SWISSto12
SWISSto12 is a private space startup company providing metal coated cutting edge radio frequency (RF) products leveraging upon a proprietary 3D-printing technology for aerospace applications and complex antenna structures. The company is a spin-off of the Swiss Federal Institute of technology in Lausanne, Switzerland, (EPFL). The company’s name illustrates both its Swiss production technologies and the tera (to the power of 12) of THz signals.
In June 2022 SWISSto12 introduced the HummingSat satellite product line that was developed under a Partnership contract with ESA. The HummingSat satellite is significantly smaller than conventional GEO telecommunication satellites, and therefore benefits from a rideshare launch strategy. The satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2025. The name HummingSat is inspired by the Hummingbird (or Colibri), small and agile by nature.
Company History
SWISSto12 was founded in 2011 by Emile de Rijk (CEO), Jean-Philippe Ansermet and Alessandro Macor (CTO). De Rijk holds a Ph.D. degree in physics from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne, EPFL) Switzerland, and a M.S. degree in physics from the University of Amsterdam in The Netherlands.
Ansermet graduated with a diploma in physical engineering from EPFL in 1980 and heads the Laboratory of the Physics of Nanostructured Materials at the Institute of Physics of EPFL
On September 14th, 2018 the company partnered with leading supplier to the European and US space industry, RUAG Space, to supply future satellites missions, including constellations of telecommunication satellites with crucial antenna solutions. The collaboration will focus on the development, design and manufacturing of phased array antenna products that leverage the unique and complimentary offerings of both companies.
On August 29th, 2019 the company closed a CHF 18.1 million (USD 18.5 million USD) Series B financing round that was led by Swisscanto Invest by Zürcher Kantonalbank and Swisscom Ventures and returning investor Constantia New Business (CNB).
On February 9th 2021, SWISSto12 was selected by Nano-satellite manufacturer and LEO satellite operator Fleet Space from Australia, to deliver the first ever additively manufactured all-metal patch antennas for Fleet Space’s C4 and C5 satellites. Fleet Space had chosen SWISSto12 because of its impressive heritage of 3D printing RF products in the Space and Defense Industry.
In April 2021 the company formed a strategic partnership with CAES, the leading provider of RF technologies and mission critical electronic solutions. The alliance enables both companies to bring additive manufacturing and 3D printing technology to US-based customers.
In June 2021 the company partnered with SatixFy, a leading developer and manufacturer of self-calibrating Software Defined Payload processing. The strategic teaming will boost the development and commercialization of end-to-end MEO and GEO telecom satellite payloads.
On April 25th, 2022 SWISSto12 partner CAES opened its new state of the art RF additive manufacturing operations in Exeter, New Hampshire, USA.
In June 2022 the company introduced the HummingSat, the small telecommunications satellite product line that was developed under a Partnership contract with ESA. The HummingSat is significantly smaller than conventional GEO telecommunication satellites, and therefore benefits from a rideshare launch strategy. The satellite is scheduled to be launched in 2025. The name HummingSat is inspired by the Hummingbird (or Colibri), small and agile by nature.
In May 2023, satellite operator Inmarsat and SWISSto12 partnered to create Inmarsat’s new 8GEN spacecraft. The collaboration aims to develop three I-8 satellites that enhance network resilience and ensure the continuity of Inmarsat’s global L-band safety services. The company will leverage its HummingSat satellite platform, along with advanced 3D-printing technologies and specialized Radio-Frequency (RF) and payload products, to manufacture small GEO geostationary satellites. The planned launch for the Inmarsat satellites is set for 2026.
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Resources
www.swissto12.com
www.insead.edu
www.devigier.ch
www.actu.epfl.ch
www.venturekick.ch
www.esa.int
www.tracxn.com
www.metal-am.com edition July 2nd, 2022
www.wikipedia.org
www.news.satnews.com edition July 6th, 2022
www.ieeexplore.ieee.org
www.crunchbase.com
www.caes.com
www.satcom.digital edition May 19th, 2023