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The coal and steel industries of the Decazevillois Basin have been replaced by a diversified industrial system made of SMEs and companies with a high technological potential (S.A.M. Technologies, Forest Liné, Umicore). Those companies constitute an important hub of the Mecanic Vallée and also gather the national equipment suppliers of the automobile and aeronautical industries (Bosch, Filtrauto, Lisi Aerospace) and the subcontractors
in the precision engineering, the machine tool, the foundry. The mechanical engineering- transformation of metal sector h is today a major sector of the aveyronnaise economy. |
 A real industrial unit |
The sector of mechanics represents a true industrial unit which provides jobs for over 6250 people. It is made of companies working in
the automobile industry, the aeronautical industry and the machine tool.
Source: ASSEDIC 2004
Branches of industry
| Materials |
- Metals
- Foundries
- Plastics
- Miscellaneous materials
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| Metal working |
- Metal construction
- Metal working
- Coach-building
- Metal treatment and plating
- Cutlery
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| Mechanical engineering |
- Parts for the automobile and aeronautical industries
- Precision engineering
- Machine tools and cutting equipment
- Metal construction
- Mechanical engineering for agriculture
- Equipment
- Design engineering
- Specialist machines
- Control
- Automation
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Eco industry is a transverse activity. It's the treatment and the recycling of ferrous, nonferrous metals and plastics. It's expanding in Decazevillois Basin with 3 companies :
SNAM (battery recyclage), SOUD’ETAIN (alloy recycling) and SOPAVE (plastic recycling).
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| A major industrial sector |
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| Source : COFACE / SOCIETE.com - chiffres 2004 |
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| The reality of 'Mechanical Engineering Valley' |
 Situated in an area from Rodez to Figeac and extending as far as Brive, 'Mechanical Engineering Valley' is made up of a major network of companies working in the precision engineering and transformation of metals sectors, supplying the automobile industry, the aeronautical industry, foundries and machine tools.
A number of sub-contractors and service companies have effectively created an important competence network in the field of state of the art metal technology.
'Mechanical Engineering Valley' is officially recognised by DATAR as forming a "Localised Production System" (an industrial district).
- Centre Brive – Tulle - Ussel
Based around BW and DESHORS,
machine tooling and the automobile industry.
- Centre Figeac - St.Céré
Based around RATIER-FIGEAC AERO, SERMATI, the aeronautical industry, propellers, command modules and specialist control machines.
- Centre Rodez - Decazeville - Villefranche de Rouergue - Capdenac
Key players:
- ROBERT BOSCH,
petrol and diesel fuel injection systems,
- LISI AEROSPACE (part of the LISI group), high performance nuts, bolts and screws for the aeronautical industry (No.2, world-wide),
- S.A.M. TECHNOLOGIES (part of the ARCHE group), high pressure foundry for aluminium, zinc and magnesium,
- FILTRAUTO (SOGEFI group),
oil filters for the automobile industry,
- UMICORE, machine tools,
- FOREST LINE, worked laminated zinc plus accessories,
- SOFOP, precision engineering, prototypes and specialist machines,
- FORGE DE LAGUIOLE, design and manufacture of cutlery,
Mecanic Vallée
14,000 jobs, 40 % of which are based in Aveyron, with a turnover of approximately 2bn. euros.
A website: www.mecanicvallee.com |
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| Localised Production System |
Vocational Training
Qualification/Certificate of Technical Education (CTE)
One of the most important training centre for apprenticeships in Midi-Pyrénées
Several Vocational Training Qualification offered : metal working, electric motor assembly, electrical engineering, mechanic.
Several CTE : metal working and metal structures, manufacture of machine tools option plastics and composites, industrial automation trades, maintenance of automated mechanical systems, maintenance of motor vehicles.
BAC PRO
One the highest success rates in France, notably in technical and technological options.
SECONDARY SCHOOL VOCATIONAL DIPLOMAS: maintenance of vehicles, maintenance of automated mechanical systems, industrial product design; plastics and composites, manufacture of machine tools, industrial automation, energetics
HIGHER EDUCATION
An assortment of degrees (level Baccalaureate +2 years up to + 5 years) offered by the Jean-François Champollion university, IUT, colleges (incl. a college labelled "lycée in metiers related to mechanical engineering and the automobile industry), Centre Consulaire de Formation:
- BTS:
metal working ; Mechanics and automation, industrial product design ; design and manufacture of machine tools ; electrical engineering , electronics.
- DUT:
quality, production management and organisation ; Information Technology
- Professional degrees : computerized management of production, quality management, science of industrial production
- BAC +4, +5 : Management of the environment and industrial risk management, data-engineering degree
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Innovation and technical support
A network of excellence Technological hub (Rodez/Decazeville): Design of new industrial products
Critt, Centre for applied automation in industrial production (Albi)
Automac (Clermont-Ferrand): association of companies in the automobile industry, in the heart of the Massif Central.
In addition, the département is situated within the network comprising engineering schools and research centres.
- Albi: the Ecole des Mines (Engineering faculty)
- Tarbes: Engineering faculty specialising in high speed engineering processes.
- Toulouse: several engineering faculties and a major European centre for research into mechanical engineering, materials and aeronautics.
These faculties place great emphasis on the development of close links with companies, thus building bridges between academia and industry.
