JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009 - 43

Fibre placement Main features AN INTERVIEW WITH CLEMENTINE GALLET, MANAGING DIRECTOR, CORIOLIS COMPOSITES JEC Composites Magazine: Business has really taken off again for you just lately. How do you account for this? CLEMENTINE GALLET: Our technology is tried and tested, six international patents testify to its innovative character, and our prices are attractive when compared to what our competitors have to offer. There is a growing need for automation in composite workshops, and we are the only ones to offer cost-effective, simple and reliable equipment. We are capitalising on 10 years of research and development into the automation (software, robots) and processing of composites, and it is in the wake of the major programmes launched by Airbus and Boeing that manufacturers have turned to us, which is a fortuitous turn of events considering that initially the technology was designed for manufacturing sailboat hulls! JCM: Have you set yourselves any particular growth objectives? C. G.: After eight years in business, the bottom line is that we are prospering as a company. We have delivered 3 systems in 2 years (Airbus, CNIM and Forest-Liné) and 3 new systems are on order for 2009. Our objective is to structure the company so that we are capable of delivering 10 systems in 2011, and put in place a genuine support network for after-sales and to help our customers to integrate our technology. JCM: Do you envisage the prospect of partnerships in order to pursue your growth in such a fast-changing environment? C. G.: Not at the moment, yet strategic opportunities may well present themselves. JCM: What are your benchmark applications? C. G.: The systems that we have designed make it possible to produce very thick single and double-curved panels, sharpedged spars, complex composite parts (honeycomb sandwich) and semi-plane parts, while associating high-level productivity with the precision required for the manufacturing of aircraft parts. The machine dimensions range from a simple robot to a complete cell integrating a robot with a linear axis of up to 20 m in length and a 3 m-diameter rotation axis for parts weighing up to 20 tons. JCM: You are not the only ones on this market. What is so special about Coriolis technology and service? C. G.: The first thing I would point to are all the innovations Corporate profile: Created: January 2001 Business Design, development and manufacture of fibre placement systems and software, R&D Location Turnover Lorient, France 2007: €700K 2008: €3M Application sectors Aeronautics, wind energy, Workforce automotive 22 by end of Q1 2009 that we have brought to fibre placement systems: a compact, lightweight head for ease of maintenance and use, reliable and robust fibre guidance and tension reduction systems, all mounted on automotive-type robots. We are the only company at present to propose industrial fibre placement systems mounted on a robot arm. This offers enhancements with regard to flexibility (versatility of applications: NDI, trimming, pickand-place), cost (setup and acquisition) and delivery deadlines. Another plus point is a software solution that we have developed for composites design, simulation and machine programming. This high-performance suite will soon be available in CATIA/DELMIA. Another of our assets is the fact that we have put in place a team of composites/robotics and software experts who provide our customers with all the support they need to help them familiarize themselves with automation, and who are extremely reactive to any request (specific software features, use of new materials, machine configuration). JCM: Do you export your wares and, if so, do you have any specific projects? C. G.: Yes, to Canada, Germany and the UK. I can't tell you any more about our projects. JCM: What are the main challenges that you have to face in the future? C. G.: Maintaining our technological lead by developing new products while working on the industrial development of our structures in order to cater to market requirements. JCM: What future do you see for Coriolis? C. G.: One that gets brighter and brighter! Our teams are young, dynamic, well-knit and motivated. Over the years of our development, we have built up a very solid base of complementary skills in order to take on all the challenges with which we have been faced. This base can now branch out in new directions, while leveraging this same innovative culture. The way we see it, working and doing business is first and foremost about doing something that we enjoy, taking the time to ensure that we move forward together and passing on our sense of being "pioneers". No47 March-April 2009 / jec composites magazine 43

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #47 - March/April 2009