The Cluster

The Sopemea Cluster

Testing at the service of our customers

Sopemea, a subsidiary of the Apave group, is a set of laboratories specialising in environmental testing.

For more than 70 years, Sopemea has offered its customers a complete range of testing services for all types of equipment in the fields of mechanics, vibration, climate, electricity, hydraulics and electromagnetic compatibility.

Sopemea is acting in:

• Aeronautics & Space
• Defence
• Railways
• Energy & Nuclear
• Automobile
• Medical.

The Sopemea Cluster has the space in its eight entities to house, operate and maintain the equipment of our customers looking to avail of Testing and Maintenance skills on the same site.

Some areas can be adapted to meet specific requirements: confidentiality, hazards, electrical supply, hydraulics, etc.

Sopemea works in new technologies

Sopemea is involved in new regional, national and European collaborative research programmes to accompany you in your innovative projects. Our experts participate in various international standards committees to accompany and set up the changing regulatory environment such as standard.

Sopemea and Research Tax Credit

Sopemea and its subsidiaries actively work to have all its laboratories accredited for the Research tax credit by the French Ministry for Higher Education and Research.

Sopemea and its partners

Sopemea is a member of:

Sopemea:  Test laboratory in the Paris region

Sopemea alone has almost 150 test installations and conducts around 1 500 test campaigns per year.

Sopemea, the Group’s flagship laboratory has 70 years of experience in three key areas:

• Support and training
• Tests representing more than 80% of our business.
• Maintenance of test equipment and testing

At its size in Vélizy, Sopemea also offers other services:

• Machining workshop
• Computation service
• CAD service

Sopavib: Test laboratory in Lyon

Sopavib, a subsidiary of Sopemea, based in Lyon, provides equipment validation services to the rail, automobile, aeronautic, nuclear industries, etc. Sopavib has several facilities to carry out comprehensive qualification campaigns on all types of equipment in the following areas:

• mechanical,
• vibration,
• climatic,
• EMC

Sopavib, boasting 17 years of experience, operates in three business lines across the group:

• Support
• Testing
• Maintenance of test facilities

Vibration testing

Since its creation, Sopavib has conducted all types of vibration tests: sinusoidal vibration tests, random tests, endurance tests as well as mechanical shock tests.

Our expertise also enables us to offer support services in the following fields:

• Studies and Investigations
• Personalised tests
• Drawing analyses
• Support and authoring of test programmes and procedures
• Investigation tests
• Qualification tests
• …

Available resources:

Sopavib has several 13 kN to 72 kN electrodynamic shakers, fitted with auxiliary tables (400×400 up to 900×900).

• Frequency range: 0.1 to 3000Hz.
• Measurement and piloting systems for up to 32 simultaneous channels.
• Discontinuity detection (µs).
• COFRAC tests as per following standards: MIL STD 810, DO 160, STANAG 4370, GAM EG 13, EN 60068-2-6, EN 60068-2-64, CEI 61373, EN 60068-2-27, EN 60068-2-29.

Shock and tremor simulation

On top of performing vibration tests, Sopavib can use test equipment able to reproduce shocks and tremors and SRS equivalent shocks (up to 10 kHz).

• COFRAC accredited as per following standards: EN 60068-2-27, EN 60068-2-29, MIL STD 810, DO 160, CEI 61373, STANAG 4370

Constant Acceleration testing

Sopavib can conduct constant acceleration tests carried out with a centrifuge.

• COFRAC accredited as per following standards: EN 60068-2-7, MIL STD 810, STANAG 4370, GAM EG 13.

Structure testing

Sopavib can conduct static and pseudo-static (fatigue, etc.) tests using electrohydraulic actuators.

Climatic testing

With a large range of test devices at hand, Sopavib can conduct different types of tests:
temperature, temperature variation, thermal shock, dry heat, heat, cold, damp heat, salt spray and vacuum tests.

