ISO 14001 certification
Mai 2010
The Groupement des Entreprises du Plateau de Signes (GEPS) has obtained ISO
14001 certification (Level 1) for the Signes Business Park… the first time a
business organisation-led project has pulled this off in France!
Objectives: to raise awareness, encourage, represent the Business Park companies, pool their resources to maintain and improve the quality of life and environmental friendliness.
This innovative approach is based on the mapping of the main business-induced environmental impact factors such as materials storage, the machinery installed, etc.
The environmental remedial and preventative work already undertaken by the GEPS will be continued, drawing on data provided by the twice-yearly map updates.
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Objectives: to raise awareness, encourage, represent the Business Park companies, pool their resources to maintain and improve the quality of life and environmental friendliness.
This innovative approach is based on the mapping of the main business-induced environmental impact factors such as materials storage, the machinery installed, etc.
The environmental remedial and preventative work already undertaken by the GEPS will be continued, drawing on data provided by the twice-yearly map updates.
Les Petits Chaperons Rouges
Mai 2010
Les Petits Chaperons Rouges crèche has now been open for a year inSignes and looks after 64 children in a safe, high-quality setting. The familiesare charged the same fee as they would be by a local authority establishment. Thereare still places available for reservation by firms on the Park seeking to setup an attractive human resources policy. As the expenses are deductible and taxcredit applies, they will find the rates advantageous. For further details, callthe Head of Projects, Ms. Vinai, on +33 (0)4 42 95 17 49.
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"Signes de qualité" event
23 octobre 2009
On 23 October 2009, the "Signes de qualité" event opened
giving pride of place to 5 new Business Park occupants: Cintragemétal – Quai
Sud/ Epicerie de Provence – Sanogia – Tethys - X-RayServices, involving a
presentation of the Signes Business Park, its bustling activity, the quality of
its services offer and environment, its guiding principles and the potential of
its 80 resident enterprises. View the video sequence on the home page.
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Strategic sectors
Maritime economy
The Mediterranean - a "sea in the middle of the earth”
- An enclosed area covering 2.5 million sq km, with a 14-km wide strait opening on to the Atlantic Ocean.
- A sensitive sea buffeted by violent natural events (rain, gales, etc.) that is home to a diverse and fragile ecosystem.
- A major shipping zone:
- 20% of the world’s oil tankers and 30% of its merchant ships,
- Joint number 1 yachting zone with Florida.
- A population of 150 million inhabitants, who share many issues that could be handled by the “Mediterranean Union” currently under construction.
- A special feature of the Var is the proximity of the deep ocean floor (abyssal plain at a depth of 2500-4000 m) and 420 km of open coastline.
The Var – a pool of skills in all aspects of the sea
An economy steeped in the wellspring of naval activity, which has the Toulon roadstead as its hub
- The Toulon roadstead has been the historical naval base of the French Navy in the Mediterranean since the 16th century, and is now Europe’s most important arsenal and the leading Mediterranean naval base (roughly 26 000 armed forces and civilian jobs – 6 submarines – 37 surface vessels).
- Many companies providing ship maintenance, maritime safety and security services.
