French Minister of Defence Jean-Yves Le Drian, inaugurates iXcampus, iXblue’s new technological centre near Paris

By Joseph Roukoz

A high-keyed French independent industrial group, iXblue is recognized worldwide for the design, development and manufacture of high-tech equipment for the areas of navigation , positioning, imaging and oceanographic measurements for both military markets (naval and land defence) for civilian markets (oceanic and space exploration ) .

Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Defence, (at left) and Philippe Debaillon-Vesque, iXblue President and CEO, pictured during the inauguration of iXcampus at Saint Germain-en-Laye near Paris on 1 September 2016. © J. Roukoz
Jean-Yves Le Drian, French Minister of Defence, (at left) and Philippe Debaillon-Vesque, iXblue President and CEO, pictured during the inauguration of iXcampus at Saint Germain-en-Laye near Paris on 1 September 2016. © J. Roukoz

With a 30-year long experience, iXblue is growing steadily and nearly 80 % of its turnover is now achieved on the export market. Research and production of iXblue products are entirely made in France . Present on all continents , the group employs some 600 employees and has recorded in 2015 a turnover of over EUR100 million.

The French high-technology group likes to emphasize the important role played by wide range defence activities in its DNA, and this singularitty was once more stressed on the occasion of the inauguration of the group’s new technology centre, iXcampus, on last Thursday 1st September 2016. An inauguration enlightened by the presence of Jean -Yves Le Drian, Minister of Defence , who acknowledged the group’s innovation potential in this highly important sector, one of the crown jewels of French exports.

Jean-Yves Le Drian is being shown different types of inertial platforms produced by iXblue. Next to him, Hervé Guillou, CEO of DCNS — one of iXblue’s best customer — and Philippe Debaillon-Vesque, iXblue President and CEO. © J. Roukoz
Jean-Yves Le Drian is being shown different types of inertial platforms produced by iXblue. Next to him, Hervé Guillou, CEO of DCNS — one of iXblue’s best customer — and Philippe Debaillon-Vesque, iXblue President and CEO. © J. Roukoz

iXcampus , iXblue new creation is a technological center of 8,500 square metres, located in the heart of the estate of Château Saint-Léger, in Saint-Germain-en-Laye — one of the Yveline’s most historical places after Versailles. This private property, which today hosts nearly 210 engineers and technicians, is dedicated to the design and manufacture of inertial high performance devices, for both civil naval markets as well as to naval and land defence applications, and also dedicated to space exploration. Industrial advanced tools , such as a clean room, shock simulators, vibrations and movements test benches, have been installed on site to ensure the reliability and performance of all iXblue inertial systems.

Among the important attendees at iXcampus’ inauguration with Jean-Yves Le Drian (at right) were Stéphane Grauvogel, vice-prefect of Saint Germain-en-Laye and Laurent Collet-Billon, délégué-général pour l’Armement (at left). © J. Roukoz
Among the important attendees at iXcampus’ inauguration with Jean-Yves Le Drian (at right) were Stéphane Grauvogel, vice-prefect of Saint Germain-en-Laye and Laurent Collet-Billon, délégué-général pour l’Armement (at left). © J. Roukoz

iXcampus will best accompany the growth of the group that annually invests more than 20% of its turnover in research and development. The very symbol of a successful French high technology venture, iXcampus is a place dedicated to innovation and training, where engineers are set to imagine and create the navigation of the future.

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