COFRAC tests as per following standards:

• Damp heat as per 60068-2-30, including measurement uncertainties
• EN 60068-2-1, EN 60068-2-2, EN 60068-2-14, EN 60068-2-3, EN 60068-2-38, EN 60068-2-78, MIL STD 810, DO 160, STANAG 4370, GAM EG 13
• EN 60068-2-11, EN 60068-2-52, ISO 9227

Combined climatic and vibration testing

Dual mastery of mechanics and climatics enables us to perform combined Hot/Cold temperature vibration and damp heat tests. Tests carried out in 2 axes (vertical and horizontal)

• These chambers can be easily fitted to the shakers.
• COFRAC tests as per standard: EN 60068-2-53

EMC testing

Since 2009, SOPAVIB has been developing its skills and resources to offer solutions to the issues of Electromagnetic compatibility.

• EMC Studies and Investigations
• Drawing analyses
• Investigation tests
• Qualification tests
• Diagnostics and compliance
• Vector analysis for component characterisation
• Transfer impedance, shielding attenuation
• …

Sectors concerned:

• Aeronautics
• Defence
• Civilian
• Automotive
• Rail
• Connectors

Resources available:

• 1 Faraday cage: measurements up to 5 m

Directives: 89/356/EC replaced by 2004/108/EC

COFRAC tests as per standard:

• Defence: MIL-STD 461, STANAG 4370 (AECTP 500), DEF STAN 59-411, GAM EG13
• Aeronautics: DO 160, ABD 0100
• Rail: EN 50155, EN 50121-3-2, EN 50121-4
• Industry:
  o CISPR 11, CISPR 12, CISPR 13, CISPR 15, CISPR 20, CISPR 22, CISPR 24, CISPR 25, CISPR 32
  o EN55011, EN55012, EN55013, EN55015, EN55020, EN55022, EN55024, EN55025, EN55032, EN61326, EN60945
  o CEI 61000-4-2, CEI 61000-4-4, CEI 61000-4-4, CEI 61000-4-5, CEI 61000-4-6, CEI 61000-4-8, CEI 61000-4-11, CEI 61000-4-13, CEI 61000-4-18, CEI 61000-4-29,
  o CEI 61000-6-1, CEI 61000-6-2, CEI 61000-6-3, CEI 61000-6-4,
• Automobile: ISO 16750, USCAR 2, USCAR 17, ISO 11452-x
• Radio: ETSI EN 300 220, ETSI EN 300 330, ETSI EN 300 440, ETSI EN 301 489,

Miscellaneous

• Electrical discontinuity detection up to 12 simultaneous channels and up to 1 µs
• Contact resistance measurements,
• Dielectric, insulation, ground continuity
• Helium leak detection
• 120 universal measurement channels

Sopaval: test laboratory in Valenciennes

Sopaval, a subsidiary of Sopemea, based in Valenciennes (north of France), provides equipment validation services to the rail, automobile, aeronautic, nuclear industries, etc.

For their development, from the elaboration of testing strategies to qualification, our customers avail themselves of the Group’s expertise and climatic, mechanical (vibration, seismic, fatigue, etc.) and electric (EMC) resources.

We work alongside suppliers, equipment manufacturers and integrators to test their equipment, and conduct measurements or tests on site.

Sopaval operates in three business lines across the group:

• Support
• Testing
• Maintenance of test facilities

Sopaval’s vibration equipment is COFRAC accredited to ISO 17025.

Our references: ALSTOM, SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC, FAURECIA, TECHSPACE AERO, FAIVELEY, THALES, FAPMO…

Vibration testing

Our laboratory in the north of France has all the necessary equipment to meet your vibration, mechanical shock and endurance test requirements. It can use several 26 to 70 kN electrodynamic shakers with vibrating table as well as electrohydraulic actuators, one equipped with a vibrating table and another one with a shock machine.

Our centre in Valenciennes meets the strong demand from the Transport sector in terms of combined temperature and vibration tests. All pieces of equipment are fitted with climatic chambers

Specific measurement instruments can be connected to this equipment:

• Vibration analysis equipment
• Temperature measurement equipment
• Strain gauges
• Pressure sensors

COFRAC tests as per following standards: EN 60068-2-6, EN 60068-2-64, CEI 61373, EN 60068-2-27

Climatic testing

Climatic tests (hot/cold/damp):  

With a large range of test devices at hand, Sopaval can conduct different types of tests: temperature, temperature variation, thermal shock, dry heat, heat, cold, damp heat, salt spray and vacuum tests.

