluster benefit from the high level of applied research in Aquitaine. They have shown a strong sense of innovation, both in products and processes, as major vectors to enter new markets at both the national and international level.
The cluster includes 70 companies in two main branches:
• Pivotal optics: one third of the companies are establishments which produce intermediate optical goods, such as light sources and components.
• Applied optics: the establishments which consume intermediate optical goods, such as equipment makers and systems manufacturers, which incorporate optical sources and/or components into their products, make up the other two thirds of the companies in the cluster.
• Applied optics: the establishments which consume intermediate optical goods, such as equipment makers and systems manufacturers, which incorporate optical sources and/or components into their products, make up the other two thirds of the companies in the cluster.
A total of 8,850 jobs
A network of small and medium sized companies operating in the field of optics-photonics technologies and lasers, including :
- AMPLITUDE SYSTEMES, diode-pumped ultrafast solid-state lasers for scientific and industrial applications.
- ASTF, design and implementation of thin-sheet metal assemblies and aeronautics tubing, including cut-out and laser 6D welding
- EDIT, plug-and-play measurement instruments to control industrial processes based on laser, infrared and microwave technologies
- EOLITE SYSTEMS, ultra-fast optical instrumentation, fiber lasers, industrial equipment
- ES TECHNOLOGY, manufacture of industrial lasers for marking and coding applications
- i2S, embedded vision systems, optoelectronics systems, automated biomedical analysis, optoelectronic test benches
- ISP AQUITAINE, industrial production engineering: mechanical engineering, automated systems, robotics, optomechanics
- NOVALASE, industrial solutions and techniques for laser micro-machining
- PROCONCEPT INGENIERIE, design of manufacturing optimization systems, nondestructive testing, 2D/3D laser telemetry measurement
- PRODITEC, manufacture of viewing machines
- SEIV AQUITAINE, study and production of precision mechanical assemblies
- SERELLE, mechanically welded plate working, laser cut out
- SERMA TECHNOLOGIES, expert evaluation of electronics technologies
- SERTA Aerospace & Defence, precision mechanical engineering, high-performance mechanical engineering, fiber optic installations
- SOREM, customized optics, manufacture of transparent materials in broad transmission bands, implementation of optical components, design and manufacture of mechanical-optical assemblies
- SST LASER, laser solutions for welding, engraving, and marking
- SYCLOPE ELECTRONIQUE, equipment for water analysis and treatment
- TDM INGENIERIE, equipment builder, complex systems and turnkey systems for aeronautics, maritime, rail and industry
Major companies that lead in their markets :
• ACTEON SATELEC, technological equipment for dentistry
• CILAS, systems combining laser and precision optics for military, scientific and industrial markets
• EADS ASTRIUM ST, nondestructive testing and industrial imagery
• GCG Erma Electronique, studies and production of electronic assemblies
• GERAC, manufacture of cyclotrons, EMC engineering and evaluation, CW field generating systems
• ISIS MPP, design, process and maintenance of cards, sub-assemblies and electronic and complex industrial computer systems
• LECTRA, equipment supplier for the textile industry, incorporating lasers and imaging systems
• OXYMETAL, laser cut out of metal parts for industry
• PHOTONIS, development and production of optoelectronic components, with specialization in photo sensor technology.
• QUANTEL, solid-state lasers and fiber lasers for scientific and industrial markets
• SAGEM Défense Sécurité, specialist in optoelectronic system technologies
• SNECMA PROPULSION SOLIDE, aeronautics and space power plants and composite materials, StarSiC® mirrors for Earth and space observation
• THALES DIVISION AERONAUTIQUE, optical technologies for piloting assistance
Young, Innovative companies
• CORDOUAN Technologies, devices for laser metrology and physical-chemical characterization• POLYRISE, solutions and expertise in materials and nanotechnology polymers for optics
• PULSCAN, photonic testing systems for integrated circuits
A culture of company grouping
The need for SMEs to climb the value chain, the globalization of markets, and the push by prime contractors for more comprehensive bids encourages companies to group their resources.
Three important groups have emerged in the field of optics and lasers :
• GLOBAQ: five companies specialized in studies to test resources for the aeronautics market and maintenance of complex systems have joined forces to establish a position in laser integration line maintenance (LIL), a prototype of the Laser Megajoule. Two companies, SEIV AQUITAINE, and CMA-CERMECA have worked for over 30 years for CEA CESTA, AQMO, SACA and DUFFAU, three bridgeheads among company federations.
• Aquitaine Inter Groupe combines the strengths of i2S, Coverplant, ECI, Microcontrôle, and Novalase, specialized in test benches and inspections, in particular for aeronautics, space and defense.
• The companies Eolite Systems, Amplitude Systèmes, Novalase, and i2S have associated within ALPhA to offer innovative solutions based on the manufacture and quality control of solar cells using thin layer crystalline silicon. The purpose of the consortium is to offer manufacturers of photovoltaic elements the necessary tools to improve performance, such as lasers, viewing systems, optomechanical devices, in order to optimize production or to improve the architectures of solar cells with disruptive technology and high conversion yields.
Markets
Optics and laser resources are usually incorporated into other technologies such as electronics, IT and materials sciences. They are widespread technologies like IT and electronics. The leading markets targeted by optics companies at the national level are defense, aeronautics, space, medical equipment, industrial production, telecommunications, and scientific instrumentation. A survey of 35 companies in the optics-lasers sector conducted by ALPhA in September 2008 showed that in Aquitaine, the leading markets are industrial production, aeronautics and space, scientific instrumentation, medical equipment and electronics.
