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Speed Shop

Airbus is our principal contracting authority, but other longstanding clients such as Rossi, Nexteam, Cauquil, and Gardner have also placed their trust in us for many years.

Since early 2024, we have increased the capacity of the Speedshop by launching a weekend shift team, referred to as the FSS (Friday, Saturday, Sunday). This team enables continuous processing of the FAL (Final Assembly Line) flow from Monday to Sunday, thereby meeting the operational constraints of Airbus FALs.

Available treatments include:

  • Stripping on
    • Aluminium (Airbus and Dassault) – for pre-penetrant preparation
    • Titanium (Airbus)
  • Degreasing on
    • Titanium (Airbus)
    • Austenitic stainless steel and others (Airbus)
    • Copper (Airbus)
  • TSA (Airbus and Dassault)
  • Alodine (Airbus)
  • Austenitic passivation
  • Conductivity testing (Airbus)
  • Fluorescent penetrant testing (Airbus & Dassault)
  • Alodine touch-up (Airbus & Dassault)
  • Sandblasting on Titanium (Airbus)
  • Painting

Our Commitments:

Urgent part processing within 24 to 48h
Continuous flow management, 7 days a week
Personalised order tracking

Logistics

Fast Handling

Orders are processed swiftly through Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), significantly reducing order processing times.

A dedicated Team

The MECAPROTEC Logistics Team delivers tailored transport solutions to meet each customer's specific needs.

Personalised Tracking 

A dedicated customer portal allows customers to access and track all their orders.

Engineering

From feasibility study to design and implementation, a dedicated MECAPROTEC team oversees industrial projects, a key competence supporting the company’s development. This expertise ensures tailored technical solutions that meet customers’ needs and specifications while keeping costs under control.

Laboratory

Thanks to the acquisition of high-end equipment (ICP spectrometer, ion chromatography, scanning electron microscope, tensile testing machine, fatigue testing machine, etc.) MECAPROTEC also positions itself as a subcontractor for: Chemical analysis, Microscopy, Mechanical and corrosion testing, etc.

The laboratory is COFRAC (ISO 17025 )  accredited under certificate N°1-6910. Full scope available at www.cofrac.fr

Training organisation

Building on its internal expertise, MECAPROTEC industries-MPI launched a fully-fledged external training programme in 2011: FTSA (registered under declaration n°71 31 06241 31) which has been QUALIOPI certified since 2021.

Find out more

Innovations

Research & Development

In collaboration with public research laboratories (such as Institut Carnot CIRIMAT and the LGC at Paul Sabatier University of Toulouse, ELECTRODEP at the University of Barcelona, UTTOP in Tarbes, Chimie ParisTech...), MECAPROTEC  conducts upstream research, an essential element today to remain proactive and forward-thinking, particularly in the field of green chemistry.

New environmental regulations (ex.: REACH) are driving R&D efforts towards finding substitution solutions that avoid the use of carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic (CMR) substances and formulations, and also aim to reduce emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC). These increasingly stringent regulations compel the aerospace industry to adapt rapidly without compromising quality or performance.

However, MECAPROTEC’s R&D strategy is not solely focused on meeting HSE requirements. It also aims to enhance technical performance, reduce process costs, and support the development of new activities.

These research efforts are carried out through internal or collaborative projects, with or without public funding via regional, national, or European programmes.

Research Projects

PROCSYMA

The PROCSYMA project aims to develop a hard chrome plating process using a Cr(III)-based solution to replace the existing Cr(VI)-based method. MECAPROTEC is building on the work initiated through the CHROMECO and CHROMAERO projects, in order to meet the specifications set by Liebherr Aerospace. This includes bath chemistry stabilisation (in partnership with CIRIMAT) and deposit performance optimisation (with UTTOP-LGP) for high-temperature applications.

Coordinator: Liebherr Aerospace Toulouse

Partners: MECAPROTEC, CIRIMAT, UTTOP

Duration: October 2022 – February 2028

Funding Scheme: CORAC (DGAC funding)

NEPTUNE

The NEPTUNE project aims to develop alternatives to hexavalent chromium hard based on Cr(VI). Work focuses on evaluating Cr(III)-based formulations with conventional organic complexing agents, as well as a novel, organic-free formulation developed by IRT M2P for high-temperature industrial applications (>200°C). MECAPROTEC’s role is to evaluate these formulations at pilot/semi-industrial scale as part of the scale-up process.

