GROUPE LE PISTON FRANCAIS (GLPF) is a hard metal machining and mechanical assembly specialist in the aeronautical supply chain.

After World War II, Le Piston Français (LPF) was founded in 1947, originally our company was a workshop specialised in the manufacturing of truck pistons and car engine repair. During the 1960’s, our company adjusted its focus on the aeronautical subcontracting by starting a new business relationship with SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES (ex SNECMA) based in Villaroche, France. Since, Le Piston Français has dedicated its activities specifically to the aeronautical industry, while retaining its own name and identity.

LPF Engineering

LPF Engineering is a department in charge of design and industrialization activities. LPF Eng. provides services to our different factories but also to external customers. The services offered range from industrialization of parts (technical instruction sheet, programming, design and manufacturing of tooling, dimensional inspection, machining of first articles…), to the management of complete production transfers..

LPF Engineering in figures:
— 80 Technicians and Method/Production Engineers
— 25 Programmers
— 60CAD – CAM licenses – Machining simulation Simulation usinage
— 8000 hours of training per year

Machining in figures

160 machines

CNC

Turning

up to 1300mm

Milling

up to 2500mm

Machining

The core business of GLPF is machining. Our company benefits from a modern and diverse range of machines dedicated to the following works: milling, turning, electric discharge machining, grinding and precision fitting.

We work with various materials but we have a special know-how on hard metal machining especially for aircraft engines.

We design and buy castings and forgings from qualified suppliers. We offer our customers solutions that meet their requirements while optimizing the raw material cost. GLPF is present on the whole life cycle of the product, from prototype to spare parts and tooling manufacturing. Our special processes as bench testing and non-destructive inspection are qualified by OEM (Airbus, Safran Collins…).

Assembly

We propose different techonogies of assemblies depending on the applications and techniques required.

Our technicians are regularly trained and are qualified. All our plants are qualified by major aeronautical contractors for special assembly processes: Airbus, Airbus Helicopters, Safran, Collins Aerospace, Bombardier… 
— Hydraulic assembly with bench tests is performed by LPF Sommières.
— LPF Savigny has an assembly hall dedicated to engine modules.
— LPF Lunel is our plant specialised in the production of mechanically welded tools.

All of our plants are qualified to install components on machined parts..

Spare parts and tooling

Spare parts for aircraft engines:
— Custom manufacture, specific demands / needs
— Support and maintenance
— Follow-up and optimization of mature manufacturing processes
— Technical documents control and archiving

Design and tool manufacturing for production and maintenance (Ground Support Equipment) for helicopter and aircraft operators:
— Sheet metal tooling, industrial boiler fabrication and mechanical engineering
— Aeronautical welding, epoxy painting
— Mechanically welded frame, trolley, production tools, slinging systems
— Co-engineering (on site)

Special processes

ATECA, a subsidiary based in Montauban (82), is the Group’s centre of expertise for special processes.

— Brazing: Induction, Flame, Vacuum
— Laser : Cutting, Drilling, Welding
— Heat treatment: vacuum, neutral gas
— Thermal spraying: plasma, HVOF
— Grinding up to 350mm diameter
— Abrasive treatments: shot blasting and sand blasting
— Metallurgical expertise laboratory
— R&D department for advanced materials