Solid and encouraging initial results for the Center

CTMNC (Technical Centre for Natural Building Materials, e.g. CTTB [Technical Centre For Roof Tiles and Bricks])

The Technical Centre for Natural Building Materials is currently installing a branch with 15 staff at Limoges. The recruitment of the branch director is currently underway, as well as the installation of the testing equipment.

This 60-strong centre based in Clamart, supports the roof tile, brick and ornamental building stone industries (granite, marble, etc.).

The decision to have a base at Limoges is the result of a desire to be closer to the GEMH (Study Group into Heterogeneous Materials) to make use of its skills with clays, cements and enamels.

Currently, the CTMNC and the GEMH are collaborating on 4 research projects, two of which (“prevention of the development of green colouring in roof tiles”, and “lightweight shards”) are financed by the Limousin region.

SFC

The French Ceramics Society, technical Industrial Centre for ceramics, is setting up a branch at Limoges to be closer to the industries and initiate research projects with the participants at the Center.

This branch is currently being directed, in partnership with the 44 specialists present in Paris and Nancy, to undertake applied research into mineral raw materials, refractories, sanitary fittings, tiles, tableware and kitchenware, and technical ceramics.

CERADROP

The 4 employees at CERADROP based at the Technopole (industrial park) in Limoges, are using a new technique for shaping ceramics using a droplet spray, dedicated to the production of electronic components, electromechanical Microsystems, and catalyser casings.

CERADROP is a product of the ESTER Incubator. The company is the result of technology transfer from the SPCTS (Science Laboratory for Ceramics and Surface Treatment Processes).

CIMENTYS

Company with 2 employees that developed as a spin off from the ESTER Incubator, CIMENTYS is developing a mineral material based on aluminous cement, which solidifies at room temperature under hydraulic action. It has a glazed-looking surface and can be shaped by moulding or projection to produce decorative objects and signs, and for use in civil engineering and construction.

The company is the fruit of a technology developed at the GEMH laboratory [Study group into Heterogeneous Materials].

CILAS

CILAS is installing itself in the ESTER technopole in Limoges with a team of 3 to produce transparent ceramic pieces for lasers.

It will be the fourth French CILAS site, which develops and manufactures systems combining lasers with precision optics for civil and military applications.

The technology used comes from the Science Laboratory for Ceramic and Surface Treatment Processes at Limoges. It enables the production of fibre-optic rods in France, which are of considerable strategic interest, and which up until now were only produced in the United States and Japan.

EUROPEAN CERAMICS CENTER

The European Ceramics center is a vast building complex, bringing together on the same site at the ESTER industrial park the following 3 bodies, which are currently situated in the town centre of Limoges:
 The ENSCI, National Higher College for Industrial Ceramics
 The SPCTS laboratory, Science of Ceramics and Surface Treatment Processes (UMR CNRS 6638)
 The GEMH laboratory, Study Group into Heterogeneous Materials

Through the exchanges and synergies that it will facilitate between the numerous actors already present at ESTER, this Centre promotes:
 The emergence of new innovative projects
 The implantation of new businesses
 The international visibility of the European Ceramics Center

SERRASTONE

SERRASTONE established its head office at the ESTER industrial park and is getting ready to set up a stone workshop with 15 employees, as well as training and technology transfer centres.

The resulting reconstituted stones were developed in partnership with the Study Group into Heterogeneous Materials (GEMH).

IMERYS CERAMIC CENTRE

The IMERYS ceramic center is coming to ESTER with an international team of 12 people responsible for the technical and marketing development of new applications for raw mineral materials for ceramics.

Their decision is the result of a desire to benefit from the skills and equipment of the Center’s research laboratories.