CIRTES SA

What CIRTES SA does

CIRTES SA is a French contract research structure (Structure de Recherche Contractuelle, SRC) founded in 1991 in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, operating a second production site in Carmaux in southwest France. The company specializes in additive manufacturing and advanced machining, built around three patented proprietary technologies: Stratoconception® (multi-material, large-dimension layer-by-layer additive manufacturing that decomposes 3D models into sliced panels nested in raw material plates and assembled with interlocking elements), Pack&Strat® (ultra-protective 3D digital packaging generated from CAD files or 3D scans), and Actarus® (sensor-based machining monitoring for forces, temperature and vibration via TWS5 software and the Actarus SmartBox). All three patents are registered and granted.

CIRTES monetizes through four distinct streams: industrial R&D contracts (leveraging its SRC status), contract manufacturing services (prototypes, tooling, custom parts) from its two facilities, one-time software licensing (TopSolid'Strato distributed via Missler Software's global CAD channel and Stratoboard Cutter), and hardware sales (Strat'auto robotic stations co-developed with Mécanuméric). Training services across Digital Rapid Product Development, Additive Manufacturing, and Advanced Machining provide a smaller recurring stream, supported by Datadock certification. Customers are enterprise B2B accounts spanning automotive (Bugatti, Saint-Jean Industries, Mécachrome), luxury crystal (Baccarat, Daum), postal/logistics (Groupe La Poste), construction (Groupe LIVIO/PEDUZZI, Charpente Houot), government and healthcare (CHRU de Nancy, Métropole du Grand Nancy, Région Grand Est) and education/research (Université de Lorraine, ENSTIB).

The company's go-to-market is sales-led and partnership-driven: direct engagement with industrial clients, presence at trade shows (Global Industrie, 3D Print, SIANE, Educatec, APS Meetings), public co-financed R&D projects (H4FAM EU FEDER project 2023–2026, StratoBOIS under France 2030, KYKLOS 4.0), and the VirtuReaL international pole anchored at the Saint-Dié-des-Vosges Voie de l'Innovation site. Revenue, headcount and ownership structure are not publicly disclosed; the company remains privately held under founder-president Claude Barlier with no evidence of external venture or private equity investment.

Name

CIRTES SA

Legal name

CIRTES SA

Website

https://cirtes.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CIRTES SA is a French contract research structure (SRC) that develops and commercializes patented additive manufacturing (Stratoconception®, Pack&Strat®) and machining monitoring (Actarus®) technologies, serving enterprise customers in automotive, luxury, construction, aerospace and government sectors through R&D contracts, manufacturing services, software and training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Additive Manufacturing & Industrial R&D Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Other Specialized Design Services (54149)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

CNC Plasma/Laser Cutting & Automated Fabrication Training (EDAOADAH)

Keywords

• Additive manufacturing services
• Rapid prototyping
• Custom 3D packaging
• Machining process monitoring
• Contract industrial R&D

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Dié-des-Vosges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. R&D Contracts: Industrial R&D contracts for developing innovative processes and calculation algorithms. CIRTES is labeled as a Structure de Recherche Contractuelle (SRC) - Contractual Research Structure.
2. Manufacturing Services: Production of prototypes, tooling, and custom parts using Stratoconception, Pack&Strat, and Actarus processes. Manufacturing services provided from facilities in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges and Carmaux.
3. Software Licensing: Commercialization of software solutions including TopSolid'Strato and Stratoboard Cutter for additive manufacturing. Partnered with TopSolid (Missler Software) for software distribution.
4. Machine Sales: Sale of machines and equipment associated with proprietary processes, including Strat'auto robotic stations developed with Mécanuméric.
5. Training Services: Professional training programs on additive manufacturing, advanced machining, and digital rapid product development. Three domains: DRP Digital Channel, Additive Manufacturing, and Advanced machining.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

CIRTES SA is a French Contract Research Structure (SRC) that develops and commercializes proprietary additive manufacturing and advanced machining technologies. Its core offerings revolve around three patented processes — Stratoconception® (multi-material, large-dimension additive manufacturing), Pack&Strat® (custom-fit 3D protective packaging), and Actarus® (machining monitoring with sensors and TWS software). The company delivers industrial R&D contracts, prototyping and tooling manufacturing services, custom software development, and training programs from facilities in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges and Carmaux.

Product overview

CIRTES SA is a contract research company (Structure de Recherche Contractuelle - SRC) offering a portfolio of patented additive manufacturing and advanced machining technologies. The core portfolio consists of three proprietary technologies: Stratoconception® (multi-materials additive manufacturing for large dimensions), Pack&Strat® (ultra-protective 3D digital packaging), and Actarus® (machining monitoring with sensor integration). These are complemented by commercial products including TopSolid'Strato CAD-integrated software, Stratoboard Cutter, and TWS5 monitoring software. The company provides associated services including R&D contracts, engineering integration, custom software development, training programs (Digital Rapid Product Development, Additive Manufacturing, and Advanced Machining), and manufacturing services (models, tools, machining tests) across facilities in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges and Carmaux, France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Stratoconception®: Multi-materials and large-dimension additive manufacturing technology
• Pack&Strat®
• Actarus®

