BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: RUAG Space Kicks-Off Production In New Titusville Manufacturing Facility

By  //  July 12, 2017

leading product supplier to space industry

Greg Wyler, Founder and Executive Chairman of OneWeb, left, and Peter Guggenbach, CEO RUAG Space, mark the commencement of full production capabilities in RUAG Space’s Titusville, Florida facility. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – RUAG Space, a leading product supplier to the space industry, held a celebratory reception Tuesday, marking the commencement of full production capabilities in its Titusville, Florida facility.

RUAG Space is the Space Division of the Swiss technology group RUAG, and is the leading independent supplier of products for the space industry in Europe, with a growing presence in the United States. With sites across six countries, it specializes in products for use aboard satellites and launch vehicles.

With production set to begin in Titusville, the first deliveries will be made in the next month and a half. Embracing state-of-the-art machinery and automated processes, this new facility aligns with the industry’s ambition toward cheaper access to space.

Led by RUAG Space CEO Peter Guggenbach, the RUAG team welcomed more than 100 community leaders, members of the space industry and various other supporters to the event. Guests were invited to tour the facility where RUAG will be producing satellite structures for OneWeb using their significantly accelerated manufacturing process.

“This facility reflects RUAG’s readiness to meet the needs of our customers,” said Guggenbach.

“Manufacturing structures for up to three satellites per day is a first for our industry and represents unparalleled speed. It also shows that we are willing to invest if we strongly believe in a project, along with that region. We are proud to be represented in Florida as of now.”

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RUAG officials thanked guests and showed appreciation for the state’s economic development teams and industry partners. The strong partnership with OneWeb was particularly highlighted, with Greg Wyler, Founder and Executive Chairman of OneWeb, also addressing the audience. OneWeb will be launching the first satellites for its global constellation in early 2018.

“OneWeb is building a new space based global infrastructure to bring low latency broadband to the four billion unconnected people around the world,” said Wyler.

“We would not be able to accomplish this goal without the support of partners like RUAG Space. Together we are reinventing satellite manufacturing processes to support the world’s first high volume satellite manufacturing center.

“This is another tangible step towards bridging the global digital divide. This new space structures facility will build products that impact the world while also creating jobs and economic opportunity in Florida.”

RUAG Space, a leading product supplier to the space industry, held a celebratory reception Tuesday, marking the commencement of full production capabilities in its Titusville, Florida facility. Among those in attendance were Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity; Lynda Weatherman, President and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast; Greg Wyler, Founder and Chairman of OneWeb; Florida State Senator Dorothy Hukill; Frank Dibello, President & CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast; and Walt Johnson, Titusville Mayor. (Image for Space Coast Daily)

They were also joined by Dorothy Hukill, Florida State Senator; Debbie Mayfield, Florida State Senator; Cissy Proctor, Executive Director of Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity; Walt Johnson, Titusville Mayor; Rita Pritchett, County Commissioner; Frank DiBello, President & CEO of Space Florida; and Lynda Weatherman, President and CEO of the Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast.

More than 25 employees are expected to work in the Titusville facility, in addition to the over 250 employees that will be brought to the area by the OneWeb production site.

The RUAG facility in Titusville can manufacture composite structures for satellites in flexible sizes.

In order to place inserts – which will later enable to fix instruments, assemblies and sensors to the satellite – the company will utilize a new, robotic machine, called the Automated Potting Machine. A regular communication satellite carries 5,000 to 10,000 of such inserts. What was before a manual process will now see overall reduction time reduced by more than 80 percent, enabling considerable cost savings.

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Its capabilities cover four areas: structures and separation systems for launch vehicles, structures and mechanisms for satellites, digital electronics for satellites and launch vehicles, and satellite communications equipment. RUAG Space is part of the international technology group RUAG, with headquarters in Switzerland.

OneWeb’s mission is to enable affordable Internet access for everyone, connect every school on Earth, and bridge the digital divide by 2027. OneWeb is building a communications network with a constellation of Low Earth Orbit satellites that will provide connectivity to billions of people around the world.

With more than 7 terabits per second of new capacity, it will transparently extend the networks of mobile operators and ISP’s to serve new coverage areas, bringing voice and data access to consumers, businesses, schools, healthcare institutions and other end users.

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