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Sulzer Pompes France has been present in the Yvelines since 1918 and has rebounded and is experiencing growth prospects which have enabled it to invest € 15 million in a brand new factory labeled high environmental quality and in line with its ambitions, based in Buchelay , near Mantes la Jolie.
With a turnover of 46 M €, Sulzer Pompes France does not stop there and plans to continue its investments and recruit regularly over the next few years (+ 6% in 2015). Over the years, the company has developed an expertise in the manufacture of high-performance and tailor-made pumps, the maintenance and optimization of existing equipment. Recognized know-how in the oil and gas, petrochemical, energy production (nuclear power plants) and water management (purification plants, production of drinking water) sectors.
A new tailor-made plant to meet the growing needs of nuclear power plants
Sulzer Pompes France has become one of EDF's three major suppliers in the field of "rotating machines". “ The French nuclear market offers good prospects. On the one hand, EDF has initiated a study on the auxiliary pumps which, in Fukushima, were not working and were therefore unable to cool the reactor. On the other hand, to extend the life of the nuclear fleet, EDF could invest € 55 billion over a period of 10 years, among other things renewing the fleet of rotating machines (pumps). Says Ram Shorer, Managing Director.
The new site gives pride of place to employee comfort and respect for the environment. The multiple bay windows bring maximum light into the offices and the air conditioning is “natural” (double flow ventilation system). Resource management is carried out with respect for the environment: solar panels, rainwater harvesting, energy-efficient home automation. Certain noisy and dust-generating activities (grinding) were isolated with a very powerful suction system.
New equipment
Sulzer Pompes France carries out the entire industrial process, from design to testing, including prototyping and manufacturing. Each of these stages benefits from the strengths of the new site. New tools and machines were acquired to meet increasingly complex standards and pump manufacturing. Thus two new machine tools allow high precision machining on large parts. A fleet that will continue to grow and gain in performance since the company plans to devote € 1 million each year to means of production. Improved precision also in many areas: the geometry of the machines has been revised and the fleet renovated. The site benefits from equipment that has been optimized and has been the result of significant investments for 2/3 years. The excellent flatness of the ground has resulted in significant improvements in manufacturing precision.
The test loop has two 9-meter pits and benefits from the height under the ceiling which allows the use of new lifting devices. The usable electric power is 2 MW and can even reach 10 MW if necessary. This is to allow the pumps to be tested in extreme conditions.
The design office is not left out with ongoing investments in calculation software (Ansys) and ad-hoc training. In general, an ambitious training and skills transfer program has been put in place to prepare the young generation for the challenges of tomorrow. The role of the design office is not only to design, size and draw the pumps, it also provides technical support at all stages of the procurement and manufacturing process to finally be present during the tests and integrate into the future designs feedback from previous tests.
Find out more: www.sulzer.com