Products and services

• Stratoconception® Additive Manufacturing Patented layer-by-layer additive manufacturing process that divides 3D models into slices, nests panels in raw material plates, and assembles them with interlocking elements. Supports multi-material fabrication (wood, cardboard, foam, metals) for large-dimension parts aimed at industrial clients.
• Pack&Strat® 3D Packaging Patented ultra-protective 3D digital packaging solution that creates custom-fit packaging from CAD files or digitized physical objects. Used by luxury brands, automotive, and logistics companies for shipping, kitting, and display.
• Actarus® Machining Monitoring System Patented machining monitoring system using sensor integration (temperature, force via KISTLER, vibration) and TWS software to monitor cutting phenomena in real time for industrial machining operations.
• TopSolid'Strato Software CAD-integrated additive manufacturing software that enables model division (splitting into zones, slicing, and slices' decomposition) and automatic toolpath and machining document generation for Stratoconception workflows.
• Stratoboard Cutter Software

Quantifiable outcome

• Production capacity of 9,000 COVID-19 protection visors per day achieved through industrial tooling partnership
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• H4FAM ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 202336-month European project (01/02/2023 – 31/01/2026) co-financed by EU FEDER and Grand Est region. Hybrid additive manufacturing combining Stratoconception, ArcFil (DED-W-WA), and Coldspray processes with digital twins and AI monitoring.
• TopSolid (Missler Software)coreTechnology or Integration · 12 May 2022Strategic alliance for development and commercialization of TopSolid'Strato software integrating Stratoconception into TopSolid CAD environment. Joint development of software solutions for additive manufacturing workflow. Five years of R&D collaboration leading to commercial product release.
• MécanumériccoreTechnology or Integration · 12 May 2022Alliance for development and industrialization of Strat'auto robotic manufacturing stations. Three partner alliance (CIRTES, TopSolid, Mécanuméric) for Stratoconception 2030 development focusing on industrial and commercial deployment of robotic systems.
• Groupe La PosteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 July 2014La Poste launched Pack&Strat 3D packaging service in its 3D printing service spaces. Partnership for digital conditionment 3D by Stratoconception in La Poste retail locations.
• CEA TechcoreTechnology or Integration · 2 May 2013CEA-CIRTES alliance promoting digital insertion in industries of the future. Integration of CEA Tech sensors into CIRTES Stratoconception additive manufacturing process for positioning intelligence (sensors and electronic systems) in optimal locations.
• INORI SAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated entity (President Barlier) focused on additive manufacturing applications. INORI raised €1.5 million for commercializing 3D packaging solutions using Pack&Strat. Joint training programs (CIRTES-INORI industrial training).
• VirtuReaL International PolecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational pole for rapid product development created around CIRTES since 1991. Brings together research and industry for digital chain integration. Located at Voie de l'Innovation in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges.
• TSA INOXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to reduce prototype and pre-series delivery lead times for specialized automated installation products. TSA INOX specializes in special products manufacturing.
• Pôle de Compétitivité Build&ConnectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness cluster collaboration for building and construction additive manufacturing initiatives. Joint organization of information days on additive manufacturing for construction.
• Local SMEs (GA2P, FIP, L'Ormont, CAT, MANUDEO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local SMEs in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges basin to develop injection tooling for COVID-19 visor production, achieving 9,000 units per day capacity.
• Charpente HouotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWood construction company partner in StratoBOIS project for additive manufacturing in construction sector.
• Weisrock VosgesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWood industry partner in StratoBOIS project for additive manufacturing in construction sector.
• ENSTIB (Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Technologies et Industries du Bois)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in StratoBOIS project focusing on wood technology and industry applications.
• Groupe LIVIO / PEDUZZIminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation partnership for establishing additive manufacturing factory using Stratoconception in construction sector. Concrete construction application of Stratoconception technology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Stratasys: Global leader in polymer additive manufacturing systems and services. Directly comparable to CIRTES on the additive manufacturing technology axis, though at significantly greater scale and with broader technology portfolios.
• AddUp: French metal additive manufacturing solutions provider (joint venture origin from Fives and Michelin). Closely comparable as a French-headquartered AM specialist addressing industrial production use cases.
• voxeljet: Industrial binder-jetting and 3D printing systems with associated service bureau. Comparable on serving industrial customers with large-format and specialty additive manufacturing needs.
• Proto Labs: On-demand digital manufacturing services platform spanning CNC, injection molding and 3D printing. Highly comparable business model to CIRTES's prototyping and custom-parts services for industrial customers.
• Materialise: Belgian provider of 3D printing services and software for industrial and medical applications. Directly comparable on the contract manufacturing services and software-adjacent business model CIRTES operates.
• EOS GmbH: European industrial AM system and material supplier for polymer and metal. Comparable to CIRTES in serving European industrial customers seeking high-end additive manufacturing for production use cases.
• SLM Solutions: German metal additive manufacturing systems provider. Directly comparable on industrial-grade metal AM technology for production-grade parts, overlapping with CIRTES's H4FAM hybrid metal AM roadmap.
• 3D Systems: Diversified 3D printing technology and on-demand manufacturing services vendor. Overlaps with CIRTES on rapid prototyping, custom manufacturing and software-enabled AM workflows.

Broad incumbents

• Dassault Systèmes: Global CAD/PLM/3DExperience platform incumbent. Comparable on the software side of CIRTES's TopSolid'Strato workflow and on serving industrial design-to-manufacturing chains, though across a vastly broader portfolio.

Regional players

• Visiativ: French digital transformation and 3D printing solutions company. Comparable on serving French industrial customers with AM-enabled digital manufacturing platforms, operating in the same regional ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cirtes88
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCuw15iMiL_tPImpWh9ghZUQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Cirtes-1835576686726454
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cirtes

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CIRTES SA