What Eclore does

Eclore Actuators SAS is a French industrial deep-tech company founded in 2019 by Pierre Gautier-Le Boulch and headquartered in Nantes, France, with a sales office in Tokyo, Japan. The company develops and manufactures polymer-based protective components and robotic accessories using a patented, origami-inspired automated polymer folding process that transforms flat polymer sheets into three-dimensional functional components without heating. Its core product line consists of cylindrical and flat protective bellows, SCARA robot protection kits, and fixation accessories (EPBL series adapters and junction rings) designed to protect robot axes, linear guides, pneumatic and hydraulic cylinders, and precision equipment from dust, liquids, chemicals, and mechanical wear, with a claimed durability of 10 million compression cycles (approximately 5x conventional bellows). The company has extended into adjacent product categories including a vacuum gripper with integrated level and angle compensation and an upcoming vacuum-based lifting tube.

Eclore generates revenue through a hybrid go-to-market combining direct e-commerce via a Shopify storefront with online custom configurator for standardized catalog items (e.g., EPBL035 adapter at approximately EUR 2 per unit) and sales-led enterprise engagement for custom-engineered projects. Its primary customer segment is industrial robotics OEMs and end users, with publicly named customers including FANUC France, Yaskawa, Staubli, Yamaha, CNRS, and GN Hearing A/S. Secondary verticals include space and aerospace (Kapton and Nomex space-grade bellows), defense, aeronautics, agriculture, construction, and pharmaceutical/food processing, where IP69K, FDA-compatible, and ISO cleanroom certifications enable access. The company has been recognized through French innovation programs including i-Nov, Le Coq Vert, Le Coq Bleu, Start West, and Start Innovation, and was selected for the ESA BIC Nord France incubation program in 2024.

The company employs 11-50 staff and closed a EUR 3 million Series A funding round in February 2026 led by Bpifrance alongside Pays de la Loire Participations, Sodero, and UI Investissement, with proceeds earmarked for commercial and industrial scaling and Japanese market expansion following iREX 2025 participation. Eclore operates from a single SAS entity in France and has no disclosed subsidiaries, M&A activity, or institutional ownership beyond the recent funding round, with the founder continuing to lead the company.

Name

Eclore

Legal name

Eclore Actuators SAS

Website

https://eclore-actuators.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Eclore Actuators SAS manufactures origami-inspired polymer protective bellows, vacuum grippers, and SCARA robot protection kits using a patented folding process, serving industrial robotics OEMs (FANUC, Yaskawa, Staubli, Yamaha) and adjacent verticals including space, defense, aeronautics, and food/pharma.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Robotics Protection Components

NAICS

Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing (326)

SIC

Gaskets, Packg & Sealg Devices & Rubber & Plastics Hose (3050)

akta.pro primary industry

Seals, Gaskets & Fluid Connectors (O-rings, packings, rotary seals, quick couplers) (IMAHAGAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Seals, Gaskets & O-Rings (Industrial Elastomer) (IMANALAC), Aerospace Seals, Gaskets, O-Rings & Elastomeric Components (IMABANAF)

Keywords

• Industrial protective bellows
• Polymer folding manufacturing
• Robotics protection components
• Custom industrial bellows
• SCARA robot protection kits

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Protective Bellows and Components Sales: Eclore generates revenue primarily through the sale of standardized and custom protective bellows products, including the EPBL series cylindrical bellows, flat bellows, SCARA robot protection kits, adapters, and junction rings. Products range from standardized catalog items to fully custom configurations.
2. Custom Engineering and R&D Services: Revenue generated through bespoke engineering projects, custom product development, and R&D collaboration with customers. The company conducts technical studies, creates prototypes, and develops application-specific protection solutions for industrial clients.
3. Vacuum Gripper Systems: Sale of vacuum gripper systems (prehenseur ventouse robot) including height and angle compensation units for robotic applications. These combine prehension and compensation functions in a single product.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Eclore designs and manufactures protective bellows, SCARA robot protection kits, mounting accessories, and vacuum grippers using a patented origami-inspired polymer folding process. Products are sold as standardized catalog items (EPBL series) or as custom-engineered solutions configured via an online configurator, and are used by industrial robotics manufacturers, aerospace, defense, and agricultural machinery operators to protect mechanical axes, linear guides, and cylinders from contamination and wear.

