Excalibure association launched to create Powder Metallurgy centre of excellence in France
March 15, 2017
During a recent meeting held at the Pavillon de L’Industrie in Le Creusot, France, Jean-Claude Lenain was announced as Excalibure’s first President (courtesy PNB)
France’s PNB, The University of Burgundy and Ecosphère Agency have announced the official creation of Excalibure, a new association of industrial and academic partners collaborating in various Powder Metallurgy projects. During a recent meeting held at the Pavillon de L’Industrie in Le Creusot, France, Jean-Claude Lenain, Chairman of PNB, was announced as the association’s first President.
The reported objective of Excalibure is to create a chain of industrial partners, facilitating the sharing of research and development and the growth of the industry. Since its creation, companies Areva, Arcelor Mittal, Solcera and Lisi Aèrospace have committed to a relationship with the association and will work in partnership with the University of Burgundy, Ecosphere and the PNB on future projects.
Plans were also announced to have a centre of excellence in Powder Metallurgy established in Creusot early 2019. The centre will make it possible for the partnered companies to pool their investment costs, diminishing individual economic risk. The total planned investment for the project is around €10 million, including €7 million for equipment which will also include a new Hot Isostatic Press.
Stéphanie Corre, head of the Centre for the Research of Materials in Creusot, stated, “The sharing of the Excalibure platform allows us not to invest alone in this major project, which reduces our risk- taking and allows us to be confident in the viability of this project.”
