The Exploration Company has acquired Thrustworks Additive Manufacturing GmbH to strengthen its supply chain and expand its advanced manufacturing capability.
Thrustworks is described by The Exploration Company as 'an end-to-end specialist in advanced additive manufacturing technologies for aerospace components,' with capabilities spanning design optimisation, post-processing, and quality assurance.
The Exploration Company has sought to integrate Thrustworks for its 'market-leading' expertise in refractory metals, oxidation-resistant coatings, and the manufacturing of highly engineered propulsion components. Thrustworks is said to be one of the first companies to commercialise an EU-based capability for the printing and coating of high-performance thrust chambers made from Niobium alloy C103 and used for both civil and defence applications.
Helene Huby, CEO and Founder of The Exploration Company, said: “With this merger, we integrate within TEC and scale at the service of the European industry a unique niobium printing capability and a great team. We intend to serve our clients with applications ranging from satellite thrusters to thrusters for defence applications.”
Christopher Mihm, Alexander Albrechtand and Felix Thiel, the co-founders of Thrustworks, commented: “Joining The Exploration Company marks a defining step for ThrustWorks. Together, we will scale our operations in North Rhine-Westphalia and expand our additive manufacturing capabilities to strengthen Europe’s resilient space supply chain.”
