Since its inception, our Group has moved forward through innovation with and for its customers. This reflects its culture, strategy and partnerships, but also its resources.

It set the tone as early as 1893 with its patent for the carbon graphitation process. Innovation was clearly set to become the driving force for our Group. But not innovation for the sake of it. Our research efforts, which are pragmatic and application-based, always begin with the same considerations: What will be the markets of the future? And so what will be the needs of my customers in the close or distant future?
Ideas evolve from our close market watch that will help our customers to make progress by making their equipment safer or more efficient in terms of their consumption of energy and natural resources. And, lastly, more competitive or easier to maintain over a longer period. This dual emphasis sets us apart and gives us a lead in the market.
Our customers are our leading research partners. Our commitment alongside them takes various forms ranging from a dedicated team to full-scale joint development. Around this collaborative core, we have forged close relationships with leading partners, such as universities, leading engineering schools and some of the best known research institutes in the world (CNRS, CEA, Fraunhofer, Ines, Minatech, Powertech, etc.).
An ability to innovate also depends on having the right resources. Organized into specialized labs coordinated by a cross-divisional steering committee, our R&D teams share their knowledge via various events and dissemination tools.
But testing is crucial for this knowledge to crystallize into something useful. Among other resources, three test beds are able to replicate the most exacting conditions that our electrical solutions have to contend with. Our labs our also capable of simulating any type of environment (extreme temperatures and humidity rates) to measure the useful life and performance of our carbon-based products.