History
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Overview | Locations | Management | Governance | History
In 2022, Groupe Gorgé finalized the simplification of its activities and became Exail Technologies, a world leader in high-tech systems and products operating through its unique subsidiary Exail. Exail was formed by the rapprochement of ECA Group, acquired in 1992, and iXblue, acquired in 2022. The two companies have a rich history of innovation and technological excellence
1936
Creation of the company Etudes et Constructions Aéronautiques (ECA) by French Engineers Marcel Gianoli and Paul Rozycki
1970
Creation of the first sub-marine drone for mine disposal, the “PAP” (Poisson Auto-Propulsé) for the French Navy
1974
First commercial success of the PAP with the Belgian & Dutch navies, reference navies for NATO
1979
Creation of the first autonomous underwater vehicule for the IFREMER, “the Epaulard”, able to dive to 6 000 m.
1974-2000
1974-2000: international success of the PAP with 450 vehicles sold to twenty navies around the world
1998
IPO of Exail Technologies (then named Finuchem) on the secondary market of the Paris stock exchange
2000
Creation of iXblue by French entrepreneur Hervé Arditty
2003
Development of the ALISTAR 3000, an innovative deep-sea autonomous drone able to dive to 3000 m deep.
2005
Raphaël Gorgé joins the Group and is appointed Deputy CEO. He initiates a strategic pivot of the Group toward high-tech sectors.
2007
Development of new innovating autonomous products: uncrewed surface vehicles and underwater robots.
2011
Raphaël Gorgé is appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Groupe Gorgé.
2014
The development of the autonomous underwater robot A18 begins.
The Group wins the Prix de l’Audace Créatrice (Audacity and Creativity Prize) presented by the French President.
2015
Delivery of three teleoperated mine countermeasures drone sytems in a 10 million euros program
2016
The Group adds expertise to its Drones & Systems division with the acquisition of ELTA, specialized in on-board electronics and naval design and engineering firm Mauric.
Delivery of the Group’s first underwater mine-sweeping robot systems.
2019
Exail Technologies, in tandem with Naval Group, wins a landmark €2 billion contract to supply twelve minesweepers to the Belgian and Dutch navies. Exail’s share of the contract is around €450 million, for supplying twelve drone systems to equip the ships.
2020
Exail Technologies wins two international tenders for drone systems, representing €20 million each, including the upgrade of Latvia’s minesweepers fleet.
2022
Acquisition of company iXblue and rapprochement with ECA Group to create a new high-tech champion, Exail.
Groupe Gorgé completes the simplification of its activites and change its name to becomes Exail Technologies.