Vibro-acoustic testing

The Sopemea group has developed specific test equipment to appreciate acoustic loss following vibration endurance and detect unwanted noise (loudness) in equipment depending on a specific road profile. To do so, Sopemea has an anechoic chamber fitted with a 20 kN electrohydraulic shaker working in a frequency range of 1 to 100 Hz.

On request, we conduct comparative subjective listening tests (pre- and post-endurance).

Application examples: Dashboard, seats, automobile passenger compartment components, etc.

Fatigue testing

Sopaval conducts fatigue tests and adapts its hydraulic test benches to the specifications of the customer and the size of the equipment to be tested: 
Examples:

• Opening and closing endurance cycle
• Movement reproduction
• Stress rupture tests (handle, door hinge, rail, etc.)
• Special tests…

Measurement testing

Sopaval can also carry out multi-signal measurements onsite or onboard.

Some projects:

• Raiway brake performance test measurements
• Buffing tests
• Mechanical strain measurement on windmill
• Modal analysis on body shell
• Vibration comfort measurement on locomotive
• Failure detection / quality improvement of production plant

PARC: test laboratory in the United Kingdom

For nearly 20 years, PARC Ltd has provided a range of environmental testing services to assess a product’s reliability, and to ensure that the product survives in its working environment.

• Vibration & Shock
• High & Low Temperature
• Humidity
• Thermal Cycling / Shock
• Altitude
• Salt Mist / Corrosion
• Dust & Water Ingress Protection
• Highly Accelerated Life Testing
• Impact
• Endurance Rig
• Freefall Drop

PARC operates on three of the core group’s businesses to ensure the reliability of your products :

• Support
• Performing tests services
• Maintenance of test equipment

The UK laboratory PARC holds accreditation UKAS 2379, “United Kingdom Accreditation Service”, the national accreditation for the United Kingdom, equivalent to French COFRAC.

VIBRATION TESTING

The electrodynamic vibration tables allow a wide range of sinusoidal, random and sine on random vibration. Shock and Bump tests can be applied in all

three axes using either half sine, terminal peak sawtooth (TPS) or Shock Response Spectra (SRS) waveforms.
The Ling Dynamics V964 offers increased capability with a Random Force RMS of 89.0 kN.
Combined with the Vötsch VCV 7100 chamber the V875 allows the full range of vibration and shock tests to be carried out over a wide range of temperature and humidity conditions, including cyclic régimes.

Equipment :
Five electromagnetic vibration tables with the capability to test up to 1500kg.

CLIMATIC TESTING

An extensive range of requirements for Climatic Testing can be met using our wide variety of environmental test chambers. PARC can offer temperatures ranging from -70°C to +180°C for both endurance and cyclic testing. Humidity or damp heat conditions can be achieved over the range of 15% to 98% Relative Humidity (RH).

SALT SPRAY TESTING

Through salt spray testing we are able to provide conditions which considerably accelerate the corrosion process. This means that results can be achieved in a short period of time.

INGRESS TESTING

Meeting the requirements of BS EN 60529 and 60598 Standards, our water spray chamber has a rotating table and 800mm radius spray bar, sweeping over a 360º arc. PARC can also provide immersion to level 8 and high pressure/high temperature testing to IPX9. The dust chamber provides dust ingress testing to the dust-protected (IP5) and dust-tight (IP6) categories, by applying a turbulent talc test with reduced pressure (where applicable).

HALT TESTING

The Screening Systems QRS 410-T is a HALT chamber capable of applying up to 25 grms of random vibration in 6 axes simultaneously, whilst cycling the temperature between -60°C and +150°C, at rates of change of up to 60°C per minute. Thus the maximum stress screening for components in the minimum time is achieved.
Product Assessment & Reliability Centre Ltd. offers two levels of support for HALT:

• Use of the HALT facility with a basic level of support, covering operation of the chamber.
• Consultancy to assist in tailoring the HALT profile to your specific product and to guide you through the test process.

