During the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the whole world was captivated by a unique sight: a metal horse galloping majestically along the Seine. This technical feat was achieved by MM Process, a Breton company and a customer of our Composites Distribution subsidiary.
In just three months, they designed and built a 14 metre long, 5 metre wide motorised trimaran that weighed in at 2.5 tonnes. The vessel, fitted with carbon foils and recycled composite materials, was used to hold up the mechanical horse designed by Atelier Blam in Nantes. The 123-kilowatt electric motor enabled the trimaran to sail without creating waves, giving a perfect illusion of galloping across the water. For safety reasons, the trimaran’s controls remained mechanical, with Kevlar reins allowing Morgane Suquart, co-founder of MM Process, to steer the structure.
This project had to be carried out in the utmost secrecy and couldn’t be unveiled before the Olympic Games, even though it involved a Composites Distribution customer.
Today Sanofi, who owns the metal horse, is announcing the launch of the Zeus (as the horse is called) tour. Here are the dates:
- From 5 to 14 March, Montpellier, Promenade du Peyrou
- From 17 mars au 2 avril, Lyon, Hôtel de ville (travelling exhibition on 22 and 23 March, on 29 and 30 March)
- From 16 avril to 26 avril, Marseille
- From 3 to 9 May, Bordeaux (travelling exhibition on 3 and 4 May)
- From 12 to 23 May, Rouen (travelling exhibition on 17 and 18 May)
- From 17 to 27 June, Frankfurt
- From 12 July to 7 September, Mont Saint-Michel
- From 19 to 29 September, Nantes
Photo © MMProcess/Pierre Coroller