Cideco
Creation date: 2017
Field: heritage diagnostics and engineering structures
Status: SAS under private law, 100% owned by UCA
Workforce: 35 employees
Sales 2024: 3 million euros
Location: www.cideco.tech
Support: UCA subsidiary
Highlights:
meeting with:
Alaa Chateauneuf CEO of Cideco and David Vigier Sales & Marketing Director
>> LinkedIn
In France, local authorities and major public institutions own a large number of buildings, but have few – if any – resources to maintain them. The Ministry of the Armed Forces alone has 75,000 buildings. Most of these buildings are old, with a derisory renewal rate of around 1 per 1,000.
A civil engineering idea!
But how can we guarantee the durability of buildings? How can we predict the evolution of structures and materials? These are the questions that drive the Institut Pascal’s circle of teacher-researchers, led by Alaa Chateauneuf, head of the mechanics, materials and structure axis. In 2016, he took part in a call for projects launched by the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Region. The theme was strategic innovation for sustainable living spaces.
Quite quickly, the project moves towards an industrial solution, made concrete in February 2017 with the creation of Cideco – a company under private law, owned by a single public shareholder: the UCA. Alaa C. leaves on secondment from his professorship to devote himself entirely to managing the bold venture. He is soon joined by David Vigier, Sales and Marketing Director.
Keeping structures healthy
“We’ll never be able to rebuild everything.” It’s a bitter assessment, without appeal. But solutions do exist. “We need to maintain our heritage over the long term. Not just put on band-aids,” assures Alaa C. The longer we wait, the greater the damage. And paradoxically, the less time we have to think about the best solution.” Guided by this fixed idea, the teams set to work.
To care for a building’s heritage over the long term, you first need to know its state of health. Cracks in the concrete and old masonry, traces of corrosion, worrying inclinations… Just like at the block, Alaa C and David V discuss the degradations and pathologies to be treated in the best way.
“We propose regular inspections to monitor disorders according to their severity. Once the health check has been carried out, we recommend solutions adapted to each structure.”
Cideco generates most of its sales from instant diagnostics. “Hello Cideco, I’m having problems with my deck. Can you explain what’s going on and help me repair it?”
The company also provides support for major renovations: extensions, raised ceilings, changes of use, etc., with a particular focus on eco-design, using more sustainable materials or materials from the circular economy.
“We carried out an in-depth assessment of the Pistes de Cataroux, accompanied by a short-, medium- and long-term rehabilitation plan for the site,” illustrates David V.
Capturing vibrations for better recommendations
“With our sensors, we measure building vibrations. And from there, we’re able to find defects, locate them and quantify them precisely,” explains Alaa C.
Concrete expertise for double-digit growth
The intuition was right. In its first year, Cideco, which had 3 employees, closed with sales of 300,000 euros. Since then, the small company has never been in crisis. Every year, it records double-digit growth. Today, 35 people work for Cideco. Sales flirt with the 3 million euro mark.
Ambitions for the future?
“To become the national leader in instrumentation.” The tone is calm and assertive.
“Technically, we’re not far from that. We need to go on the sales offensive and develop our reputation. We’re on the right track.”