In 2022, the CEA entrusted POLYRISE and CILAS with a major challenge: taking over the operation of a strategic Sol-Gel deposition line dedicated to large-format optics. Behind this success lies more than just a technical achievement: a human adventure built on trust, shared expertise, and a collective commitment that benefits both the industrial partner and the research center.
A strategic challenge for the CEA
The CEA, a major player in scientific and technological research, needed to ensure the continuity of a critical production line for its optical activities within the Laser Mégajoule (LMJ) project.
The change of operator for this line presented a dual challenge: maintaining impeccable optical quality through high-precision coatings, and guaranteeing a rapid resumption of production. In less than two months, the line was operational again, demonstrating the exceptional commitment of the POLYRISE and CILAS teams and their expertise in operating an industrial Sol-Gel processing facility.
Complementarity in the service of excellence
CILAS: extensive experience with the CEA, unique expertise in handling large-scale optics in ultra-clean environments.
POLYRISE: mastery of Sol-Gel processes, from molecular chemistry to deposition techniques, and the capacity to industrialize high-performance coatings (anti-reflective coatings, protective layers).
This complementary expertise has enabled the CEA to secure the industrial operation of the line, while guaranteeing reliability and performance in a highly demanding environment.
Above all, a human adventure
Behind the equipment and processes are women and men.
The POLYRISE and CILAS teams mobilized to ensure this transfer, take ownership of the resources and processes, and then ramp up operations. Day after day, the employees’ commitment built a relationship of mutual trust with the CEA teams.
This project also provided an opportunity for collective skills development, valuing people as much as technology.
What the project has brought to the CEA
This collaboration has provided the CEA with the continuity of strategic production, industrial mastery of a complex Sol-Gel process, and increased reliability thanks to structured quality control. It has also strengthened the link between the research center and its industrial network, illustrating the ability of French stakeholders to collectively address the challenges of photonics and defense.
This success story is not simply a successful industrial project. It symbolizes the convergence of human expertise, scientific rigor, and technological innovation. For the CEA, as for POLYRISE and CILAS, it marks a decisive milestone and will remain a shared benchmark: proof that French excellence can meet the challenges of tomorrow’s advanced optics.
