ICB-LERMPS
University research laboratory at UTBM in France specializing in thermal spray, laser additive manufacturing, and powder atomization, providing R&D services, prototyping, and certified training to industrial partners across aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical sectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersBelfort, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ICB-LERMPS does
ICB-LERMPS (also operating as ICB-PMDM) is a university research laboratory within UTBM (Université Technologique de Belfort Montbéliard), located at the Sévenans campus in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France. Established in 1985, the laboratory specializes in thermal spray technologies — APS/VPS plasma projection, HVOF supersonic flame, Cold Spray (including high-pressure K3000 and low-pressure Dymet systems), wire arc, and conventional flame — complemented by laser additive manufacturing via powder bed fusion and an in-house atomization tower for small-batch powder production. Its TITAN technological platform hosts industrial-scale equipment, full in-situ diagnostic suites, and process simulation/robotics integration, enabling R&D from feasibility studies through prototype to pre-series production.
The laboratory operates a sales-led, professional-services model delivering two principal revenue streams: industrial R&D contracts (development of new thermal spray solutions from specifications, parametric material development, part fabrication, and powder manufacturing — conducted with industrial partners since 1985) and QUALIOPI-certified professional training in thermal spray and additive manufacturing delivered on-campus, on-site, or remotely (active since 1995, with 70+ companies and 400 participants served). Customers span aerospace (SNECMA/SAFRAN, MBDA, Turbomeca, Messier-Bugatti, ONERA), automotive (Renault, PSA/Stellantis, LISI), energy and nuclear (EDF-GDF, ALSTOM Power, CEA), materials and consumer goods (Arcelor Mittal, Saint Gobain, Tefal), and emerging medical devices through the THERAMAP project. Activity is institutionalized through ISO 9001 certification (since 2009), a large multi-jurisdiction patent portfolio dating to 1994, and membership in French and European research societies (Cold Spray Club, Surface Treatment Club, Laser and Processes Club, AFPR, IRTES, Institut Carnot ICB).
ICB-LERMPS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ICB-LERMPS
- Legal name
- Institut IRTES LERMPS – UTBM
- Website
- https://lermps.utbm.fr
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- University research laboratory at UTBM in France specializing in thermal spray, laser additive manufacturing, and powder atomization, providing R&D services, prototyping, and certified training to industrial partners across aerospace, automotive, energy, and medical sectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ICB-LERMPS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Surface Engineering and Industrial R&D Services
- SIC
- Coating, Engraving & Allied Services (3470), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Thermal Spray & Metallizing (HVOF/Plasma/Arc) (IMAIAKAF)
Keywords
Where ICB-LERMPS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Belfort
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
ICB-LERMPS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Industrial Services and R&D Contracts: Development of new thermal spray solutions from specifications, parametric development of new materials and part fabrication by laser fusion on powder bed, powder manufacturing by atomization and classification. Conducted with industrial partners since 1985.
- Professional Training Services: Short qualifying training programs in thermal spray and additive manufacturing for engineers, technicians and operators. Conducted since 1995 with 70 companies and 400 participants. QUALIOPI certified by AFNOR.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
ICB-LERMPS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ICB-LERMPS is a university research laboratory at UTBM operating the TITAN technological platform, providing industrial R&D services in thermal spray coatings (APS, VPS, HVOF, Cold Spray, wire arc, flame), laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, powder atomization, and surface/material characterization. The lab also delivers professional training programs and supports doctoral research. Activities have been conducted with industrial partners since 1985.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Thermal Spray Coating Services Industrial R&D and prototype services covering all thermal spray processes including APS/VPS plasma projection, HVOF high velocity oxy-fuel, Cold Spray (low and high pressure), wire arc spray, and conventional flame spray. Delivered at the TITAN platform on the UTBM S\u00e9venans campus for industrial partners across aerospace, automotive, energy, and other sectors.
- Laser Additive Manufacturing by Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Industrial R&D services for fabrication of metal parts by laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), including development of new alloys such as Fe-Si ferromagnetic alloys for soft magnetic applications, multi-material assemblies, and prototype fabrication for industrial partners.
