marchés News breaks wINDUsTRIAL sTRATEGY Unified solid propulsion capabilities s afran has announced an <strong>in</strong>dustrial and commercial collaboration agreement with SNPE Matériaux Energétiques to bolster its solid propulsion bus<strong>in</strong>ess. The Group could thus comb<strong>in</strong>e SNPE’s expertise <strong>in</strong> energetic materials (propellants) with the solid rocket motor (SRM) capabilities of its subsidiary Snecma Propulsion Solide. “This acquisition should enable us to create a new center of excellence <strong>in</strong> our Group, one that will have a very positive technological impact on our bus<strong>in</strong>esses, especially <strong>in</strong> solid propulsion and composite materials,” said <strong>Safran</strong> CEO Jean-Paul Herteman. The comb<strong>in</strong>ed solid propulsion bus<strong>in</strong>ess consolidated with<strong>in</strong> <strong>Safran</strong> would have nearly 3,000 employees, an R&D unit with over 600 scientists and eng<strong>in</strong>eers, and annual revenues estimated at more than 650 million euros <strong>in</strong> 2011. Based on the same vertical <strong>in</strong>tegration structure as all specialists <strong>in</strong> solid propulsion, this new unit would bolster its competitiveness and become No. 2 worldwide <strong>in</strong> this sector. Fast growth <strong>in</strong> the security market s afran, already a major player <strong>in</strong> biometrics, has become the world leader <strong>in</strong> this market follow<strong>in</strong>g an agreement with L-1 Identity of the United States to acquire its biometrics, access control and secure ID document operations. <strong>Safran</strong> is count<strong>in</strong>g on the complementary fit of these bus<strong>in</strong>esses to offer the lead<strong>in</strong>g high-tech solutions <strong>in</strong> the security market, pend<strong>in</strong>g def<strong>in</strong>itive approval of the acquisition by U.S. authorities, expected <strong>in</strong> the first quarter of 2011. This acquisition marks a major step forward <strong>in</strong> <strong>Safran</strong>’s clearly def<strong>in</strong>ed strategy to establish high-tech leadership <strong>in</strong> the Group’s three core markets, namely aerospace, defense and security. © arianespace naIaD at aIrceLLe In October 2009, Aircelle delivered the high-tech NAIAD – Nacelle Innovative and Acoustic Demonstrator – to fellow Group company snecma, the aero-eng<strong>in</strong>e specialist. Based on the extensive use of composite materials and <strong>in</strong>novative production processes (thermoplastic form<strong>in</strong>g, for <strong>in</strong>stance), this nacelle will shortly be tested along with the MAsCOT eng<strong>in</strong>e demonstrator for the <strong>in</strong>tegrated powerplant system be<strong>in</strong>g developed by CFM International for the new LEAP-X eng<strong>in</strong>e. Aircelle thus confirms the major objectives of its technology strategy, based on new-generation nacelles that are lighter, quieter and easier to ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>. © Digital Vision tHe year oF MeXIco Mexico will be <strong>in</strong> the spotlight <strong>in</strong> 2011, <strong>in</strong> particular with The Year of Mexico <strong>in</strong> France, a program chaired by safran CEO Jean-Paul Herteman on the French side. This event celebrates the many cultural, scientific and economic ties between the two countries, which the safran group had already spotlighted throughout 2010. Mexico holds a very special role <strong>in</strong> the Group’s development strategy, as reflected <strong>in</strong> events such Messier: 3 <strong>in</strong> 1 T he A350, Boe<strong>in</strong>g 787 and other new aircraft programs <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly demand more highly <strong>in</strong>tegrated and <strong>in</strong>novative equipment packages. Messier- Bugatti, Messier-Dowty and Messier Services, all members of the <strong>Safran</strong> group, are therefore merg<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>to a s<strong>in</strong>gle company that offers the depth and breadth to cover all components <strong>in</strong> modern land<strong>in</strong>g systems. Their teamwork, already reflected <strong>in</strong> work on the A400M, as well as the green taxi<strong>in</strong>g concept (see page 32), also enables them to offer more comprehensive services to airl<strong>in</strong>es. The merger should be completed <strong>in</strong> the first half of 2011, pend<strong>in</strong>g approval by the companies’ respective work’s councils. 259 The number of Formula One Grand Prix won by cars us<strong>in</strong>g Messier-Bugatti (safran group) carbon brakes. Messier-Bugatti has worked with F1 teams s<strong>in</strong>ce 1984, and also supplies carbon clutch disks to all competitors. 04 _ December 2010 _ safran Magaz<strong>in</strong>e safran Magaz<strong>in</strong>e _ December 2010 _ 05 wMERGER as the Pierre soulages retrospective organized <strong>in</strong> partnership with the Mexico City Museum last August, and Jean-Paul Herteman’s participation <strong>in</strong> the Mexico Cumbre de Negocios (Bus<strong>in</strong>ess summit) <strong>in</strong> Toluca. safran has been operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> Mexico for some 20 years, and currently has nearly 3,000 employees <strong>in</strong> the country, which has become its beachhead <strong>in</strong>to south <strong>America</strong> with the open<strong>in</strong>g of three new production plants <strong>in</strong> 2010. © alfredo Guerrero © Pascal Le Doaré/safran