Created in 1986, Vibratec is a French SME performing in the acoustic and vibration sector. It currently employs 50 persons. The company provides a range of services such as measurement, diagnosis, modelling or simulations, mainly to transport constructors.
To provide high technological solutions and to ensure its competitiveness, the company has quickly paid attention to European research opportunities. To this respect, Vibratec has been participating in EU research projects since the third Framework programme. It originally focused on rail transport programmes related to its initial market branch. Vibratec is now a reference in the field of railway and automotive acoustic measurement and is participating in a FP6 Integrated Project called SILENCE, led by AVL (Austria).
But the company did not restrict itself to traditional transport systems and chose to use Framework Programmes as a way to reach new markets such as the aeronautic sector. Therefore, Vibratec is currently participating in another FP6 project called MESSIAEN. This STREPS project focuses on the development of a new methodology for the simulation of noise generated by aircraft turbo machines and on the design of devices reducing critical noise sources. Within this project, Vibratec is working in close collaboration with major European aircraft industries such as Airbus, Rolls-Royce or Liebherr Aerospace.
Participating in European programmes represents, for such a company, heavy investments in terms of time spent coordinating and managing and travel costs. It is also agreed that requirements and procedures are hardly compatible with SMEs? resources and constraints. For example, Vibratec hired one business engineer who spends, on average, one quarter of its time managing EU projects. In addition, Vibratec chose not to lead EU projects even if the company is in a position to do so.
Despite this financial burden, Vibratec draws a positive assessment from its participation in EU projects. Beyond all the technological outputs that derived directly from these projects, their involvement allowed them to develop an extensive research and business network. Thanks to these programmes, Vibratec managed to break into the aeronautic and the aerospace market and is increasing its export business (currently 20% of its turnover)
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