Connect-Industries, Annual General Meeting… look at the higlights of previous months and the upcoming events you don’t want to miss.
This newsletter also highlight the selection of surface treatments and coatings tailored to your needs. How to choose the appropriate solution for your application? What criteria should be considered to achieve the desired performance? Because every project is unique and requires a thorough analysis of usage constraints, materials, and performance objectives to ensure a reliable, sustainable solution that meets your industrial needs.
LOOKING BACK AND FORWARD
CITRA annual General Meeting – June 26th, 2026
CITRA’s general meeting will take place on friday 26th, June 2026 bringing together members, partners and actors from our network to review the year 2025 and discuss our perspecitves.
As it does every year, this meeting provides an opportunity to review the projects carried out in 2025, changes and developement of the technical center, as well as CITRA’s perpectives for growth.
Inauguration of the CRTS
Following a new phase of investment supported by the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund), we are pleased to announce the completion of the development of CITRA’s second site, in line with the project’s original vision.
This major milestone should enable us to schedule the inauguration of CITRA’s CRTS site for the last quarter of 2026. It also marks a new phase in the development of our technical capabilities and testing facilities, with the goal of providing stronger support to manufacturers in addressing their surface treatment and coating challenges.
This inaugural event will provide an opportunity to showcase the new facilities and infrastructure deployed on the site.
Connect-Industries 2026
A look back at the second edition of Connect-Industries: smart materials, innovations and applications for the aerospace and defense industries, which took place on June 2, 2026, in Limoges. This event provided an opportunity to engage with local industry stakeholders on technical challenges, innovation, and needs related to surface treatments and coatings.
Through a series of conferences, feedback sessions, and B2B meetings, we were able to share our expertise, discover new approaches, and exchange ideas with numerous stakeholders in innovation and research.
For us, this event was also an opportunity to highlight the essential role of surface treatments and coatings in the development of components that are increasingly high-performance, durable, and suited to demanding environments.
We would like to thank the organizers, as well as everyone with whom we had the pleasure of interacting throughout the day, for these enriching discussions.
Zoom on quality : audit ISO 9001
ISO 9001-certified since 2008, our technology transfer center underwent an audit last March as part of its second follow-up audit for the current certification cycle. By retaining its certification, CITRA has entered the final year of its sixth consecutive certification cycle—that’s 18 years without interruption!
This recognition reflects our long-standing commitment to ensuring control over our processes and to the continuous improvement of our services for industries. This milestone also marks the launch of a new certification cycle that will enable us to incorporate the future updates to the ISO 9001 standard expected by the end of 2026 and to continue adapting our practices to meet future industrial challenges.
Our commitment to quality is also reflected in the satisfaction of our partners and clients. In 2025, CITRA achieved a satisfaction rate of 97.4%, a result that underscores the effectiveness of our technical support and the daily dedication of all our teams.
As a Technology Resource Center (CRT), we place quality, reliability, and expertise at the heart of everything we do in order to provide industries with effective, rigorous support tailored to their needs.
MAIN NEWS: surface treatment, from functional requirements to technical solutions
In industry, choosing a coating is no longer limited to applying a standardized solution.
Performance requirements are constantly evolving in highly regulated sectors such as aerospace, automotive, medical, nuclear, luxury, and space. Whether it’s wear resistance, corrosion resistance, reduced friction, or extended component lifespan, the requirements are becoming increasingly specific and technical.
In this context, surface treatment provides high-performance solutions to tailor surface properties to the actual conditions of use.
Coatings : a solution tailored to the part’s environment
Coating involves applying a layer of material to the surface of a part or component in order to modify or improve certain properties, such as hardness, tribological behavior, chemical resistance, conductivity, adhesion, or wettability.
However, a coating cannot be considered a one-size-fits-all solution. Its performance depends directly on how well it is suited to the part’s service conditions and operating environment.
In industrial projects, two situations frequently arise:
- Some clients come to us with a coating that has already been identified, often based on past experience, customer specifications, or industry standards. The challenge then is to validate the suitability of this solution in light of the actual operating conditions and to define the process parameters needed to achieve the expected performance.
- Others express a functional need, such as wear resistance, friction reduction, corrosion protection, or extended service life. A more in-depth study is then necessary to identify the coating and process best suited to the application.
In both cases, the aim remains the same: to develop a consistent solution that integrates the material, process, and operating conditions to ensure the reliability and durability of the components.
Why use a coating?
Depending on the process chosen, coatings can improve surface properties while preserving the mechanical characteristics of the substrate.
Depending on the application, they can, among other things, help to:
- increase wear resistance,
- reduce the coefficient of friction,
- improve corrosion resistance,
- minimize sticking,
- extend the service life of components,reduce maintenance requirements,
- minimize or even eliminate the use of lubricants.
These benefits are now a major industrial challenge, both in terms of reliability and control of operating costs.
A technical analysis essential for selecting the right flooring
The selection of a coating is based on an analysis of numerous technical parameters. A coating that performs well in a given application may become unsuitable if the mechanical, thermal, or chemical stresses change during service.
Several criteria must therefore be considered:
- the nature of the substrate material,
- operating temperatures,
- mechanical and tribological stresses,
- exposure to corrosive environments,
- part geometry,
- desired performance characteristics,
- production and industrialization constraints.
Compatibility between the substrate and the coating is also a key factor, particularly in terms of adhesion and in-service performance.
or example, TiN coatings are particularly valued for their hardness and versatility in wear-resistant applications, while CrN coatings offer a viable alternative to hard chrome plating due to their good performance in corrosive environments.
Meanwhile, tungsten carbide coatings applied via HVOF are used for their excellent resistance to wear and erosion in harsh environments, while cold spray processes offer a solution for the reconstruction or functionalization of surfaces sensitive to heat input.
The choice of coating therefore depends not only on the deposited material but also on the control of process parameters to ensure the reproducibility and quality of the deposit.
The Right Process: A Driver of Industrial Performance
Beyond the coating itself, the choice of surface treatment process is a strategic consideration.
Certain processes will be more suitable depending on:
- the type of material,
- the geometry of the parts,
- the desired properties,
- integration into the manufacturing process,
- and environmental and regulatory constraints.
With this in mind, CITRA assists manufacturers with feasibility analyses, the development of tailored solutions, and the validation of coating performance.
In particular, CITRA specializes in:
- thermal spraying processes (HVOF, high- and low-pressure cold spray, plasma, wire arc, and powder flame),
- vacuum deposition (PVD, PECVD, and hybrid processes),
- wet processes (electrolytic and chemical processes).
This expertise is further supported by dedicated resources for the analysis and characterization of materials and surfaces, enabling the evaluation of the properties of the developed coatings and their in-service behavior.
From standard components to high-value-added parts
Today, surface treatment is a key driver for optimizing industrial performance. By precisely tailoring surface properties to specific application requirements, it is possible to improve the durability, reliability, and performance of components.
The goal, therefore, is no longer simply to apply a coating, but to develop a technical solution tailored to the realities of industrial settings and the functional requirements of each application. In industry, the choice of a coating is no longer limited to applying a standardized solution.
