Company

Innovation based on experience

Since its inception, SODERN has been a source of solutions based on innovation and has developed its cutting edge expertise. The company’s products are now relied upon in competitive markets worldwide, with a wide range of applications involving the extremely small (neutrons) to the infinitely large (Outer Space).

The company is the worldwide manufacturer and provider of attitude sensors (star trackers, earth sensors, etc.) and has also developed extensive expertise on Space Instrumentation (Earth Observation, onboard Scientific Instrumentation, etc.,…).

SODERN has also spent several years developing instruments to detect dangerous or illicit materials concealed in luggage (e.g. explosives or narcotics) or buried underneath the ground(e.g. mines, chemical weapons), by using a neutron interrogation technology.

SODERN is constantly advancing its innovation and technology to higher levels to meet its customers’ needs. In recent years it has received three awards: The Aviation Week Award (2005; HYDRA Star Tracker), the Civil Defence Technological Innovation Trophy (2007; EURITRACK) and the NASA Achievement Award (2007; CALIPSO).

Expertises

Our current activities cover several leading edge technologies areas :

• Equipments intended for satellite attitude control (Earth sensors, start trackers),
• Earth observation and onboard scientific instrumentation
• Optics with the design and production of high performance applications for space, defence and industry
• Neutron-triggering sources for French military systems
• Detection, analysis and security neutron systems (homeland security, online bulk material, etc.)

Our customers

Our historical partners/customers are CEA, DGA, CNES and the prime contractors of the space industry: Alcatel Space, EADS Astrium. Through these companies, SODERN plays a major role in the SPOT, HELIOS and M51 programs as well as in numerous telecommunications satellites.

In the 80’s, SODERN enlarged his portfolio and started to export its products. The European Space Agency, NPO PM (Russia), ORBITAL (USA), TOSHIBA and NEC (Japan) and other major prime contractors in the space business ; BNFL (England), JAIRI (Japan), ATC (USA) for neutron equipments, as well as the worldwide cement works, coal, nickel, copper mines, etc.