Centrale Nantes and Naval Group maintain their strategic collaboration within their joint research laboratory - the Joint Laboratory of Marine Technology

This partnership has harnessed the combined expertise of our teams since 2016 in order to meet the challenges of the maritime industry and contribute to the national objectives of competitiveness and energy transition.

With exceptional infrastructure such as the ocean tanks and engine test benches at Centrale Nantes, this partnership provides the ideal conditions for innovation.

Together, we are working on ambitious projects in the following areas of research:

• Advanced hydrodynamics: solutions to improve ship stability and performance in extreme conditions.
• Numerical simulation: precise monitoring of structures for greater reliability and durability.
• Additive manufacturing: optimising production processes for greater productivity.
• Energy: optimising the design of energy systems to develop a fleet that is both high-performance and energy-efficient.

Some of our most significant achievements to date:

• Additive Manufacturing: in 2019, the JLMT marked a world first with the printing of the first hollow propeller blade using WAAM Additive Manufacturing, an innovative 3D metal printing technology, in high-strength stainless steel, intended for a surface vessel. This project is part of the European H2020 RAMSSES programme.
• A flagship project, MT Robotics: The MT Robotics project, supported by BPI France, brings together several players, including VLM Robotics, Janus Engineering, Centrale Nantes, Cetim and Naval Group. Its aim is to revolutionise industry by offering a customised production model for large metal parts. It includes the creation of a 100% French solution for large-scale metal 3D printing, using an innovative wire deposition technology (FA WAAM).

We continue to work every day to advance marine research and technology.

Pictured above : Frédéric Vignal, Director of Product Innovation at Naval Group and Jean-Baptiste Avrillier, Director of Centrale Nantes