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The Cluster has four main goals:

• To bring together the industrial, scientific and university communities in order to improve the technological leadership in the regions (France-Europe)
• To develop high-performance elastomer materials and innovative industrial applications in association with other authorities
• To create new competitive advantages to the profit of companies in the industry
• To secure 30 000 jobs in the regions in which the Cluster is operative

Assets

The 4 regions of the Cluster include research companies and organisations who are experts in rubber and rubber processes and who are capable of developing new products and services for the world market. To these alone, the companies in the regions of the Cluster dedicate half of the French workforce for this sector.

The Rubber Industry in the Regions of the Cluster
Companies    30,000 jobs is 50% of the national workforce
100 manufacturing companies which make up almost  40% of the national workforce
international world leaders in the field of pneumatics and technical manufacturing    

Research3,500 researchers within the various member companies
World-renowned research organisations: Research and Inspection Laboratory for rubber and plastics (LRCCP), Technical Centre for Mechanical industries (CETIM), Mans Technology Transfer Centre (CTTM)…    

TrainingMajor schools and universities with expertise in polymers : Paris Upper School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry (ESPCI), Universities of Orléans, Tours, Nantes, Clermont-Ferrand, Maine, Paris VI, National Institute of Professional Training and Teaching for Rubber (IFOCA)…

The Cluster’s company member exports make up 60% of the overall income from manufacturing exports

Members

More than 60 members in the Cluster in January, 2008

Companies:  more than 40    
•    French companies including Michelin, Hutchinson, REP, Barre-Thomas Company of Polymers (SPBT), SACRED, STELMI, SACATEC,,,…
•    International Groups including: Bridgestone (Japan), Goodyear Dunlop Tires (USA), Trelleborg (Sweden), Avon Polymers (USA), Daikin Chemical (Japan), Lanxess (Germany)…  
•     More than 75% are small and medium-sized companies

Research and Training CentresThere are 16 including: Angers ParisTech Arts and Trades, Clermont-Ferrand Blaise Pascal University, Cergy Pontoise University, Nantes University, Orléans University, François Rabelais Tours University, National Institute of Professional Training and Teaching for Rubber (IFOCA), Bourges Upper National School of Engineers (ENSI), Paris Upper School of Industrial Physics and Chemistry (ESPCI),…

More than 10 other organisations are also partners of the Cluster including the National Syndicate for Rubber and Polymers (SNCP),the Federation of Plasturgy, the Union of PME Syndicates of Rubber and Plasturgy (UCAPLAST), the Federation of Mechanical Industries, the Federation of Industries for Vehicle Equipment, ALIAPUR, the European Tire and Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (ETRMA) , ……

Ongoing Cooperation for R&D Activities

Created in July, 2007, the Cluster has approved four projects, Astro, Thermel, Overreach and Faviel , during this period. The Cluster members have developed 10 other projects as R&D cooperatives since 2007   

International Cooperation

Current:The Cluster welcomes numerous foreign companies in the rubber and polymer sector,..
The European Tire and Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (ETRMA), member of the Administration Council is an Elastopôle member for development on the international market.

Future:In the next 3 years, the Cluster is seeking to establish an international visibility as targeted in its strategic planning.

• More information on Elastopole