48, rue Victor Hugo - 60140 Liancourt - France
Developed in 1981, the ACS was an endurance racer designed and built by Ateliers de Construction Siccardi, a firm established in 1942 during the occupation. René Siccardi was well established in the automotive field as a parts supplier and specialist crankshaft builder when he and François Denin (Matra) built a three-cylinder 999cc engine, the ACS S.3, with DOHC and and four valves per cylinder. It developed 150 hp at 11,000 rpm for a top speed of 284 km/h.
The chassis was built by Claude Fior who used the engine as a load-bearing component effectively dispensing with a conventional frame, thus reducing the all-up weight to a mere 172kg. Fior also developed a front suspension system which was used on the Britten and much later by BMW on their K1300 sports machines.
The plan was to enter endurance races in 1982 and begin production in 1984 with an expectation of 5000 motorcycles and 10000 engines over the following 5 years. Development took place in the ACS plants at Villeneuve le Roi and Liancourt.
The project was scuppered when the FIM changed the regulations to limit capacity to a maximum of 750cc, with a minimum production of 1000 engines.
For a time Siccardi was in partnership with Barigo
Ateliers Sicardi - History
"On the 2nd June 1942 under the occupation, the SARL Allary-Siccardi was born in a 200 m² former sheep shed at 142 avenue de Fontainebleau in Kremlin Bicêtre. This motor repair and welding workshop, with a single autogenous welder, manufactured bicycle frames and luggage racks.
1945, after approaches from Panhard and Levasseur, the first automobile components were made using various newly acquired machine tools. A passion for engineering was rewarded by confidence.
1950 - Monsieur Allary, being ill, transferred his shares in the business to Monsieur René Siccardi. At that time Ateliers Siccardi employed 11 people. At that time too, the country had been destroyed and everything had to be rebuilt. The engineering business began to take off and the number of customers increased, among them in addition to Panhard, were Texier Dufort and Babiole tractors. At this time the first drawings and first operation sheets were produced by our Engineering Department.
By 1955, the Kremlin site had become too cramped for the 22 staff working there in 2 teams. The run down, former Kodak buildings in Villeneuve le Roi were purchased, therefore, and it took two years to prepare them for our use in manufacturing. This 3500 m2 workshop saw the arrival of Monsieur René Siccardi, his team and machines on the 4th October 1957, the launch date of the first Russian "Sputnik" satellite; the move and restarting of production took place the same night. Ateliers Siccardi continued to grow, with Panhard, Alsthom, Thyssen and Renault being its main customers.
1962, the BAJAC workshops in Liancourt were put up for sale. We took part in the bidding and due to a lack of buyers were awarded the Liancourt site. Everything needed refurbishing from top to bottom and reconstruction lasted ten years.
1970, 243 people were in Villeneuve-le-Roi, making brake drums, cam shafts (2,000 per day), brake discs, exhaust and intake manifolds, connecting rods, gears, transmission shafts and crankcases for John Deere and Renault in particular. A new challenge presented itself, the mass production of crankshafts, a challenge in which the company was successful.
1973, the first machines were installed at Liancourt; while the works continued Massey Fergusson and Poclain were the site’s main customers with the start of manufacturing of pinsaxels for diggers and wheel disks for tractors.
1976, the works at Liancourt were finished.
1980, it was decided to build a French racing motorbike and the Siccardi Engineering Department was set up for the purpose. The economic slowdown unfortunately led to Ateliers Siccardi abandoning the motorbike project, although it led to a considerable enhancement of technical expertise.
1987, we became a subsidiary of the CF2M group. Our main customers were Renault (crankshafts, cam shafts, flywheels, pulleys, brake discs), PRV (V6 crankshafts), Teves, Thyssen, Caterpillar and KHD. Our technical development continued to progress as did the number of our customers.
1990, we received EAQF level "A" certification. Thanks to our know-how, appreciated even abroad, the Quality of the products leaving our workshops and the performance of our metrology and inspection equipment, one of our main customers at the time, Renault, approached us with a view to the manufacture of crankshafts for the Laguna at a volume of 500 crankshafts per day. This project, involving heavy investment, was set up in 1992 jointly with Ascometal, a subsidiary of the Usinor-Sacilor group; AS2M was born. This subsidiary of Ateliers Siccardi produced 375,000 crankshafts in 5 years.
1998, installation of the first robotized production line making center housings for the leading turbo compressor manufacturer, Honeywell Garrett (volume of 2,000 per day). The design, manufacture and installation of a sectored induction heat treatment plant. Installation of a V6 split pin crankshaft production line for Audi (200 crankshafts per day).
1999, Monsieur René Siccardi retired and Monsieur René-Marc Siccardi became Chief Executive Officer of Ateliers Siccardi, ensuring continuity of the passion for precision engineering applied to mass production.
2000 / 2001, the setting up of a second robotized production line for Honeywell by our projects team with a capacity of 2,000 items per day, and a production line dedicated to crankshafts for the Peugeot DW10.
2002, Ateliers Siccardi celebrated 60 years of existence with its 300 staff and the now-retired pioneers of Ateliers Siccardi’s development.
The Audi V6, 2.4L split pin crankshafts, the PSA 4 cylinder DW10 (ground radius) and DW12 (rolled undercuts) crankshafts are, with the Honeywell turbo compressor housings, our company’s flagship products. The mass production of these technical products for world famous motor manufacturers is the best indicator of the confidence prime contractors have towards us.
2003, Ateliers Siccardi is certified ISO 9001 v2000 and ISO TS 16949 v2002.
Now covering an area of 65,000 m², 20,000 under cover, we are continually developing. Our recognised position as a specialist in the machining of technical components is progressively being complemented by assembly services for sub-assemblies. Our know-how, experience and the dedication of our staff are the principal assets that have contributed to our success, and which will contribute to our continued expansion.
Whether you are an existing or future customer, we invite you to get in touch with our sales department which will respond to your requests for quotations and answer your technical questions. We also invite you to come and visit us to get to know us better.
Sources: caradisiac.com; Graham Clayton; ateliers-siccardi.fr; et al.
