At the 2025 edition of the International Paris Air Show (#SIAE2025), the Apave Group and Continental Automotive France formally reinforced their strategic cooperation through the signing of a new agreement aimed at expanding joint capabilities in the testing and qualification of electronic components.
The agreement was signed by Bruno Gstach, Managing Director of Apave Group’s Specialised Entities Division, and Stefan May, President of Continental Automotive France, furthering an industrial partnership that took a key step forward earlier this month with Apave’s acquisition of Continental’s Toulouse-based qualification laboratory.
The Toulouse lab, previously operated by Continental Automotive France, specializes in testing electronic components from high-volume production lines. It now becomes part of SOPEMEA, Apave Group’s subsidiary that focuses on qualification testing, mechanical and climatic simulations, and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC).
This acquisition marks a significant enhancement in SOPEMEA’s service offerings—particularly in compliance testing and failure analysis—leveraging proven methods developed within the automotive sector to support broader industrial applications.
By integrating the lab into its portfolio, SOPEMEA strengthens its position as a comprehensive testing partner for manufacturers across industries, including aerospace and defense. Apave notes that this development will benefit aerospace clients in particular, offering them access to a high-performance facility capable of thoroughly testing production components and mitigating technical risks.
For the aerospace industry, where part reliability and qualification are mission-critical, access to this enhanced infrastructure underscores growing demand for rigorous, scalable, and industrialized testing methodologies.
The agreement reflects a shared vision between Apave and Continental: advancing safety, reliability, and quality across sectors through innovation and collaboration in testing technologies.
Reference: https://www.apave.com/en/
