Thiot Engineering

What Thiot Engineering does

Thiot Ingénierie is a French engineering firm founded in 1988 by Patrick Thiot that specializes in shock physics and fast dynamics. The company operates two tightly integrated lines of business. First, it designs and manufactures specialized laboratory launchers and test equipment — single-stage gas guns, two-stage light-gas guns (including the HERMES and VULCAIN platforms), powder guns, the H3G Hot Green Gas Gun, Split-Hopkinson bars, the CHRONOS acceleration generator, detonation chambers, and autofrettage machines for gun barrels — and has delivered approximately 70 such systems to research centers and manufacturers worldwide. Second, it operates the world's first private shock physics laboratory at its Puybrun (Lot) headquarters, providing dynamic material characterization, hypervelocity impact testing (with a world record of 10.5 km/s), high-G acceleration testing, and numerical simulation services backed by proprietary software (CESAR, DARTS, LABHO).

The customer base is concentrated in the French and European defense, aerospace, space, and research ecosystems. Named enterprise customers include defense primes Nexter, MBDA, and Dassault Aviation, aerospace OEMs Airbus and Safran, and government agencies CNES (French Space Agency), CEA, and DGA. Revenue is generated through custom-built equipment sales, recurring laboratory testing services, and training courses through the Shock Physics Academy (€2,500 per 2.5-day session). The company employs around 30 world-leading experts and was acquired by EURENCO Group, the European leader in energetic materials for defense and security, on December 20, 2024; founder Patrick Thiot retired on October 10, 2025 and was succeeded by Yves Traissac, Managing Director of EURENCO Group.

Name

Thiot Engineering

Legal name

THIOT INGENIERIE

Website

https://thiot-ingenierie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thiot Ingénierie is a French specialist in shock physics and fast dynamics that designs and manufactures laboratory launchers (gas guns, Split-Hopkinson bars, acceleration generators, detonation chambers) and operates the world's first private shock physics laboratory, serving defense primes, aerospace OEMs, and French government agencies including Airbus, Safran, Nexter, MBDA, CNES, CEA, and DGA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ballistic Test Equipment

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Other General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing (3339)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Special Industry Machinery, Nec (3559)

akta.pro primary industry

Modeling, Simulation, Digital Twins & Mission Rehearsal Systems (IMABAOAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fuzes, Primers, Detonators & Initiation Systems (IMABAHAJ)

Keywords

• Shock physics testing
• Ballistic test equipment
• Hypervelocity impact testing
• Dynamic material characterization
• Gas gun manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Puybrun

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment manufacturing and supply: Design and manufacture of gas guns, powder guns, Split-Hopkinson bars, acceleration generators, detonation chambers, and autofrettage machines for research centers and manufacturers worldwide
2. Laboratory testing services: Shock physics laboratory providing impact testing, dynamic material characterization, high-velocity testing up to 10.5 km/s, acceleration testing, and numerical simulation services
3. Training courses (Shock Physics Academy): Professional training in shock physics and dynamic behavior of materials, combining theory and hands-on practice in the laboratory

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Thiot Engineering designs, manufactures, and installs specialized fast-dynamics test equipment (gas guns, light-gas guns, Split-Hopkinson bars, CHRONOS acceleration generators, detonation chambers, autofrettage machines, the H3G Hot Green Gas Gun) for research centers and manufacturers worldwide, and operates the world's first private Shock Physics laboratory providing turnkey impact testing up to 10.5 km/s, dynamic material characterization, high-G acceleration testing up to 100,000 G, and numerical simulation services. The company also runs the Shock Physics Academy for professional training in shock physics and the dynamic behavior of materials.

Product overview

Thiot Ingénierie operates as a dual-division company: it manufactures specialized fast-dynamics equipment (single-stage gas guns, two-stage light-gas guns, powder guns, H3G Hot Green Gas Guns, Split-Hopkinson bars, acceleration generators including CHRONOS, detonation chambers, and autofrettage machines) for research centers and manufacturers worldwide; and it operates the world's first private shock physics laboratory providing testing services (dynamic material characterization, impact tests up to 9 km/s with a record of 10.5 km/s, high-G acceleration testing up to 100,000 G), complemented by numerical simulation services. The company also runs the Shock Physics Academy for professional training and develops proprietary internal software (CESAR for launcher ballistics, DARTS for CHRONOS, LABHO for bar analysis). The company joined the EURENCO Group in December 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Single-Stage Gas Guns Single-stage gas-powered laboratory launchers capable of impact velocities up to 1,400 m/s across calibers between 22 and 80 mm, operating at pressures below 400 bar without pyrotechnical constraints; supplied to research centers and manufacturers worldwide.
• Two-Stage Light-Gas Guns Two-stage light-gas launchers designed to achieve hypervelocity impact speeds, including the HERMES launcher (up to 10.5 km/s world record) and the VULCAIN launcher for defense applications; supplied to research centers and manufacturers worldwide.
• Powder Guns Powder-propelled laboratory launchers providing higher power output than standard gas guns for specific high-energy impact testing configurations.
• H3G (Hot Green Gas Gun) H3G Hot Green Gas Gun based on gas-combustion technology, offering more power than powder launchers with the same ease of use as gas launchers; used for impact tests requiring high energy.
• Split-Hopkinson Bars (SHPB/SHTB) Split-Hopkinson pressure bars for dynamic material characterization in compression, tension, and torsion, used to identify material behavior under high strain-rate loading.
• Acceleration Generators (CHRONOS) CHRONOS acceleration generator capable of performing acceleration tests up to 100,000 G, used to test embedded electronic systems and components in missile fuzes and other high-G-shock applications.
• Detonation Chambers Explosion containment chambers (including VULCAIN-class units) handling TNT equivalent masses from hundreds of grams to dozens of kilos, used for studying explosive materials and blast effects.
• VULCAIN 10 Storage Chamber VULCAIN 10 storage chamber rated for 10 kg TNT equivalent; the first unit delivered by a French industrialist at this capacity, used for large-scale detonation and blast-effect testing.
• Autofrettage Machines Special autofrettage machines for artillery and gun barrel manufacturing, improving service life, performance, and safety of gun barrels.
• Shock Physics Laboratory Testing Services First private Shock Physics laboratory in the world, providing turnkey dynamic material characterization, high-velocity impact testing (advertised up to 9 km/s, with a 10.5 km/s world record), and acceleration testing services to defense, aeronautics, space, and research customers.
• Numerical Simulation Services Correlation of experiments with numerical calculation for optimal reliability, including modeling of material behavior, hypervelocity, perforation/penetration, accidental impacts, and combustion/detonation phenomena studies.
• Dynamic Material Characterization Dynamic material characterization using Split-Hopkinson bars (compression, tension, torsion), plate impact tests, and associated numerical modeling, used to identify material behavior under high strain-rate loading.
• High-G Acceleration Testing Acceleration testing using the CHRONOS generator up to 100,000 G, testing behavior of embedded electronics, black boxes, and missile components under high-G shock.
• Shock Physics Academy Training Professional training courses in shock physics and dynamic behavior of materials, combining theory, hands-on laboratory practice, and numerical simulation, offered at the company's Puybrun facility (€2,500 per 2.5-day session).