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| Technological Excellence |
Because of the quality and precision of their work, companies within Aveyron are able to meet the requirements and specifications of major European customers.
- Precision metal working, large production runs of parts measured to 1/10 th of a micron
(BOSCH - SOFOP)
- Plasma deposits, innovation in the field of artificial limbs (2PS)
- Leading manufacturer in France of digitally controlled machine tools, and specialised in high speed machine tooling (FOREST LINE)
- SOPAVE:
leading company in France in plastics recycling
- S.A.M. Technologies: only foundry in France to handle magnesium under pressure
- SNAM: leading company in Europe for the treatment of cadmium-nickel batteries
- Cutting machinery (BOURGEOIS)
- Nuts bolts and screws for the aeronautical industry (LISI AEROSPACE),
No.2 world-wide.
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Leading figures in the industry testify
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 Albert WEITTEN - Manager, BOSCH France - Rodez - (parts for the automobile industry).
"Bosch is a major supplier to all the leading car manufacturers in Europe. Bosch France continues to expand, and the plant at Rodez has seen significant investment, making it one of our leading sites in France. The quality of the Aveyronnais workmanship and the economic environment which means sub-contractors capable of meeting our quality specifications justify and reinforce our presence in Aveyron." |
 M. WEITTEN
BOSCH
Parts for the automobile industry
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 Bernard CAZES – Manager, LISI AEROSPACE – (nuts, bolts and screws for the aeronautical industry)
"In a few years, our company has doubled in size, now standing at over 500 employees. Specialising in nuts, bolts and screws for the aeronautical industry, we are based in Villefranche de Rouergue, within the industrial orbit of Toulouse, the european capital of the aeronautical industry. The major investment which the company has recently made is based on the forecast growth of civil aviation and thus reinforces our presence here." |
M. CAZES
LISI AEROSPACE
Nuts, bolts and screws for the aeronautical industry |
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 Patrick BELLITY - General Manager, S.A.M. Technologies - part of the ARCHE Group - (High pressure foundries working with aluminium, magnesium and zinc)
"The leading foundry in France specialising in high tech components for the automobile industry, S.A.M. Technologies continues to grow, with a turnover of some 60m euros in 2000, 40% through exports. With 600 employees and an investment of 18m euros over the last four years at our plant in Viviez-Decazeville, S.A.M. Technologies has strengthened its management team and restructured its activities with a view to doubling the size of the company by 2005." |
M. BELLITY
S.A.M. Technologies
High pressure foundries |
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 Patrick ARCHIER - Manager, SOCIETE NOUVELLE D'AFFINAGE DES METAUX - (Metals transformation)
"The rapid spread of portables illustrates the need for recycling metals. To this economic necessity, one should also add the concern for the environment. Our company, European leader in the treatment of cadmium-nickel batteries, finds it quite natural that we should have set up in an area not only of great natural beauty but also with a well established industrial tradition. Aveyron meets both these requirements and has also demonstrated a strong desire to support a sector involving the treatment of metals and materials. Our future is thus mapped out and with the help of the university research laboratories close-by, we have recently created a new technological advance in the field of the treatment of "lithium-ion"." |
M. ARCHIER
SOCIETE NOUVELLE D’AFFINAGE DES METAUX
Metals transformation |
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 Bernard DALMON – Administrator, DEFI 12 – (Consultant)
"New communication and information techniques give rural areas an new opportunity - tranquillity. Design consultants are the avant-garde of the industrial world. Aveyron offers a balance between man and his environment. Living and working in the countryside is no longer a dream, but the proof of the post-industrial age, the realisation of this philosophy in Aveyron." |
M. DALMON
DEFI 12
Consultant |
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 Claude CARBON - General Manager, FOREST LINE CAPDENAC - (Machine Tools production)
"Forest-Liné exists because we invent and make machines that others cannot make. We innovate and are constantly ahead of our competitors. This is our strength.
The development of composite materials in the manufacturing of structures of the avionics - which is the sector where Forest-Liné is indisputably a leader - allows us to foresee a significant development of the company on the site of Capdenac." |
M. CARBON
FOREST LINE CAPDENAC
Machine Tools production |
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 Michel POUX, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, SOFOP (Precision engineering)
"With natural discretion, quality of workmanship with skills. These are the qualities which enable us to compete in the extremely high tech world of aeronautics, space exploration, the arms industry, the automobile industry, rallying and Formula 1, the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries." |
M. POUX
SOFOP
Precision engineering |
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Philippe MEJANE - President and Chief Executive Officer, J.BOURGEOIS S.A. (Precision engineering and cutting equipment).
"Set in Decazeville, in the center of the Mecanic Vallée , near by 2 of the leaders in the manufacture of car components and in the orbit of Toulouse aeronautics, the Bourgeois company recently entered the SOFIC group. It gathers four SMEs with complementary activities in the metallurgy sector: precision mecanical engineering, sheet metal manufacturing, laser and water jet cutting, design and manufacturing of specific machines.
The aim of our group is to propose to its customers, the most complete possible service, while preserving the same flexibility and the reactivity as a SMEs. With a qualified and motivated local staff, the bet is laid." |
M. MEJANE
J.BOURGEOIS S.A.
Precision engineering and cutting equipment |
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Aveyron Expansion - 33, avenue Victor Hugo - 12000 Rodez