Feb 11 2009
French thermics company EPSILON, specializing in high-tech civil and military systems architecture, is partnering with a new Canadian-controlled private corporation, EPSILON RTO, which is opening in Montréal to spearhead its expansion in North America. Benefiting from the assistance of Montréal International to establish its presence in the metropolitan area, the company plans to hire some twenty employees over the next three years, which represents an investment in the area of $6.2 million.
Internationally recognized thermal research structure
EPSILON is a private research organization belonging to the ALCEN Group (annual earnings of $280 M / 1,600 employees). The company, which has a unique know-how in the area of thermics and related physical phenomena, works closely with systems integrators, equipment manufacturers and component suppliers. EPSILON's R&D activities are acknowledged globally, as are its partnerships with Europe's largest industrial groups and research laboratories. EPSILON provides training in space thermics, electronic thermics and various specialized fields. It also offers clients operating licences, patents, software applications and thermal simulation tools created as a result of its own R&D activities.
"The creation of EPSILON RTO and its establishment in Greater Montréal is a major step in our strategy to penetrate the North American market. The highly qualified workforce and the numerous research centres, a dynamic academic environment as well as the existing technological infrastructure all constitute growth factors for our company," stated EPSILON President Bruno Desaunettes.
A business based on human values
"We founded EPSILON almost twenty years ago, and we're still driven by the same passion for thermal research. Beyond corporate objectives and the scientific interest, the human aspect has always been at the heart of EPSILON's corporate philosophy," said Mr. Desaunettes.
For her part, the newly appointed President of EPSILON RTO, Mrs. Marie Desaunettes, added that once again, "it was the human element that led EPSILON to establish in Montréal."
Becoming a key player on Montréal's industrial scene
EPSILON is a major economic and scientific player in the aeronautics, aerospace and embedded systems markets. Its core activities consist of R&D in four main areas: energy efficiency (production, capture, transformation, storage, distribution and renewal); integration of systems, multi-level and multi-thermal approaches; micro- and nanotechnology; and thermal technology (cooling, heating, etc.).
"By banking on our thermics expertise, we hope to quickly grasp the needs of manufacturers while developing links with the region's various research centres, much as we successfully did in Europe. For that matter, we have already taken steps to join the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ) as well as the Quebec Aerospace Association (AQA)," added Cyril Arnaud, CEO of EPSILON RTO.
Mr. Raymond Bachand, Québec Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, is delighted with the French company's decision to establish in Québec, noting that "Québec has identified the aerospace sector as one of the primary drivers of its economic development, and actively supports investments and expanded research in this area. By attracting such investments, Québec can be confident of enjoying a cutting-edge industry while remaining competitive on a global scale. I want to wish Epsilon a warm welcome, and I am quite confident that in Montréal, it will find all of the strategic factors necessary to support its ongoing growth." Mr. Gérald Tremblay, Mayor of Montréal and Chairman of the Montréal Metropolitan Community, is also thrilled at EPSILON's decision to make the city its base of operations in North America. "Montréal has much to offer companies that decide to establish themselves here. I'm particularly pleased to welcome a company such as EPSILON, which is well positioned to appreciate the innovation and creativity offered by our metropolis. EPSILON's establishment at the heart of our business sector and near the Quartier International is even more exciting, as it strengthens our aerospace cluster while supporting the creation of new wealth for the benefit of all Montrealers," declared Mayor Tremblay.
"The creation of EPSILON RTO in Montréal serves to strengthen the metropolitan region's reputation as an internationally ranked centre of higher knowledge," declared Montréal International President and Chief Executive Officer André Gamache. "EPSILON RTO executives intend to work in close conjunction with the various local research entities, thereby supporting the competitiveness of Québec and Canadian companies."
EPSILON RTO's offices will be located at 1095 Beaver Hall Hill, Suite 301, in Montréal.