Quantifiable outcome

• Hypervelocity impact tests at 10.5 km/s (23,500 mph) - world record
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 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

Feature15 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CEA GramatcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2025Co-organizer of the 74th ARA (Aeroballistic Range Association) annual conference held September 28 to October 3, 2025 at Grand Couvent, Gramat, France. CEA Gramat and Thiot Ingenierie partnered to host the international scientific and engineering community working on laboratory launcher development and use.
• EURENCO GroupcoreOthers · 20 December 2024Acquisition by EURENCO Group (European leader in energetic materials for defense and security) completed December 20, 2024. Acquisition aligns with EURENCO's strategy to expand ballistic engineering portfolio and diversify innovation capabilities in defense, aerospace, and security technologies.
• DynaS+coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Project initiator of ATIHS program alongside Thiot Ingenierie, funded by Occitania region and BPI. DynaS+ is involved in simulating shock tests on protective materials.
• CEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in ATIHS program for satellite protection. CEA is involved in simulating shock tests on protective composite materials and global project monitoring.
• NAWA TechnologiesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in ATIHS program - manufacturer of protective panels for satellite protection against space debris.
• Institut Clément AderminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in ATIHS program - involved in satellite protection system development.
• Airbus Defence & SpacecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Partner in ATIHS program for global monitoring of satellite protection system development.
• IGE (Institute for Geosciences and Environmental Research)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partner in RAPID IMPAGREL program focused on studying and developing ice representative of real hailstones for aeronautical structure testing. IGE is responsible for designing and producing the synthetic ice.
• LaMCoS (Contacts and Structure Mechanics Laboratory)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Partner in RAPID IMPAGREL program. LaMCoS (INSA Lyon) is dedicated to studying the quasi-static behaviour of ice and development of appropriate behaviour models.
• CNES (French Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership under R&D contract for analyzing behavior of satellite reservoirs undergoing space debris impacts. Study conducted at 4.5 km/s to assess vessel vulnerability and develop protection methods.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• MTS Systems: Designs and manufactures mechanical testing and simulation systems including high-rate impact and dynamic test platforms. Comparable as a specialized equipment maker serving materials characterization needs of defense and aerospace clients.
• Instron: Manufacturer of materials testing equipment including dynamic and impact testing systems. Most direct peer in equipment for studying material behavior under mechanical load, complementing Thiot's niche hypervelocity focus.
• Tinius Olsen: Manufacturer of materials testing machines including impact and tensile testing equipment. Similar business model of selling specialized test hardware to industrial, research, and defense customers globally.

Broad incumbents

• Element Materials Technology: Global testing laboratory network providing materials, product, and certification testing across dozens of sectors including aerospace and defense. Comparable as a much larger commercial testing-services incumbent with overlapping impact and dynamic-testing capabilities.
• SGS: World-leading testing, inspection, and certification company. While not specialized in shock physics, it competes for outsourced testing budgets from the same defense, aerospace, and industrial customers Thiot serves.
• Bureau Veritas: Global TIC (testing, inspection, certification) incumbent serving aerospace, defense, and industrial sectors. Comparable as a broad-services competitor that could absorb specialized impact-testing work from Thiot.
• National Technical Systems (NTS): North American provider of testing and engineering services for aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. Comparable as a multi-disciplinary testing-services player with overlapping impact, ballistics, and qualification testing scope.

Others

• Fraunhofer Institute for High-Speed Dynamics (EMI): German research institute specializing in high-speed dynamics, impact, and ballistics research. Comparable as a competing research/testing organization that develops its own launchers and competes for European defense and aerospace R&D programs.
• EURENCO Group: European leader in energetic materials for defense and security, and Thiot's parent company following the December 2024 acquisition. Comparable as the strategic acquirer and platform through which Thiot's capabilities are now integrated into a broader defense portfolio.

Emerging players

• Apollo Power Systems: Emerging player in materials and component testing services for advanced applications. Comparable as a smaller-scale specialized testing provider competing for the same defense and aerospace certification testing budget.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ShockingMechanics/videos?view_as=public
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2841134?trk=tyah
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php

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 Thiot Engineering