Coordinator: IRT M2P

Partners: Airbus, Collins Aerospace, Dassault, Safran, Framatome, Liebherr, Naval Group, KNDS, Thales, Ugitech, Chrome Dur France, Chromalpes, Chromatlantique, Chrome Dur Industriel, Chromelec, Dynel, Electropoli, L’Electrolyse, MECAPROTEC, Chrome Dur SN, Nordchrome, RCD, TEM, Hivelix, Ineosurf, MacDermid Enthone, MicronX, UT2A, LASIE, UTINAM

Duration: May 2023 – April 2027

Funding Scheme: IRT M2P (PIA + industry funding)

APOLLO

Chromate conversion coatings (Alodine 1200) used to protect aluminium alloys from corrosion are being progressively replaced by Cr(III)-based solutions. While promising, these new coatings are highly sensitive to surface preparation and material batch variability. Moreover, their transparent appearance makes them difficult to detect visually. The APOLLO project aims to: - Improve process robustness by enhancing surface preparation - Add visual indicators to conversion coatings - Develop and evaluate Cr-free alternatives for future use. MECAPROTEC will evaluate improvements at semi-industrial scale to support future industrial implementation.

Coordinator: IRT M2P

Partners: Liebherr, Safran, Thales, Collins Aerospace, KNDS, Airbus, Constellium, Socomore, Protec Groupe, Liebherr Aerospace Coatings, L’Electrolyse, MECAPROTEC, Ateliers de la Haute-Garonne, Modertech Industries, SPI Aero, Electropoli, Inesosurf, Chimie ParisTech PSL

Duration: May 2024 – April 2028

Funding Scheme: IRT M2P (PIA + industry funding)

COCKPIT

This project, led by Airbus Atlantic, aims to produce a single-piece hydroformed cockpit structure, which must then be inspected and protected. MECAPROTEC is involved in: - Penetrant inspection - Surface treatment - Painting (including automation and robotics) Work includes immersion and spray applications (due to part size), and automated 2D painting systems with peripheral activities (loading/unloading, masking, inspection). Automated penetrant inspection and digital continuity across these steps are also being explored.

Coordinator: AIRBUS Atlantic

Partners: Fanuc, Hexagon, Fives, MECAPROTEC, Satys

Duration: May 2024 – December 2026

Funding Scheme: CORAC (DGAC funding)

SUCHI

The SUCHI project seeks to define new processes, standards and working methods across the French aerospace sector to enhance the entire supply chain. By leveraging digital tools and a collaborative, data-driven approach, the project supports the development of next-generation short- and medium-range aircraft while accelerating decarbonisation. Co-design and rapid product development approaches are also included to improve time-to-market and overall quality.

Coordinator: AIRBUS Atlantic

Partners: Mecachrome, Figeac Aero, Mecadaq, Hexagon, MECAPROTEC, Agilea, Akkodis, Expleo, Kedge, Sopra Steria

Duration: July 2024 – March 2027

Funding Scheme: CORAC (DGAC funding)

Internal Projects

MECAPROTEC’s R&D division also leads internal projects to improve the efficiency of existing industrialised processes. This includes process performance optimisation, bath monitoring improvements, technical control, and reductions in cost (chemicals, energy, waste).

To support these efforts, MECAPROTEC has built up significant in-house expertise and technical resources, including: 8 engineers (2 PhDs), 8 technicians and advanced laboratory and pilot-scale testing facilities. These capabilities are used in technology transfer, feasibility studies, and expert consulting.

R&D Line: Pilot and Semi-Industrial Scale

These resources are also available to MECAPROTEC’s customers for consulting, technical expertise, and the development of tailored solutions — particularly through feasibility studies.

Industrialisation

Process examples

A typical example of a process developed by MECAPROTEC — from laboratory stage to full industrialisation — is the zinc-nickel co-deposition process, which has gained interest in the aerospace sector as a replacement for cadmium plating for the protection of steel components.

Thanks to research initiated in collaboration with public scientific partners, the zinc-nickel process developed by MECAPROTEC achieved its first aerospace qualifications in Europe. By using its own proprietary electrolyte formulation, MECAPROTEC is able to maintain precise control over operational parameters and bath ageing, ensuring consistent treatment quality over several decades. The zinc-nickel process is now fully integrated into the company’s quality system and is operated by qualified personnel. MECAPROTEC is able to offer the aerospace industry a proven solution already widely adopted in automotive sector, meeting all aerospace requirements.

To protect aluminium components, MECAPROTEC has developed a thin-layer sulphuric anodising process as a substitute for traditional chromic anodising, within the framework of the APACA 2 collaborative project. This patented process is now made available to other applicators under licence.

To replace dichromate sealing of sulphuric anodising (OAC) and Alodine 1200, MECAPROTEC developed a unique two-step trivalent chromium-based process as part of the APACA III collaborative project. This patented process is now commercialised by SOCOMORE under the name SOCOSURF TCS/PACS.

Similarly, for cases where switching to zinc-nickel is not suitable, MECAPROTEC developed a trivalent chromium passivation process for use over cadmium deposits. This process is also commercialised by SOCOMORE, under the name SOCOSURF TCS-SCOP.

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