Could Robert Cassou, founder of IMV in 1963, have ever imagined the incredible expansion in reproduction needs when he invented the famous "Cassou straw" or French straw? Very soon it became the universally recognised method and world standard for animal semen packing and preservation. By means of this straw IMV Technologies suddenly found itself on the international stage. Today IMV Technologies is the leading company in reproduction biotechnologies, - the artificial insemination pioneer in France - demonstrating the same passion for innovation as of thirty years ago through the daily perfection of new technologies.


Very early, artificial insemination contributed to development, like in Madagascar, en 1960.

1963
Creation of the IMV company by Robert CASSOU who in 1946, had already created the first cattle artificial insemination centre. In 1952, he had been named as Director of the first cattle artificial insemination centre in France, at L'Aigle in Normandy.
Creation of the "straw" which enables bull semen to be stored in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, as well as other artificial insemination instrumentation.

When, in 1952, Robert Cassou became the manager of the first french bovine A.I. center, in l'Aigle, Normandy, was he already thinking of the straw he would invent 11 years later ?


1968
Birth of the calf Victoire as a result of IMV techniques, 10 years after the death of its sire.

On Robert Cassou's shoulders, the calf Victoire, Uranium's daughter, born 10 years after its father's death.








1969
The French straw and French insemination techniques as well as the artificial cattle genetic improvement programme become the world standard.

1978
Development and launch of robots for straw filling, sealing, labelling and freezing in liquid nitrogen.

1980
Creation of the US subsidiary.

1981
Creation and opening of the "la Sapaie" farm and the international centre for training in cattle, sheep and other species' artificial reproduction methods, as well as insemination and embryo transfer.

1982 à 1989
Development of specific instrumentation for other animal species (poultry, sheep, goats, rabbits, horses…)

1992
The CBS straw is used in the first large scale epidemiological study carried out with the international cancer research centre in Lyon, involving 350,000 Europeans.

1993
Launch of a revolutionary product range (Cochette and Goldenpig) in the pig breeding sector.

1994
IMV is taken over by Jean-Gérard SAINT-RAMON.

1995
Opening of a clean room and laboratory for the definition and manufacture of biological media (in particular gametes preservation).
Launch of BIOCIPHOS, a major biotechnological innovation in cattle semen preservation.

1996
Launch of pig semen preservation media ranges, perfected in association with an American Veterinary University.

1997
Perfection of highly innovative poultry semen preservation media brings further refinements to the practice of artificial insemination.
Perfection of a range of human artificial insemination products.
Perfection of new types of straw for new applications (cryogenic preservation of live cell vaccines, genetic inheritance preservation of species in danger of extinction).

1998
IMV Technologies is introduced to the Paris Stock Exchange Second Market.
IMV India becomes a full subsidiary of IMV Technologies.


1999
Launch of DEC, the first bovine electronic Heat Detector.
IMV Technologies awarded the Gold Trophy in the national contest as well as the West Regional Trophy at the 10th International Trophy of French Small and Medium-sized Companies organised by « Les Echos » with the Crédit Lyonnais bank.

2000
Launch of DEEPGOLDENPIG for intra-uterine insemination. This insemination process maximizes the use of elite boars.
Launch of INNOV’IA, insemination synchronized with uterine contractions.
Tibet: The first AI stud for Yacks is set up by IMV Technologies.
Wildlife Breeding Resource Center: Our new partners in Biological Resource Banking for African Wildlife Conservation.

2001
The CBS straw is cleared by the FDA for marketing in the US.
Launch of Sacol, the on Farm AI Kit, for swine semen packaging.
Launch of the TBS straw for bovine semen production: a productivity gain for semen production laboratories.

2002
Opening of IMV China, IMV Technologies' representative office in Beijing.
Launch of INRA 96 equine extender for fresh and cold semen

2003
Launch of "All in One Goldenbag" bio-secured swine semen packaging semen system.
Launch of "IS4" our latest semen processing integrated system.
Partnership with Hamilton Thorne Research (a division of Hamilton Thorne Bioscience, inc.), the world leader in Computerized Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA).

2004
IMV Technologies receives ISO 9001 : 2000 certification

2005
Maxifreeze centrifugation cushion for swine semen.
Launch of Eq'CellFreeze, liquid media for stallion semen freezing.
Launch of Cunigel, gelified media for rabbit semen.
Partnership with the first and the largest precalibrated slide manufacturer, Leja from Holland, needed for a precise and reliable work of CASA systems.

2006
Launch of MRS4 new filling and sealing machine 4 x 4.
Launch of Accuread, mobile photometer.
Intra-uterine Insemination catheter for deep A.I. in mares.

2007
CRYO-VET and Cie Plast acquisition.

2008
Launch of the GTB1000, a new concept in boar semen packaging.

2009
Launch of EasyCyte, flow cytometer.
Launch of VITRIXcell, media for porcine embryo vitrification.
Launch of SAFEMATE, assisted boar collection system.
Launch of INRA Freeze, media for cryopreservation of stallion semen.