SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric partner on Additive Manufacturing satellite technology
SWISSto12, based in Renens, Switzerland, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, to pursue joint opportunities in advanced satellite payloads, radio frequency (RF) products and market development in Japan and the wider APAC region.
The collaboration will combine Mitsubishi Electric’s satellite system expertise and integration capabilities with SWISSto12’s proprietary Additive Manufacturing designs and processes that form the basis of its smaller, lighter satellite payloads, which the company states can be manufactured in shorter timeframes.
The agreement is also intended to support the further adoption of SWISSto12’s HummingLink payload technology, which makes use of Additive Manufacturing. According to the company, more than 2,000 products are already in orbit supporting a range of customer missions.
Separately, Mitsubishi Electric has awarded SWISSto12 a contract to supply advanced phased-array antenna products for the Japanese Government’s geostationary orbit (GEO) secure communications programme.
“We are proud to partner strategically with MELCO and support the next-generation sovereign communications system of Japan,” stated Emile de Rijk, CEO of SWISSto12. “Demand in APAC is growing for innovative, advanced payloads and RF products across sovereign land, sea, air, and space applications and we are confident that together, we can scale our ability to meet it.”
Masahiko Arai, Executive Officer and Group President, Defense & Space Systems, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, added, “SWISSto12’s innovative technologies, including its 3D-printing-based component manufacturing technology and small geostationary satellite platform, hold tremendous potential. By combining these technologies with our expertise in the development and manufacturing of defence- and space-related systems, which we have cultivated over the years, we are confident that we can deliver unprecedented value to our customers. Through this collaboration, we will leverage the respective strengths of both companies to pursue new business opportunities in Japan and international markets, while working to deliver advanced and highly competitive defence and space solutions.”