A network of specialised ventures
- BMTI - full communication systems and composite materials
- CESIGMA – measuring systems
- CHRISAR SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGIES –- underwater acoustics
- CNIM – complex mechanical systems
- COMMUNICATION & SYSTEMES – critical systems
- DEGREANE HORIZON - meteorology
- ECA – underwater robots
- ECT INDUSTRIES – Electronics and optronics
- EURODOC – documentary services and systems
- IRTS – control panels
- NAVFCO – military training
- OPTIS – light simulation
- OSEAN – underwater lighting and vision systems
- PROLEXIA – modelling
- SEMANTIC TS – underwater acoustics
- SHERPA ENGINEERING – systems engineering
- SOFRESUD – communication systems
- SONOVISION-ITEP – technical documentation
- SYSTÉMIQUE – underwater acoustics
- TERRA NOVA INGENIERIE – information systems
- THALES COMPUTER SA – information systems
- THALES SERVICES – information systems
- VIBRIA INGENIERIE – instrumentation
- WILCO INTERNATIONAL – specialised equipment
Many research and experimental institutes
- IFREMER Méditerranée
- LISMMA - Laboratoire Ingénierie des Systèmes Mécaniques et MAtériaux
- LSEET - Laboratoire de Sondages Électromagnétiques de l’Environnement
- IM2NP - Institut Matériaux Microélectronique Nanosciences de Provence
- MAPIEM - Matériaux Polymères Interfaces Environnement Marin
- PROTEE PROcessus de Transferts et d’Échanges dans l’Environnement
- SNC - Systèmes Navals Complexes – Combined laboratory at the University of Toulon – DCNS
- I3M - Information, Milieux, Médias, Médiations
- CPT - Centre for Theoretical Physics
The Var – bridgehead of the Mer PACA competitiveness cluster
- The globally-oriented competitiveness cluster seeks to facilitate the emergence of innovative collaborative projects drawing on all the region‘s maritime resources – 60 000 directly jobs related to the sea in the Provence-Alpes-Côtes d’Azur region.
- A project facilitator bringing together almost 250 operators: industrialists (2/3) and research and training bodies (1/3), 40% of its members are based in the Var.
- Its ambition is to become a major "homeland security" player, build an innovative products and service offer for the naval and offshore oil sectors, and be recognised as a worldwide reference for its knowledge of the marine environment, management of marine biology resources, the environment and coastline development, by organising its operations along 2 strategic lines; "maritime security" and "sustainable development".
- The PACA Marine cluster works in tandem with the Brittany Marine cluster and with other competitiveness clusters in the region.
Specialisation in marine and submarine technologies
- Underwater penetration: development of automated unmanned vessels.
- Development of information and command aid systems.
Water sports – a fast-growing boating community has found its moorings in the Var
- 900 companies – sales worth over €600M (up 6% in 1 year) – 3 800 permanent jobs (ports & companies).
- The Var has the highest mooring capacity in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and Corsica regions: 45 ports (24 000 mooring rings) and 9 port development projects (2 700 mooring rings).
- High numbers of tourists sustain this activity – 68 million guest nights in 2007, 56 yacht clubs, 23 dinghy marinas, 4 nautical resorts and many special events: “voiles et moteurs” boat show at Seyne-sur-Mer, the Voiles de Saint-Tropez regatta, Tall Ships’ Races stopover in 2007.
- Top-ranked Blue Flag (quality label) for France in the marina category (with 11 harbours).
The other speciality fields
Areas of competence that have percolated through to many other sectors such as civilian port activities, professional yachting and naval maintenance, tapping biological and energy resources, the environment and coastal engineering and so on.
Some of the shipyards and subcontractor firms
- 4 shipyards:
IMS Couach – FOSELEV MARINE – CHANTIER NAVAL DES BAUX – MONACO MARINE.
Major shipyard developments in the Toulon roadstead and also at la Ciotat (10 km from the Var) that has a boat lift (2 000 tonnes) and in the Saint-Mandrier-Sur-Mer marine business park – PAM, 2 boatyards under construction: GUY COUACH and NAUTOR SWAN. - A network of subcontractors:
- ACTI – chandlery,
- AZUR MONTAGE – scaffolding,
- ENTREPOSE NAVIBORD – boiler-making, electricity, machining,
- FAVIER CASANOVA – insurance,
- FIOUL 83 – petroleum products,
- IGUACU – decks, marine carpentry,
- OLBIA – marine upholstery, joinery,
- OPTIS – light simulation,
- POLYTECH – journeyman bell makers,
- RUSSO YACHTING – yachts,
- SMATE – cabinet making, fitting,
- SONOCAR – surface treatment,
- TECH HELICE – propellers,
- VOILERIE S N S – Sail making.