Set up originally as a tribology research centre, surface engineering remains the core business of the Group which has since its beginnings always made innovation a priority. Innovations in treatments, innovations in processes, innovations in friction components, but also innovations in its structure and its organisation in order to meet its customers' requirements as well as possible.

Innovation is at the heart of the operation of the HEF Group. The Group's R&D teams ceaselessly improve and develop the Group's technologies in order to meet today's problems:

• CO2: reduction of emissions/environment
• New energies
• New surface functions

A considerable proportion of the Group's activity is therefore devoted to the development of innovative products in order to meet the demands of industry, using:

• The scientific and technical expertise of its tribology, mechanical engineering, surface engineering and treatment teams.
• Its characterisation, simulation and analysis laboratory.
• Numerous scientific and industrial collaborations in connection with national and European research projects.