CLAYENS announces the acquisition of the aeronautical activities of GAUZY SAS/VISION SYSTEMS and launches CLAYENS AEROSPACE, a dedicated sub-brand built on world-leading expertise in thermoset, injection molding and thixomolding solutions
GENAS, FRANCE, May 29, 2026 — On May 19, 2026, the Lyon Commercial Court appointed the CLAYENS Group as the buyer of the aeronautical assets of GAUZY SAS, through its subsidiary VISION SYSTEMS, based in Brignais (France). This strategic transaction enables the French industrial group to strengthen significantly its presence in the Aerospace & Defense sector. Alongside this acquisition, CLAYENS is announcing the launch of CLAYENS AEROSPACE, a dedicated sub-brand formalizing the group’s ambition as the industrial partner of choice for the global aerospace and defense industry.
A strategic operation to accelerate growth in the aeronautics industry
With this acquisition, CLAYENS continues its development strategy in high value-added industrial markets. The acquired business includes several well-established and recognized operations in the aerospace industry. VISION SYSTEMS is a leading player in cockpit sun protection systems for over 30 years, establishing the company as a market leader in this field. In line with its focus on diversification and innovation, VISION SYSTEMS has also developed cabin sun protection solutions for business and commercial aviation, as well as jettisonable framed windows for helicopters.
This acquisition is part of CLAYENS’ commitment to strengthening its exposure to high-value-added aerospace markets and consolidating its portfolio of technology-driven businesses. Already an industrial partner of major international clients (Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Safran, Collins Aerospace, MBDA, KNDS…), CLAYENS is thus strengthening its position among the leading industrial suppliers of Europe and North America.
Preserving industrial know-how
Beyond the industrial assets, the acquisition aims to preserve the technical skills and expertise of the VISION SYSTEMS team, considered essential in a highly regulated and technologically advanced aerospace environment. The integration includes safeguarding 210 jobs, representing 100% of the aerospace workforce, with priority given to maintaining continuity of the industrial and commercial activities of VISION SYSTEMS. The gradual integration of these activities within the group will enable industrial and technological synergies, particularly in the areas of technical materials, complex assemblies, and high-value-added transformation processes.
“We are delighted to welcome the VISION SYSTEMS and GAUZY SAS teams to CLAYENS. Beyond the industrial operation, it is above all a meeting of complementary expertise and dedicated men and women working in demanding professions. Our priority is simple: to ensure business continuity that serves our customers, preserves existing skills, and builds the future together — progressively and concretely, into a leading partner in aerospace markets.”
— Eric Pisani, President of the CLAYENS Group
INTRODUCING CLAYENS AEROSPACE
A Sub-Brand Born of World-Class Industrial Heritage
The launch of CLAYENS AEROSPACE marks a defining step in the group’s long-term growth strategy. More than a commercial identity, CLAYENS AEROSPACE is the expression of decades of engineering heritage, manufacturing excellence, and deep customer partnership in some of the most demanding industrial environments on earth. CLAYENS AEROSPACE builds on the group’s position as the industrial partner of choice for aerospace OEMs, defense primes, and tier-one suppliers demanding precision-engineered thermoset, injection molded, and thixomolded components at global scale. As the world leader in thermoset composite manufacturing — with 28 plants across 9 countries — Clayens brings unmatched depth and geographic reach to aerospace programs requiring exacting standards of quality, traceability, and supply chain resilience.
Core Capabilities of CLAYENS AEROSPACE
- Thermoset composite manufacturing — structural and functional components for airframes, nacelles, interiors, and actuation systems
- High-precision injection molding — polymer components for cabin systems, avionics housings, and connectors
- Thixomolding — lightweight magnesium alloy components combining metal performance with polymer process economics
- Cockpit & cabin shading systems, helicopter systems, and NRC aeronautics project management — now integrated through the VISION SYSTEMS acquisition
- Electrical infrastructure components for next-generation platform power systems: switchgear housings, busbar insulators, circuit breaker components, transformer parts, and arc-resistant enclosures
A Platform for Growth in Aerospace & Defense
The formalization of CLAYENS AEROSPACE as a dedicated sub-brand enables CLAYENS to engage aerospace and defense customers with greater clarity, commercial focus, and dedicated engineering resources. The sub-brand consolidates capabilities that have long existed across the CLAYENS network under a single identity — one built for the pace, precision, and regulatory requirements of the aerospace industry. With Aeronautics & Defense now representing more than 12% of annual revenue, and with the integration of VISION SYSTEMS accelerating both capability and customer reach, CLAYENS AEROSPACE is positioned as a significant growth engine on the path to the group’s €1 billion revenue target.
“The launch of CLAYENS AEROSPACE reflects what we have always been for our customers in this sector: a reliable, technically capable, and genuinely invested industrial partner. Formalizing this under a dedicated brand allows us to express that commitment more clearly, and to pursue new partnerships in aerospace and defense with the full weight of the Clayens group behind us.”
— Eric Pisani, President of the CLAYENS Group
About Clayens
Clayens is a French industrial contract manufacturer and a global leader in thermoset composite manufacturing, injection molding, and thixomolding. With €620 million in revenue, 28 plants across 9 countries, and a workforce dedicated to high-performance polymer and composite solutions, Clayens serves demanding industrial markets including Aerospace & Defense, Healthcare, Energy, Automotive, and Electrical Infrastructure. Backed by One Equity Partners, Clayens is pursuing an ambitious growth strategy targeting €1 billion in revenue by 2030.
About Clayens Aerospace
Clayens Aerospace is the dedicated aerospace and defense sub-brand of the Clayens Group, integrating the group’s world-leading expertise in thermoset composites, injection molding, and thixomolding with expanded capabilities in cockpit and cabin shading systems, helicopter systems, and aeronautics project management. Clayens Aerospace serves major OEMs and defense primes including Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Safran, MBDA, and KNDS.
Press contact:
Anaïs VACHON – Group Communication Officer
Paul MELNYCHUCK - Chief Commercial Officer