- Powder Manufacturing by Atomization Small-batch powder manufacturing services via an atomization tower producing powder batches from hundreds of grams to kilograms for new alloy development and testing. Includes gas atomization and spray drying capabilities.
- Surface and Material Characterization Services Surface and material characterization services supporting R&D and industrial projects, including microstructural analysis, mechanical testing, and in-situ diagnostic capabilities such as DPV-2000, Accuraspray G4, SprayCam, TRIAX 190, and FLIR infrared imaging.
- Professional Training in Thermal Spray and Additive Manufacturing QUALIOPI-certified short training programs for engineers, technicians, and operators covering thermal spray processes and additive manufacturing. Delivered since 1995 with 70 companies and 400 participants trained. Offered at UTBM campus, on-site at client facilities, and via distance learning.
Companies that use ICB-LERMPS
Customer profileNamed customers17 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
ICB-LERMPS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability3 records
Feature16 records
ICB-LERMPS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HEIG-VD (COMATEC-Addipole)coreSwiss partner in THERAMAP project specializing in 3D metal printing, developing LPBF printing process for Ti6Al4V support structure. Led by Sylvain Hugon.
- IBLEO SarlcoreSwiss industrial partner specializing in plasma coatings, working on industrial plasma deposition process for ceramic layer with newly designed plasma torch. Led by Armando Salito.
- JY'NOVEcoreFrench industrial partner specializing in precision machining of all material types (technical plastics, superalloys, metals, ceramics), developing machining and polishing procedures for ceramic coatings. Led by Jean-Yves Balduini.
- LISI AutomotivecoreCollaboration on multi-material assembly by Cold Spray resulting in the patented LISI µ-MACH ASSEMBLY PROCESS for assembling steel and aluminum alloys. Doctoral thesis by Amela Kusuran.
- SNECMA (SAFRAN Group)coreLong-standing collaboration since 1992 on VPS/LPPS plasma forming technology for aerospace components including combustion chambers for HM7 rocket engine (Ariane), structural materials for high field magnet production.
- LNCMI-CNRS (Laboratoire National des Champs Magnétiques Intenses)coreCollaboration on Cold Spray additive manufacturing of copper alloys combining high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity for high magnetic field applications. Deposition up to 30mm thickness on 340mm diameter supports.
- GULHFI (Switzerland)coreIndustrial partner originators of modular cascade plasma torches, collaboration on experimental characterization of cascade torches with ICB-PMDM providing diagnostic systems, projection cabins and deposit property analysis.
- Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbéliard (UTBM)coreICB-LERMPS is part of the ICB (Institut Carnot) and UTBM. UTBM provides institutional support, website hosting, and administrative services.
- IRTES (Institut de Recherche en Sciences et Technologies)coreICB-LERMPS belongs to IRTES, providing institutional framework and research organization support.
- Laboratoire ICB (Institut Carnot)coreICB-LERMPS is a unit of the ICB Carnot Institute, a network of research laboratories in Burgundy-Franche-Comté region.
- Cold Spray ClubminorResearch society affiliated with Mines Paris PSL bringing together researchers and industry for cold spray technology exchange.
- Club Traitement de Surface (REVETEMENT)minorSurface Treatment Club with approximately 40 members from industry and academia meeting twice yearly in Paris since over a decade. Includes SNECMA, ALCAN, Renault, CEA, Framatome, EDF, HIT-Bodycote, HEF, SKF.
- Club Laser et ProcédésminorLaser and Processes Club for exchange on laser technologies and processes.
- AFPR (Association de Prototypage Rapide)minorRapid Prototyping Association for additive manufacturing knowledge exchange.
- Interreg France-SuissecoreEuropean territorial cooperation program supporting THERAMAP project with FEDER funding, Swiss federal Interreg funds, and cantonal funds. Other supporters include Region Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Territoire de Belfort, Canton De Vaud, Swiss Confederation.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
ICB-LERMPS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- HEF Group: French company specializing in surface treatment and tribology, providing industrial coating and thermal spray services to aerospace, automotive, and energy customers. Comparable as a French-rooted surface treatment specialist combining research with industrial delivery.
