Design and production of liquid-propellant rocket engines
Snecma’s Vernon plant in Normandy, about an hour west of Paris, has all the skills and resources needed for the design, development, production and marketing of liquid-propellant engines for launch vehicles, in particular Europe’s own Ariane. The site is part of Snecma’s Space Engines Division, and currently employs 1,150 people.
Snecma works on Ariane 5 propulsion systems, currently the Vulcain®2 main stage cryogenic engine and the HM7B upper stage cryogenic engine. In a few years, the latter will be replaced by the new Vinci® engine, now under development.
These cryogenic engines are fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Snecma has built up extensive knowledge of this demanding technology over the last four decades. The test stands for these engines are located at the Vernon plant, in an area spanning some 116 hectares (287 acres).
Vernon also leverages its resources and expertise to serve other industries, for instance by designing and producing high-performance systems for the liquefied natural gas industry, as well as for fuel cells.
Furthermore, Vernon’s expertise and machine tools are available to companies from many other sectors, as part of the range of services that Snecma offers to industry.
The Vernon plant is one of the largest industrial sites in the Haute-Normandie region, and is heavily involved in the local economy. Snecma is a member of AeroEspace, the region’s aerospace industries network. Along with Renault, Snecma was one of the driving forces in the project to set up Normandy Motor Valley, a center of competitiveness for energetics, propulsion and sustainable development.
Practical information
From the A13 motorway: take exit 16, following signs for "Vernon" then "Beauvais" and "Gisors". After crossing the bridge across the river Seine, follow the signs for "Snecma".
The Vernon site is not open to the public.
- Plan d’accès imprimable / Printable access map
Snecma Vernon
Forêt de Vernon
BP 802
27208 Vernon Cedex
France
Phone: +33 (0)2 32 21 72 00
Fax: +33 (0)2 32 21 27 01
communication.vernon@snecma.fr