A partnership at the heart of Industry 4.0

Transcription

1 April 2016 SPRING TECHNOLOGIES and CM-CIC Innovation A partnership at the heart of Industry 4.0

2 Spring Technologies is a global specialist in machining simulation, and a key supplier to some of the world s largest companies including Airbus, Safran, Thalès, Nike and Toyota, along with the US Air Force. At a time when the factories of the future are starting to take shape, CEO Gilles Battier spoke to us about his ambitions. Gilles Battier

3 SPRING TECHNOLOGIES and CM-CIC Innovation: A fully optimised partnership. What does Spring Technologies do? Gilles Battier: In the early 1990s, we launched our NCSimul software, which allows a computer to simulate the behaviour of CNC machines. The solution quickly saw interest in leadingedge industries such as aerospace and medicine, since it avoids the risk of breakage in some very expensive equipment. For example, the landing gear of an A380 aircraft is a 180kg component machined from a 2-tonne block of titanium. A breakage would therefore be critical in terms of both cost and time. Since NCSimul is virtual, it does not tie up the CNC machines during development. Over the years, we have developed a comprehensive range of software to support the manufacturing process: simulating CNC machines, optimising cutting conditions, planning production, publishing technical content and programmes, and interconnecting CNC machines within workshops. Are your innovations involved in the shift towards Industry 4.0? G.B.: In the last 30 years, tougher competition has prompted manufacturers to use digital technology to optimise their production processes and increase productivity. However, the software packages used have become more numerous and complex, with no smooth workflow between them. With NCSIMUL CAM, which we launched in September, we addressed that problem by offering a common software platform for all existing CAM packages. One of the platform s benefits is that it makes scheduling easier. Given that 40% of method engineers will be retiring in the next five years, this will help new generations to acquire the skills they need more quickly. However, the main innovation is that the same programme can easily be adapted to different machines. In the event of a breakdown, a company can transfer production from one machine to another. If it has several sites, it will also be able to duplicate its production processes. And if it upgrades its CNC machines, the platform will make it quicker and easier to transfer production to new facilities. It cost almost 7 million to develop NCSIMUL CAM. How did you finance that? G.B.: This innovative system was the result of collaborative work involving two Business clusters named the Systematic (digital) and Astech (aerospace). I would also like to acknowledge the support of major groups like Airbus and Safran and the financial support we received from BPI and CIC, which were happy to help an innovative SME. The company also financed a large proportion of the

4 project with its own resources over a number of years. Our long-standing investor, CM-CIC Innovation, invested more money after working with us for around 10 years, and helped us encourage another partner, ACE Management, to support us as well. Your relationship with CM-CIC Innovation has lasted a long time: why is that? G.B.: It s mainly because we quickly developed a relationship of trust, which has been maintained for over 10 years. Supporting an SME in our industry requires a long-term approach to growth, and CM-CIC Innovation is an investor that understands that patience is sometimes necessary in the manufacturing sector. 10 million of revenue 800 customers 100 employees including 26 in R&D 1 patent

5 SPRING TECHNOLOGIES as seen by Émilie Lidome, CM-CIC Innovation. We have been working with Gilles Battier for over ten years now. That s what gave us the confidence to continue our partnership when the company s management team presented us with its new project: NCSIMUL CAM. Spring Technologies is a well known player in the CNC machining simulation market. In the era of Industry 4.0, the company s software solutions are giving their users production systems a major competitive edge. Émilie Lidome NCSIMUL CAM is more than just a product rounding out Spring Technologies range: it shows that the company s visionary CEO is able to anticipate market developments, enabling the company to broaden its market position and offer a complete digital suite for complex CNC machines. Accompanying the company along its growth path is central to the partnership between Spring Technologies management and CM-CIC Innovation.

6 CROIRE EN VOUS, C EST CAPITAL. Explorer de nouveaux territoires, aller plus haut, aller plus loin... Chez CM-CIC Innovation, nous croyons aux chefs d entreprise Exploring new qui territories, osent. Quels flying que higher, soient travelling leurs objectifs further... At de développement, CM-CIC Innovation, nous we believe accompagnons, in business leaders sur who dare fonds to take propres risks. et We dans provide la long-term durée, les support projets and equity technologiques financing to facilitate de plus the de technology projects of over 30 high-potential companies with a range 30 of development sociétés à objectives, fort potentiel, as part dans of genuine le cadre partnerships d un based véritable on partenariat mutual trust basé sur la confiance mutuelle. TheLINKS.fr - RCS Nantes B Avril Crédits photos : Getty Images - Spring Technologies. CM-CIC Innovation - Lyon Espace Cordeliers - 2, rue Président Carnot Lyon Cedex 02 Tél CM-CIC Innovation - Nantes 32 avenue Camus -BP Nantes Tél CM-CIC Innovation - Bordeaux 23, parvis des Chartrons Bordeaux Tél Head office 28 avenue de l Opéra PARIS