Cerfav, European Center for researches and training in the glass-work, was created in 1991 to Vannes-le-Châtel. It is a structure which adopts a transverse posture around the glass-crafts. It puts a lot into the contemporary artistic creation, the conservation of the know-how and the implementation of researches, innovations and technological expertises.
The crisis of the 80s affects strongly the crystal glass industries. A painful awareness appears then: what future for a job shaken by the petroleum crisis, rich in his traditions but also strongly paralysed by his habits and his heavinesses? Cerfav, association law 1901, is then created in 1991 to Vannes-le-Châtel (54) in Lorraine.
Vannes-le-Châtel, 550 inhabitants in about twenty kilometres of the city of Toul and about forty of Nancy, is given rhythm since 1765 by the work of the glass and the crystal. Today still, the crystal glass-making Daum bases the main part of its production tool there.
1991 - 1995: Saving, development, acquisition of the skills, the know-how and the knacks
It is a question, from an intuition and from a local traditionally glass-making (presence of glass-making for more than 2 centuries to Vannes-le-Châtel) to protect ancient know-how and to develop an activity. This initiative was a strong issue in local development in this period of construction of Cerfav. At the same time, it is certified National Pole of Innovation by the Ministry of Trade, the Craft Industry and the Liberal Professions at that time.
1996 - 1998: installation and harnessing of the process of training, equipments and useful skills
ISO certification 9001 in 1998 is the result of a considerable effort which concretises the professionalization of Cerfav able to mobilize:
· consequent material means,
· the competent staff established by artists, by designers, by professionals and by technicians.
From 1999 till 2002: valuation of the produced results
The persons graduated by Cerfav are identified as craftsmen, artists or professionals .
More than a third of the alumni create their workshop after Cerfav by beginning with a craft or artistic production.
Cerfav introduces during this period the website: www.idverre.net, as well as the Pole Glassworker, structure of business intelligence economic and animation of the glass-making professionals (companies, museums, schools, laboratories, etc.)
Cerfav receives the strong support of the local communities, General Council of the Meurthe and the Moselle and of the region of Lorraine which becomes an owner of her premises.
Since 2005: in the service of the creativity
The means proposed by Cerfav encourage young artists to explore the wide possibilities of material glass. Exceeding the contingencies of technical and technological control of the material, Cerfav allows the artists to use the glass in the service of their creation.
2010: Launch of Cerfav|Pantin (93) for an opening towards the artistic circles and a spread of the glass culture
The approach and the valuation of the material glass is enriched by the launch of this structure complementary, central, visible and opened, intended to serve the professionals, to establish bridges with the artistic circles and design, in particular schools, and of course to spread the glass culture in the general public.
2011: Development of the industrial formations Prover
Development of an offer of formation and services of audits, advices and expertises in aid of the industrialists of the glass and of the user industrialists of the glass. Although implanted in Cerfav ¦ Pantin, the main part of the interventions of the team take place within companies for formations adapted to the problems of every company. Since around ten years (the formation was exempted by the Institute of the Glass), the engineers and the technicians of the industrial glass told " to have made Prover " for a high-level formation. They can continue to say it by going this time to Cerfav.
2012-2013 : Development, integration and transfer of innovation - Inauguration of the Glass FabLab
The Cerfav coordinates the Glass Competence Network related to the french "Art, luxury and creation" sector in Lorraine. The Cerfav is involved in french Lorraine University, and obtains the CIR approval (it means that french companies recover tax credits when they work with the Cerfav).
The Cerfav | Pantin (near Paris) refocuses its activities in favor of industrial networks and services : analysis and mesures, technical studies, glass breakage and defects expertises, prototyping, ...
Opening of the first Glass FabLab using digital technologies, from design to prototype. The public inauguration is scheduled at the french Science Festival in October 2013.
2014 : Development of activities for SMEs and industries.
The Cerfav obtains the CRT label (from the french Ministry of Higher Education and Research), as a recognition of its technical expertise.
New experts from glass industries join the network of Cerfav | Prover trainers, and new training modules are developped.
