Thales Alenia has announced the setting up of a new facility in Hasselt, Belgium. In it, it will work in particular on the automatic production of photovoltaic assemblies (PVA), the electricity-generating cells on satellite solar panels.
With a global budget of around €20 million, this facility, the first of its kind in Europe, is intended to become Thales Alenia Space's showcase for Industry 4.0. It complements the activities of the facility in Nerviano, Italy, where all photovoltaic assemblies for all major European Space Agency (ESA) and Italian Space Agency (ASI) programmes are designed and manufactured. The new Industry 4.0 facility will enable the satellite manufacturer and its shareholders to offer highly competitive PVA solutions for all satellite segments.
Added value
"The production of photovoltaic assemblies is evolving through the deployment of innovative technologies complemented by the skills of the teams supporting the process," reads the Thales press release. "New techniques include robotised assembly of panels, digital data management and traceability, online testing and inspections and augmented reality. People and machines share the workplace, creating a harmonious mix of cognitive and physical capabilities and thus more opportunities in terms of efficiency and agility. Relevant and fast, smart data analytics from all sources deliver added value: Thales Alenia ensures the mastery of technologies and data throughout the engineering and manufacturing process."
"The aerospace industry is undergoing a massive transformation, including the emergence of new players and initiatives that are shaking up the industry. While innovation remains key in a competitive environment, companies also need to optimise their processes and transform their manufacturing process to match market needs, such as cost reduction and accelerated production."
Milestone
Thales Alenia Space is known in Europe as one of the forerunners when it comes to satellite manufacturing. Loïc Galle, CEO of Thales Alenia Space, says: "With the construction of this unique centre of excellence in automated manufacturing, Thales Alenia Space confirms its position at the forefront of digital innovation and its ability to lead its partners through the transformational evolution of the space industry. This plant will be the first software automated facility for this type of space product. The project is a milestone in the implementation of our strategy that focuses on expanding our industrial footprint in Europe. Moreover, it perfectly complements our existing facilities. We are increasing our global offering, transforming our production methods and developing in agility to meet the needs of the rapidly changing market in which we operate."
Photovoltaic assemblies will be produced in-house at the Hasselt facility. They will then be integrated into the solar panels at Thales' Cannes site. Solar panels are an essential part of Thales Alenia Space's Spacebus telecommunications satellites.
By: Kelly Bakker
Source photo: imag[IN](www.imagin-stillmotion.com)
