The laboratory technician will retire on October 1, 2023, after thirty-four years of loyal service at the Center for Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering (SMS) at Mines Saint-Étienne.
Her Academics
“I completed all my schooling at the private vocational high school Lycée Professionnel Privé du Marais Sainte-Thérèse, in Saint-Étienne, until obtaining a CAP (Certificate of Professional Aptitude) as a fitter/assembler in 1976. I then obtained a welder’s certificate, in the Soleil district, after an eight-month internship.”
His Arrival at Mines Saint-Étienne
“My parents, Marcel and Anne-Marie, were both employed in the technical services of the École des Mines de Saint-Étienne. This is how I had the opportunity to join the School in 1989. A position became available, and I started as a technical assistant to my father, who was a blacksmith by trade. He patiently trained me for nearly ten years, in addition to the courses given every Wednesday afternoon by Professor Claude Goux. I learned the basics of metallurgy and alloy manufacturing on the job, subsequently working with several researchers, notably Professor Jean Le Coze.”
Her Responsibilities
“I developed model alloys based on iron, nickel, chromium, cobalt, and aluminum for nuclear companies, the army, the automotive industry, and the watchmaking world. It’s a very interesting job that requires a lot of precision in manufacturing processes.”
His Favorite Machine
“Undoubtedly, the hammer. It arrived in 1968 at Mines Saint-Étienne, at 158, cours Fauriel, weighing 8 tons, delivering 160 strokes per minute, and with a striking force of 600 kg. A devilishly efficient machine that required many years of manipulation, with both feet and hands, to unleash its full potential.”
His Best Memory
“The creation, in 2014, of the A3S grade, a unique patented alloy of incredible strength. This work was carried out in collaboration with Anna Fraczkiewicz, research director at the School.”
His Worst Memory
“In 1990, I caught fire while handling acetone with a dryer. I was quite seriously injured in the face and leg.”
Retirement
“I will spend more time with my family and grandchildren while continuing to do weight training. I also plan to return to the site occasionally to see how my successor, Mickaël Haering, is managing without me. More seriously, I have complete confidence in him because I know he is passionate and competent. I wish him, and all my colleagues, the best for the future.”
