Our center, in collaboration with Airbus Defence & Space, has produced several components by Additive Manufacturing technology for a separation system of low shock between the heavy lift launch vehicle ARIANE 5 and payloads

CATEC, in collaboration with Airbus Defence & Space, have achieved a new technological milestone for Aerospace industry, a very important step forward in the introduction of new technologies and manufacturing techniques for pieces and key structures.

Both entities have undertaken an initiative sponsored by ESA (European Space Agency), through which they have successfully performed validation tests of the Large Payload Separation System in the ARIANE 5 space launcher and payloads named LPSS (Large Payload Separation System). This is considered a full system for primary structure that includes several components manufactured by Additive Manufacturing technology in high strength titanium alloy.

This milestone represents a step towards the real implementation of this technology, also called 3D printing, in the manufacture of components and flight structures to be integrated in launchers, and puts CATEC to the forefront of research in new manufacturing technologies, as one of the first European centers to develop this type of manufacturing processes for components of space launchers.

This collaboration between CATEC and Space Systems Division of Airbus Defence & Space has been taken place during two years for the maturation of this technology, particularly through Future Launchers Preparatory Programme (FLPP) ALM project, based on the additive manufacturing technology for their use in future launchers of European Space Agency (ESA), like Ariane 6.

This milestone was presented during the Paris-Le Bourget Air Show, which took place last June 2015 where CATEC participated with a full agenda of B2B meetings with companies and organizations of the aerospace sector to enhance relations and technological cooperation in R&D.