Trumpf has been working on perfecting the technology for more than 20 years.
(Photo: Trump)
Stuttgart The machine builder Trumpf hopes that commercial space travel will bring many customers to the laser specialist. “No rocket can fly into space without a laser. Commercialization of space travel is not possible without a 3D printer,” said Christian Schmitz, Member of the Laser Technology Board on Monday. The manager is convinced that Trumpf’s machines will be irreplaceable for “New Space” in the future.
Commercial space travel has great potential. “By 2030, we expect 30,000 satellites in space,” says Ilan Rozenkopf, an aerospace expert at McKinsey. In 2010 there were only 1000 copies. Last year, private investors invested more than ten billion dollars in space travel worldwide. This is a tenfold increase compared to ten years ago.
The money flows into satellite networks such as Starlink, Kuiper or Oneweb, for example. In 2022 alone, more than 2000 new satellites flew into orbit.
With Trumpf laser to the special material for rocket tanks
Business is booming, especially in the USA. But the budget of the European space agency was increased by 17 percent to 16.9 billion euros. “Infrastructure sovereignty is essential for Germany and Europe. The consequences of the Ukraine war have shown that,” said Anna Christmann, Federal Government Coordinator for Aerospace.
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With its products, Trumpf wants to benefit more from the increasing demand for space technology in the future. Today, the Swabian lasers are used in battery cell production, for example. Space companies can use it to assemble the components for their rocket tanks from special metal alloys in such a way that the rocket can withstand the extreme conditions encountered during launch or when flying through the atmosphere. The smallest leak in the tank could be fatal.
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Trumpf draws on its know-how from the production of crash-proof batteries for electric cars. The family business has already shown staying power in the past; the breakthrough in electric cars has also been a long time coming. According to Trumpf, it is now the market leader for machines for battery cell production.
3D printing saves time and money
The second technology that the Swabians rely on is the 3D printing of metals. Trumpf has been working on perfecting the technology for more than 20 years. “For a long time it was only useful in prototyping because of the speed in the industry. Now it offers advantages in space technology in production,” says Trumpf board member Schmitz.
Complex components such as thrusters, heat exchangers or rocket combustion chambers can be used in their special design only be made with 3D printing. On the other hand, they are up to 50 percent lighter than previous designs.
Manufacturing costs play a crucial role. Since private companies triggered a new boom in satellites, landers and carrier rockets, competition has increased and with it the competition for lucrative orders. According to Schmitz, it only takes two days from the digital blueprint to the finished part. In conventional construction, this would take weeks and months.
In contrast to drilling, milling and turning, 3D production also uses significantly less material, sometimes only a tenth. With the price per kilo for the special material being $1,600 Method also economical in series production.
Aerospace is currently generating sales in the double-digit million euro range only a fringe business for the medium-sized company that achieves sales of more than four billion euros a year. Most customers are still from the USA. But Trumpf manager Schmitz also sees great potential in Europe with the new Esa programs and expects double-digit growth rates for his company.
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