NEW HORIZONS OPEN OUT FOR MICROCERTEC
Firstly, let us focus back on 2010 who was a year of diversification for Microcertec into complementary businesses: share acquisition at KERDRY a specialist company in thin-film metal and optical coatings and joint setting-up of the company PNL INNOTECH that manufactures ceramic-to-metal and glass-to-metal brazed assemblies with three professionals having a proven and long-standing experience in this field. Very much alike Microcertec, those two companies operate in high-tech niche markets with quite often identical customers. The genuine complementarity nature that exists between the tree companies will allow us from now on to offer our customers a wider range of products in order to assist them better in their requirements and future projects. Two more grinding engineers were added to our production team in order to cope with the continuous increase of our business. And, to comply with our customers’ enhanced requirements in inspection and final cleaning of their parts we recruited an operator who is dedicated to these operations.
Another path for development is related to laser micro-machining and its integration within our company after a few years of subcontracting. A high-precision multi axes machining equipment is being completed and will be operational soon. As a proof to being an innovative technology, this investment scheme was supported by the French state-funded innovation agency “OSEO Innovation” and the County trade development board “Seine et Marne Développement”. Pascal Metayer who has a Ph.D in laser to materials interaction joined us last December to become the technical and production manager of this unit. This new activity will allow us to develop 3D ceramic interconnection circuits with thin-film metal layers made by Kerdry, and maybe one day integrated onto a multi-pin hermetic flange.
Finally, we recently launched a programme for the construction of a 3000 sq. meter new factory with the aim of supporting our expansion projects. This building which has a surface nearly twice bigger than the existing one should be ready during the summer 2012. It will give us increased production capacity as well as the ability to put in place suitable equipment for cleaning parts that require a clean environment and improve the working environment of our employees.
We thus remain faithful to one of our quality commitment : continuous improvement.