ST-ETIENNE'S NATIONAL TEST FACILITY OPEN ITS DOORS TO GICAT par Gicat
2010-04-15
Through visits of GICAT to its members, our charge of Economic Studies, Mr Jeremy Vigna, was hosted April 7, 2010, the premises of the National Test Facility, located in Saint-Etienne, Director of the M . Renaudot Patrice.
Historical (established in 1782), the National Test Facility is also unique in France. This small enterprise of 25 people has today 4 core businesses:
- Small arms testing, which is a unique service in France has been compulsory since 1960 for all small arms. It is done according to international rules of the CIP (Commission Internationale Permanente) to 12.7 mm ;
- Small Arms Neutralization, 1st, 4th, 5th and 7th categories to 25mm caliber and weapon systems onboard all sizes and for collectors wishing to retain their weapons ;
- Approval and testing of munitions, for companies wishing to manufacture and market small-caliber ammunition and for laboratories wishing to manufacture cartridges ;
- A laboratory test of ballistic resistance materials, high technology that allows for resistance testing, according to French and international standards or according to specific specifications on armor steel and aluminum, glass, textiles and personal protective equipment (vests, inserts, helmets, visors, goggles, shields), ceramics, composite structures, paintings, metals. These materials are subject to various projections: a range of munitions that extends from .22 LR to 20x139mm, flashing swords and stimulants such as rocks, splinters, fragments standard. This SME is a center for ballistic R & D and certification of new protective products.
Finally, the National Test Bench of Saint-Etienne is a member of GICAN via the Defence cluster of Lyon EDEN, the Association of Banks in Europe Edition (CIP) and clusters Techtera and I-TRANS.
The meeting between Mr. Vigna and Mr. Renaudot revolved around a presentation of the test rig, its activities, its international operations and a tour of the premises which allowed him to understand the process test the ballistic resistance of materials. The question of the removal of excess material and the organization and the services provided by the GICAT have also been at the center of discussions.