Product overview

Eclore is an expert in industrial polymer folding (origami-inspired manufacturing) providing a portfolio of protective and gripping solutions for industrial robots and machinery. The core product line consists of protective bellows (cylindrical and flat variants) for protecting robot axes, linear guides, and cylinders from dust, debris, and chemicals, plus SCARA robot protection kits with specialized mounting hardware. An emerging product line includes vacuum grippers with integrated level/angle compensation functionality. The company also offers custom engineering services and an online configurator for bespoke bellows design. All products leverage a proprietary polymer folding manufacturing process that enables 5x greater durability, compact form factors, and energy efficiency compared to conventional solutions. The technology originated from space/aerospace applications and has been adapted for industrial robotics, defense, aeronautics, and handling applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Soufflet de protection (Cylindrical Protection Bellows) Cylindrical protective bellows made from folded polymers used to protect robot axes, linear guides, hydraulic/pneumatic cylinders, and mechanical equipment from dust, debris, liquids, solvents, oils, UV, and high-pressure cleaning; designed for industrial robots, automation systems, and SCARA robots with diameters from 35mm to 300mm and IP69K certification.
• Soufflet de protection plat (Flat Protection Bellows) Flat protective bellows designed for linear guide tables and space-constrained applications, providing protection for X and Y axes in precision equipment such as hearing aid manufacturing machinery.
• Kit de protection robot SCARA (SCARA Robot Protection Kit) Complete protection kit specifically designed for SCARA robots, including bellows and mounting accessories to protect the Z-axis and ball screws from dust, debris, and harsh environment contamination; targeted at SCARA robot OEMs, integrators, and end-users.
• Accessoires de protection (Protection Accessories) Fixation accessories including foam adapters (EPBL series) and junction rings used to secure and seal protective bellows to various mechanical configurations.
• Préhenseur ventouse robot / Compensateur de niveaux et d'angles (Robot Vacuum Gripper with Level and Angle Compensation) Vacuum-based robotic gripper that combines gripping, height compensation (up to 1000mm stroke), and angle compensation (up to 45 degrees) into a single compact polymer component, designed for industrial pick-and-place, part handling, and robotic automation applications.
• Configurateur de soufflet sur mesure (Custom Bellows Configurator Service) Online configurator service allowing customers to specify dimensions, interfaces, and fixations for custom protective bellows and receive 3D CAD plans and personalized engineering quotes from Eclore.

Quantifiable outcome

• 5x greater durability than conventional bellows
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• ESA BIC NordminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024European Space Agency Business Incubation Centre Nord France. Eclore was selected among four startups to join the program supporting space-related technology development.
• EMC2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology pole and innovation network partner in the Nantes region. Supports industrial innovation and technology transfer between companies and research institutions.
• AtlanpoleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness incubator and innovation cluster in the Pays de la Loire region supporting startup development and growth.
• ProxinnovminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovation network connecting companies for collaborative innovation projects and technology development.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Schunk: Manufacturer of gripping systems, automation components, and clamping technology for industrial robotics. Comparable as a peer in industrial robotic end-effectors and components, with adjacent products in linear/protective motion technology.
• Zimmer Group: Manufacturer of grippers, automation components, and end-of-arm tooling for industrial robotics. Comparable to Eclore as they share overlap in vacuum gripper/compensator products serving industrial robot applications.
• Seitz GmbH: Manufacturer of bellows, compensators, and sealing solutions for industrial and aerospace applications. Comparable to Eclore in protective bellows/compensator products, particularly in motion control and equipment protection use cases.
• HEMA Maschinen- und Apparateschutz: German manufacturer of industrial protective bellows and way covers (machine protection). Directly comparable to Eclore as both produce polymer-based protective bellows/covers used to shield machine components from contamination and wear, though HEMA uses traditional manufacturing methods.
• Effbe (TransDigm Group): Industrial bellows specialist producing elastomer and fabric-reinforced protective bellows for machine tools, robotics, and aerospace. Comparable as a direct competitor in the protective bellows product category with overlapping industrial robotics and space/aerospace applications.

Broad incumbents

• Parker Hannifin: Global industrial motion and control technologies company with significant sealing solutions and motion protection product lines. Comparable as a broad incumbent covering seals, gaskets, and protective components for pneumatic/hydraulic cylinders and linear guides.
• SMC Corporation: World's largest pneumatics components manufacturer offering rod covers/bellows, cylinder accessories, and automation products. Comparable as a broad incumbent serving industrial robotics and factory automation with overlapping products for pneumatic cylinder protection.
• Schaeffler: Global motion technology company producing linear guides and associated way covers/protective bellows under its INA/FAG brands. Comparable to Eclore as a broad incumbent supplying protective systems for linear motion components.
• Trelleborg Sealing Solutions: Global leader in engineered polymer seals and protective solutions including machine protection bellows. Overlaps with Eclore in industrial bellows and fluid/motion control equipment protection, though Trelleborg serves a much broader portfolio across industries.
• Festo: Major pneumatic and automation components manufacturer offering cylinder protective devices including rod covers and bellows. Overlaps with Eclore in motion/control equipment protection for industrial robotics applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ecloreactuators9003
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eclore-actuators
• Xx.com/ecloreactuators

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors4 records

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 Eclore