Two years ago, Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS laid the cornerstone for its new center of excellence dedicated to aerospace heat transfer equipment at its Campsas site near Toulouse (France). With more than 40 million euros invested and 12,000 m² of new space, this is the largest industrial investment the company has ever made. More than just a new building, this center of excellence marks a new chapter in the history of Liebherr’s site in Campsas with the goal of meeting the ramp-up demands of current programs while preparing for the next generation of aircraft.
Growth at the site
Established in Campsas since 2001, Liebherr-Aerospace has gradually expanded its precision machining operations there. The site now houses the production and repair of aerospace heat transfer equipment, which is a major part of the environmental control and thermal management systems developed by the company.
This investment doubles the site’s floor space and brings together next-generation industrial capabilities: surface treatment lines, a brazing application robot, brazing furnaces, welding equipment, inspection systems, and a spacer-forming press designed by Liebherr.
It provides the site with the means to increase its production capacity while preparing for future technological advancements. The Campsas site will have nearly 400 employees by the end of 2026.
Meeting today’s needs and preparing for tomorrow’s
While thousands of aircraft based on current designs are still to be produced in the coming years, the industry is already preparing for future generations of aircraft.
Heat transfer equipment is at the heart of this dual challenge. Indispensable today for conditioning and pressurizing cabin air as well as for cooling equipment, it will play an increasingly important role in the future in energy management and heat dissipation aboard future aircraft.
By strengthening this strategic business at Campsas, Liebherr-Aerospace is meeting the needs of current programs while developing the technologies and expertise that will contribute to the aerospace architectures of tomorrow.
Preparing for the factory of the future
Beyond industrial investments, Liebherr-Aerospace is also preparing the production methods of tomorrow with DIGIFab, a collaborative project supported by DGAC (French Civil Aviation Authority) as part of CORAC (Council for Civil Aeronautical Research), aimed at accelerating the digitalization and automation of heat transfer equipment manufacturing.
“With this new center of excellence, we are strengthening our industrial capabilities to support the ramp-up of current programs while preparing the technologies and expertise that will contribute to future generations of aircraft. This investment gives us the means to meet our customers’ expectations both today and tomorrow”, states the Executive Management of Liebherr-Aerospace Toulouse SAS.
An investment in the region and in skills
This transformation relies above all on the employees who make it possible. The transfer of operations from Toulouse to Campsas, the installation of new equipment, and the ramp-up of the site involved numerous departments and trades, all while maintaining continuity in production and deliveries to customers.
The center of excellence was also designed with workplace quality in mind, featuring optimized workstations and new communal spaces: a company cafeteria, a gym, a multipurpose room, and facilities for the local workers’ council.
By sustainably strengthening its industrial presence in Occitanie, Liebherr-Aerospace contributes to skills development, the appeal of industrial careers, and value creation within the regional aerospace ecosystem. The project is supported by the Occitanie Region and the Adour-Garonne Water Agency.
The Center of Excellence of Liebherr-Aerospace in Campsas embodies the convergence of a long-term vision, a major industrial investment, and the dedication of the employees who—alongside an entire ecosystem—are building today the capabilities, technologies, and expertise that the aerospace industry will need tomorrow.
