This will enable Sopemea to supplement and extend its service offerings to British industry and to its many French customers present in the United Kingdom.
Both companies share an identical test offering for industries in the energy, defence, air and land transportation sectors.
A subsidiary of Apave, a global provider of inspection services to organisations in the construction, oil and gas, renewables and marine energy sectors, Sopemea has over 130 employees. The company operates three laboratories in France which specialise in the environmental testing of materials and equipment across numerous sectors including aerospace, defence, rail, energy, nuclear, automotive, electronics and medical.
Customers include Airbus, Boeing, Alstom, Thalès, Eurotunnel, SNCF, RATP, Volvo, Renault-Nissan and EDF.
Based in Bideford, Devon, PARC has almost 20 years testing experience in such areas as vibration, shock, climatic, salt spray, ingress protection, altitude and HALT tests (Highly Accelerated Life Testing).
Accredited under No. 2379 by the UKAS British national accreditation body, PARC is a 900m² laboratory fitted out with a fleet of five electrodynamic vibration tables and 24 controlled environment chambers. The company has 17 employees.
Stéphane Torrez, chairman of the Sopemea Group commented: “This acquisition is a great opportunity to establish a base outside our borders for the first time and in a territory with a huge potential. PARC gives us the opportunity to support our customers’ international activities by being present locally and offering them a full range of testing and maintenance services."
Richard Tabor, general manager of PARC said: “I'm delighted PARC is now part of the Sopemea Group. It will enable the laboratory to pursue its development by providing its British customers with the full range of services from a renowned leader."