Titomic, Gilmour Space Technologies sign agreement to produce AM rocket and space parts
October 3, 2019
Titomic Limited, Melbourne, Australia, has signed an agreement with Gilmour Space Technologies, Queensland, Australia, which will see the two companies develop and promote the use of Titomic’s Digital Manufacturing Solutions, including Titomic Kinetic Fusion® (TKF) to produce high-performance rocket and aerospace components. The Statement of Strategic Intent and Technical Development facilitates the companies’ cooperation across multiple exciting fields within the global space industry.
The areas of cooperation are:
- Performing R&D to fabricate and produce rocket components using Titomic’s TKF systems
- Exploring, designing and developing a digital manufacturing process to deliver high-performance rocket components;
- The production of rocket and space components to benefit Australia’s future space exploration activities
Titomic was incorporated in 2014 to commercialise the technology now known as Titomic Kinetic Fusion, which was developed by Australia’s Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO). The technology reportedly enables the manufacturing of large-size metal parts as well as the high-volume production of complex-shaped parts made of dissimilar metals.
Currently, Titomic has the capability to manufacture titanium and other metal parts of up to 9 m long and 3 m wide. Gilmour Space, founded in 2013 by Adam and James Gilmour, is said to be one of Australia’s leading space companies and is pioneering new hybrid propulsion technologies with the goal of making access to space cheaper.
James Gilmour, the company’s CEO, stated, “Gilmour Space is developing new launch vehicles to support today’s global small satellite market, and this partnership could see us leveraging on Titomic’s innovative manufacturing processes to produce lighter and stronger components for our orbital launch vehicles”
Nathanael Miller, Chief Technology Officer at Titomic, stated, “I am excited to get started on our joint tech development programme. Between the Gilmour Space focus on launch economics and the scale and quality performance of Titomic Kinetic Fusion capabilities, I am expecting significant implications for the launch vehicle community.”
“This is an exciting new development for Titomic to share a commercially strategic vision to deliver unique capabilities of advanced technologies to assure growth of the Australian space eco-system,” added Jeff Lang, Titomic’s Founder & Managing Director. “The Gilmour Space strategy, for lower cost access to launch satellites into space by affordable high-performance rockets, is in synergy with Titomic’s capability to provide an affordable alternative to traditional manufacturing by utilising the unique capabilities of Titomic Kinetic Fusion technology.”
