Titomic to establish hypersonic space vehicle manufacturing

Large scale metal additive manufacturer Titomic will create a hypersonic space vehicle component manufacturing capability following the award of a $2.3 million federal government Modern Manufacturing Initiative grant.

In a $4.65 million project the company will utilise its Titomic Kinetic Fusion additive manufacturing system to manufacture and commercialise low carbon emission ‘green’ titanium space vehicle demonstrator parts for Australian and export markets.

It will develop heterogeneous materials and high performance coatings for radiation shielding, thermal heal exchange and hypersonic protection of satellites and space vehicles.

Titomic, Swinburne University and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation will undertake extensive testing and validation of the parts within an industry 4.0 manufacturing platform – including TKF technology – at Swinburne.

The partners are also working with commercial satellite manufacturer Inovor Technologies.

Titomic CEO Herbert Koeck said: “Our supply of a TKF1000 system to Swinburne…with its industry 4.0 additive manufacturing platform to drive high-value technological and material developments will also accelerate space and manufacturing sector growth in Australia.”

Industry minister Christian Porter said the grant built on Australian unique space capabilities being led by the Australian Space Agency.

Porter said: “From satellites, to componentry in sensors and even rocket engines, Australian manufacturers are drawing on our existing advanced manufacturing expertise to launch into exciting local and global markets.”

In 2019 Titomic joined forces with Queensland-based Gilmour Space Technologies to develop high-performance rocket and aerospace components.

Picture: Titomic/3D printed rocket engine

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