«We are in the phase of industrialization on a scale 1 of our technology», greets Romain Epherre, president of Norimat, a Toulouse company which has moved to its new headquarters in Sesquières (Haute-Garonne). The move took place during the summer, the deeptech start-up – winner of the 6th wave of the France 2030 “first factory” call for projects – having been hosted by the CEA Tech Occitanie since 2017.
A spin-off from the Cirimat laboratory (Interuniversity Center for Research and Materials Engineering), the company created in 2015 masters the process of “flash sintering”, or “spark plasma sintering”, applied to the manufacture of 3D parts, either “the development and production of very high performance materials by powder densification», summarizes Romain Epherre.
With this “first factory” project, the 1,200 m² of the site will soon be able to accommodate new production lines: “they will allow us to scale up in the luxury, watchmaking and jewelry sector, as well as to mature in other strategic sectors for us : aeronautics, space, defense and energy», explains Romain Epherre. In terms of the calendar, “the first production line will be completed at the beginning of 2025. The others will arrive in a second investment phase, from 2026».
Potential opportunities in nuclear fusion
Concretely, these production lines are based on the hybridization of two innovations: additive manufacturing and a high-performance electric oven system. 3D printing makes it possible to model the parts that will be produced, their behavior and their deformation, which makes it possible to directly produce the parts in their final state and thus optimize the process. A technology that reduces material waste to less than 1%, ensures the young growth. “This digitalization is supported by our partners, the current leading manufacturers in the sector : the German company Dr Fritsch, the Japanese NJS, and the American California nanotechnology», underlines Romain Epherre.
The oven used is based on a high intensity pulsed electric current, sent through graphite tools. It allows a significant saving of time – two hours are necessary to densify a room with a temperature rising up to 2000°C, compared to around thirty hours using other more traditional processes – and offers the possibility of working families of refractory materials, inaccessible to other technologies, such as silicon carbide, present in power electronics.
The parts thus produced can thus power engine propulsion systems, whether turbine blades, turbines, but also anti-radiation shield installations in the nuclear sector. “We discuss a lot with the players positioned in nuclear fusion work, our technology interests them», Also supports Fabio Comere, sales and marketing director of Norimat.
Although Romain Epherre does not communicate Norimat’s turnover, he indicates that a major wave of recruitment is coming: “The company currently has around twenty employees. We are going to double the workforce in three to four next years».
Source: www.usinenouvelle.com
