News

SODERN has been selected by CNES for the design and the manufacturing of TARANIS Micro-Cameras. TARANIS is a CNES mission aiming to characterize magnetosphere-ionosphere-atmosphere coupling via transient luminous events, such as sprites, lightnings, ... Micro-Cameras is an optical instrument containing two registered cameras for comparing simultaneous observations of these phenomena in two different narrow spectral bands. Together with tight optical specifications, a major constraint of this project is the limited volume and mass (less than 1.2 kg) for compatibility with the Myriad platform.

In the frame of a CNES R&T study, SODERN has designed and manufactured a transportable ultra-stable Fabry-Perot cavity. This equipment is a key component for high performances lasers stabilization. The cavity has been delivered to SYRTE for ultimate performances verifications.

Aviation Week Award for HYDRA:
The new Sodern star sensor Hydra has won an Aviation Week & Space Technology Innovation Award. Hydra is a multiple head star sensor offering exceptional robustness and performance, it will trigger an intriguing step forward in spacecraft Attitude and Orbit Control Systems.

Qualification of SED36 (Pleiades Star Tracker):
In November 2005, the Qualification of the SED36 has been accepted by the PLElADES project team lead by Astrium SAS and the CNES. This new version of the SED16/26 product line has separate elements for the Optical Head, Electronic Unit and Baffle and an improved accuracy with a higher number of stars in tracking. The Flight Models for PLEIADES are currently under production and will be delivered to Astrium in March 2006.

Le satellite franco-indien d'étude du climat de la ceinture intertropicale MEGHA-TROPIQUES a été mis en orbite à 865km d’altitude ce mercredi 12 octobre par une fusée indienne PSLV.

MEGHA-TROPIQUES sera le 1er satellite à étudier l’atmosphère intertropicale et les évènements climatiques particulièrement intenses à cet endroit du globe. Il s’intéressera pendant 3 à 5 ans au cycle de l’eau de ces régions, à ce jour mal connu et qui a des répercutions sur la Terre entière.

Ses 4 instruments vont être mis en route par le centre de surveillance et de contrôle du satellite, en Inde. Sodern a réalisé pour deux instruments (SAPHIR et SCARAB) le boîtier de commande et contrôle appelé EM pour Electronic Module : EM SCARAB et EM SAPHIR.



Au-delà d'alimenter les deux instruments, ces boitiers gèrent les modes de fonctionnement des instruments, la mise en configuration des instruments, des télémesures et surtout réalisent l'asservissement de position très précis du mécanisme de chaque instrument. Le CNES, maître d’œuvre côté français, participera à la mise sous tension des instruments français SAPHIR, SCARAB et de l'instrument franco-indien MADRAS.

Félicitations aux équipes internes ayant contribué à ce succès.

Leading analytical X-ray company PANalytical (Almelo, the Netherlands) has entered a strategic alliance with neutron generator based analyzer specialist SODERN (Limeil-Brevannes, France). The result will be the long-term, exclusive, worldwide distribution and support of SODERN’s neutron based cross-belt analyzers by PANalytical. Cross-belt analyzers are used in the cement, minerals and coal industries for critical applications such as raw material real-time characterization, quarry/mine management, stockpile and raw mix control, and combustion optimization.

Guido Eggermont, Commercial Director, PANalytical, said: “Bringing SODERN’s exciting switchable neutron source technology into our portfolio is a significant move. It will widen the solutions we can provide to our customers in the cement, minerals and coal sectors. PANalytical has a great tradition in these industries and our reputation for the combination of cutting-edge technology with ultimate commitment in support and safety can only be enhanced by this new development.”

“Leveraging our unique Pulsed Fast and Thermal Neutron Analysis (PFTNA) technology with the worldwide commercial footprint of PANalytical will ensure our customers benefit from unparalleled expertise and customer support”, says Franck Poirrier, CEO of SODERN. “It will also facilitate further development of this technology into new applications and markets,” he adds.

About PANalytical

PANalytical is the world’s leading supplier of analytical instrumentation and software for X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), with more than half a century of experience. The materials characterization equipment is used for scientific research and development, for industrial process control applications and for semiconductor metrology.


PANalytical, founded in 1948 as part of Philips, employs around 900 people worldwide. Its headquarters are in Almelo, the Netherlands. Fully equipped application laboratories are established in Japan, China, the USA, and the Netherlands. PANalytical’s research activities are based in Almelo (NL) and on the campus of the University of Sussex in Brighton (UK). Supply and competence centers are located on two sites in the Netherlands: Almelo (development and production of X-ray instruments) and Eindhoven (development and production of X-ray tubes). A sales and service network in more than 60 countries ensures unrivalled levels of customer support.


The company is certified in accordance with ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14001.

The product portfolio includes a broad range of XRD and XRF systems and software widely used for the analysis and materials characterization of products such as cement, metals and steel, nanomaterials, plastics, polymers and petrochemicals, industrial minerals, glass, catalysts, semiconductors, thin films and advanced materials, pharmaceutical solids, recycled materials and environmental samples.


PANalytical is part of Spectris plc, the precision instrumentation and controls company.