Thursday, April 12 :NAVAL GROUP : Talk in Class with Mathilde Gras-Davy

Post date: Apr 15, 2018 2:00:05 PM

Back in the 17th century were built the first arsenals in Lorient. The city became the siege of the rising firm Compagnie des Indes. This firm grew among the most influentials trading companies in this era of business between Europe and asian countries. Following the huge expansion of the company, the arsenals became more and more prominents. One century later in Ruelle was built the Fonderie de Ruelle which role was to make cannons for the french navy.

After the end of the Compagnie des Indes era, the arsenals of Lorient kept their activities such as the forges in Ruelle. It went through many different names and is now called Naval Group. It’s the European leader in naval defence and a major player in marine renewable energy. The group’s success as an advanced technology company with global impact is built on meeting customer needs by deploying exceptional knowledge, unique industrial resources and an ability to develop long terms partnerships. Naval Group designs and builds submarines and surface ships, develops associated systems and infrastructure, and offers a lots of services to naval bases and shipyards. The group has also expanded its focus into marine renewable energy. Naval Group generates annual revenues of 3 billion euros (5billion estimated in 2025) and employs 12,953 people in 18 countries. It’s a private law company in which the French state holds a

62% stake, keeping a right of veto over all sales. Thales group owns 35%, the companie’s staff 2% and the company itself less than 1%. . The group is implemented in 12 cities, including Lorient,Brest and Nantes and Ruelle.

To build a navy ship, there is a definite workflow : 2 systems are differentiated, the platform and the combat. The platform system is related to everything controlling navigation, networks and electricity grids into the ship which are called the central software.

The combat system contains all the military equipments, from the weapons to the boat, called the effectors. It’s apart from the platform system but it’s into the central software as well.

The company also works on nuclear submarines. These are the most complex buildings built by Naval Group. Where a car is formed by 5,000 pieces, a Boeing by 100 000 pieces, a nuclear submarine, is built with 1 million pieces.

To conclude, Naval group is a very influential company into naval equipments developpement as it’s an historical firm and as it works on the full cycle of construction of a navy structure, employing very talented engineers.

Jim.