CORE BUSINESS
With over 50 years of experience in automated electro-mechanical engineering, GRADEL specializes in developing complex systems for the space market. GRADEL offer a complete range of Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE) for handling, assembling, and testing spacecraft components. These systems are built to precise specifications using specialized materials to ensure cleanliness, magnetic compatibility, and thermal compatibility. GRADEL has also ventured into sustainable lightweight structures and developed the Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing process (GRAM) in 2018. GRAM is an endless filament wet winding process enabling the manufacturing of complex 3D structures. Weight savings up to 70% have been proved without compromising stiffness, strength or frequency requirements.
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
MGSE:
Transport Containers for Satellites, Multipurpose Trolleys for satellites, fully automated with AGV- systems, Hoisting Devices for horizontal and vertical lifting of satellites, Integration Stands, automatized 0g supports for manufacturing, equipment for Antenna Test Facilities.
LIGHTWEIGHT STRUCTURES:
GRADEL offers R&D, Engineering, Robotic & Multi-Material lightweight manufacturing expertise according to customer request using GRAM. Considering all load cases to fit at best into the given available customer design space, using AI powered software algorithms for manufacturing parts from few cm up to several meters.
TECHNICAL MEANS
2 Engineering office with more than 60 engineers in total in multiple disciplines Software: SOLIDWORKS, FEMAP, NASTRAN, MATLAB, SIMULINK.
2 Assembly and test workshops
1. 800 m² x 10 m height, crane capability: 2 times 10 t
2. Production facility for composite lightweight structures: 650 m² with grey room ; 5x robot equipped with GRAM applicator on a 10m long x-axis ; curing oven of 1 and 12 m3
MAIN CUSTOMERS
Airbus Defence &Space, Ariane Group, ESA, OHB Systems, Thales Alenia Space
MAJOR SPACE PROJECTS
Gradel has or is participating with its space products for different customers in the following programs:
Transport Container for ONESAT AIRBUS
Compact Antenna Test Range OHB
SMART Multipurpose Trolley TAS
Portable Antenna Measurement ESA
Communication
Alphabus, EDRS, Electra, Eurostar Neo, Neosat, SGEO, SES17, Heinrich Hertz, Space Inspire, OneSat
Science
Euclid, ExoMars, JUICE, Solar Orbiter, Proba III, PLATO, Athena
Earth Observation
MTG, Copernicus
Others
Moonmission M4
In orbit manufacturing