- Flame Spray Technologies (FST): Dutch manufacturer of thermal spray equipment including plasma, HVOF, and flame spray systems, with research collaborations with academic institutions. Comparable as an equipment-side counterpart where thermal spray torch and process IP converges.
- Castolin Eutectic: Global industrial service company specializing in thermal spray, welding, and wear-protection coatings with a strong European footprint. Comparable as a commercial thermal spray services provider serving similar industrial customer segments.
- Forschungszentrum Jülich: German Helmholtz research center with thermal spray and surface engineering programs serving energy and industrial applications. Comparable as a publicly funded European research institution with industrial service mandates and doctoral programs.
- Plasma Giken Co., Ltd. Japanese manufacturer of plasma spray equipment and supplier of thermal spray services, with patented low-pressure plasma spray technology. Comparable as a specialized thermal spray equipment and service counterpart.
- Centre de Projecció Tèrmica (CPT) - University of Barcelona: University of Barcelona thermal spray research center with industrial services and doctoral programs focused on coatings, cold spray, and plasma spray. Highly comparable in academic structure, research scope, and European industrial service model.
- ITV Denkendorf (Institut für Textil- und Verfahrenstechnik): German research institute conducting applied R&D in surface, textile, and process engineering with industrial service offerings. Comparable as a German public research institute with surface treatment capabilities and industrial contract research.
- SPCTS (Science des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface): CNRS/University of Limoges joint research unit (UMR 7315) specializing in ceramic processes and surface treatments, including thermal spray. Most direct comparable as a French public research lab with overlapping thermal spray and surface engineering expertise serving industrial partners.
Broad incumbents
- Oerlikon Metco: Global leader in surface solutions and thermal spray equipment, materials, and services across aerospace, automotive, energy, and industrial markets. The dominant commercial incumbent against whose R&D capabilities the lab is implicitly benchmarked.
- Linde Surface Technologies (formerly Praxair Surface Technologies): Global surface treatment service provider with thermal spray, diffusion coatings, and proprietary application technologies for aerospace and industrial markets. Comparable as a large-scale commercial incumbent in the same value chain.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ICB-LERMPS social profiles
Digital presenceICB-LERMPS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ICB-LERMPS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
ICB-LERMPS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ICB-LERMPS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ICB-LERMPS
What does ICB-LERMPS do?
ICB-LERMPS is a university research laboratory at UTBM operating the TITAN technological platform, providing industrial R&D services in thermal spray coatings (APS, VPS, HVOF, Cold Spray, wire arc, flame), laser powder bed fusion additive manufacturing, powder atomization, and surface/material characterization. The lab also delivers professional training programs and supports doctoral research. Activities have been conducted with industrial partners since 1985.
Is ICB-LERMPS a public or private company?
ICB-LERMPS is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was ICB-LERMPS founded?
ICB-LERMPS was founded in 1985. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is ICB-LERMPS based?
ICB-LERMPS is headquartered in Belfort, France, in the Europe region.
How does ICB-LERMPS make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Industrial Services and R&D Contracts are the primary driver. The others are professional Training Services.
Who are ICB-LERMPS's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are HEF Group, Flame Spray Technologies (FST), Castolin Eutectic, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Plasma Giken Co., Ltd., Centre de Projecció Tèrmica (CPT) - University of Barcelona, ITV Denkendorf (Institut für Textil- und Verfahrenstechnik) and SPCTS (Science des Procédés Céramiques et de Traitements de Surface). Broad incumbents are Oerlikon Metco and Linde Surface Technologies (formerly Praxair Surface Technologies).
Does ICB-LERMPS have an API?
No public API is recorded for ICB-LERMPS.
What industry is ICB-LERMPS in?
ICB-LERMPS's product category is Surface Engineering and Industrial R&D Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAIAKAF, Thermal Spray & Metallizing (HVOF/Plasma/Arc). Its SIC code is 3470.