ALTITUDE TESTING

P.A.R.C.’s low pressure test facility combines the simulation of high altitude (up to 100,000 feet) with the added functionality of altering the ambient temperature and humidity conditions.
The equivalent altitude can be adjusted at rates up to 5,000 feet per minute.
Temperature conditions can be adjusted at rates up to 2°C per minute between the extremes -70°C and +180°C.

AEMC & AEMC LAB: the expertise in EMC training and testing

AEMC and AEMC Lab joined Sopemea group on January 22, 2019. As a leading player in the field of Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC), AEMC reinforces its training and testing offer in this field of expertise and enriches it. AEMC trades focus on the analysis of disruptions of electronic systems (protection of people and property against lightning, electrostatic discharges …).

TRAINING

AEMC has chosen to offer its training by type of profession and adapts its speech to the field of application of its customers.

The AEMC trainings optimally respond to the concrete needs of all trainees.
Our trainings describe the phenomenons simply, with their causes, effects and orders of magnitude.
Our pedagogy is based on simple manipulations that allow you to “feel” and understand the phenomena.

MULTI-COMPANIES TRAINING SESSIONS :

• Training Catalog 2019
• 2019 Training calendar
• Registration form

DEDICATED TRAINING SESSIONS :

AEMC can respond to your specific need by organizing training on your premises:

• Training program adaptation
• Optimal training time
• Equipment analysis offering
• Support

EXPERTISE – ENGINEERING

AEMC operates in all fields of activity to support you in EMC.

• AEMC operates in all fields of activity to support you in EMC.
• EMC audit and on-site corrections
• Lightning protection system analysis
• Project support
• Analysis files
• Persons’ or property’s protection
• Protection against electrostatic discharges

For about twenty years, AEMC has been offering its services in engineering. Whether for a few days or for several months, you can benefit from the practical experience of our EMC engineers:

• Project support
• Development assistance
• Analysis Files
• Vulnerability analysis
• Persons’ or property’s protection
• Lightning protection system study
• Protection against electrostatic discharges
• EMC validation of systems
• EMC audit and on-site corrections
• EMC Training staff

TESTS – MEASUREMENTS

AEMC LAB : EMC TESTING LABORATORY

AEMC Lab (Electromagnetic Analysis Council) is located in Sassenage, a few kilometers from Grenoble.

For nearly 20 years, AEMC Lab has been offering to its customers a team of professionals at your service for all your regulatory and testing needs in the following areas: EMC, Radio and Electrical Safety. These three activities have been accredited by COFRAC since 1997 to carry out testing services as well as the activities processed in a modular way by the NF EN ISO / IEC 17025 standard defined in the accreditation agreement: N ° 1 -0805.

In 2012, AEMC Lab acquired a 3rd EMC chamber, more precisely a Reverberant Chamber with Shuffling Mode (measurement and immunity from 200MHz to 18GHz – Field level 200V / m), as well as a CS116 generator, a 500W amplifier from 80 to 1000MHz and a 20A / phase three phase power supply. Reverberant chambers are increasingly used as test media for military, aeronautical and automotive applications. It meets MIL STD, DO, EN and automotive standards.

EMC TESTINGS

• Civil
• Medical
• Industrial
• Nuclear
• Electricals
• Urban lighting
• Railway
• etc.

MILITARY AND AUTOMOTIVE EMC TESTINGS

• GAM-EG13, GAM EG13C, MIL STD 461-E and F, DO160
• Peugeot, Renault and others’ specifications
• Other specification

RADIO TESTING

• Short range product
• GPS
• PMR
• Wifi product, bluetooth, Zigbee etc.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY TESTING

• Information processing devices
• Electrical measuring, regulating and laboratory devices

CLIMATIC TESTING

• Cold, dry and wet heat, humidity, according to the specifications provided by the customer.

CONTACT

AEMC Lab : Laboratory of measurements and testings accredited by COFRAC since 1997.

19 Rue François Blumet
38360 SASSENAGE

tél. : 04 76 27 83 83
aemc.lab@aemc.fr
www.aemc-lab.fr