The beginnings of the oil and fuel analysis technique date back to the start of the ’40s.
The first sector of activity to have integrated this technique into its preventive maintenance was railway traction when steam was replaced by electro-diesel traction. A first monitoring programme by the oil analysis technique saw the light of day. It included physicochemical and spark spectrometry analyses.
From the ’50s, the oil analysis technique progressively spread to other sectors of activity (aeronautics, military forces, equipment manufacturers, etc.) who began to set up maintenance programmes.
In parallel, the Institut Français du Pétrole (IFP) and the Belgian Military School conducted many studies and research work on the subject. It is thus, following a study conducted within the framework of this IFP research work, that Claude Fosse recognised the interest of proposing engine monitoring services using the oil analysis technique to professionals from the passenger and goods transport sectors.
He thus created STM (Surveillance Technique des Moteurs) in 1962 which became one of the first laboratories in Europe to propose oil analysis to professionals. Some years later, STM became ST2M (1990), then IESPM (2003).
Over the years, the oil analysis technique was extended to all types of lubricants and equipment and this in all sectors of activity. Today, thanks to increasingly hi-tech and modern analysis techniques, the results of the lubricant analyses allow a very accurate diagnostic to be established on the wear condition of in-service machines and thus construct predictive monitoring programmes adapted to each type of equipment.
1953: Study and development of analytical methods at IFP by Claude Fosse
1962: Creation of STM and installation of a first laboratory in Paris
1972-73: Transfer of the activity to Verneuil-sur-Avre with a prototype of ICP spectrometer adapted to used oil analysis.
1977: Creation of the “Société Vernolienne de laboratoire” subsidiary for the needs of SHELL France
1980-81: Sale of this subsidiary to SHELL. STM becomes a limited liability company
1986: STM develops in the industrial sector in partnership with EMS
1992: STM merges with EMS and becomes ST2M
1994: Creation of BfB Oil Research in Belgium
1997: Opening of a laboratory in Lyon in partnership with SEP “Service Entretien Préventif ”
2001: Acquisition and takeover of the AXCIOL laboratory in Caen
2002: Acquisition of SEP
2003: Merger of ST2M, SEP and EMS. Creation of a common entity: IESPM
2012: Acquisition of the BfB Oil Research laboratory
2013: Acquisition of the dielectric analysis activity of Bureau Véritas Laboratoire
2015: Convergence of IESPM and BfB with the creation of an umbrella brand : IESPM GROUP
2017 : Launching of app mobile DiagServer App
2021 : IESPM GROUP joins Eurofins
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