Almatech SA
Almatech SA is a Swiss space engineering company founded in 2009 at EPFL Innovation Park that designs and manufactures flight-proven precision mechanisms, ultra-stable CFRP structures, and thermal systems for ESA and European aerospace primes across reusable launchers, scientific satellites, and in-orbit servicing applications.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2009
- HeadquartersLausanne, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Almatech SA does
Almatech SA is a privately held Swiss space engineering company founded in 2009 at the EPFL Innovation Park in Lausanne, specializing in the design, manufacture, and delivery of flight-proven precision hardware for space missions. The company develops bespoke mechanisms, ultra-stable CFRP structures, and thermal management systems for mission-critical applications including reusable launchers, scientific satellites, Earth observation platforms, and in-orbit servicing architectures. Proprietary technologies include the patent-pending Almaflex Large Angle Flexible Pivot, a high-temperature resettable Cu-Al SMA actuator, and custom fiber-level FEA simulation capability for composite structures, complemented by diamond machining achieving sub-4nm surface roughness. Core competencies span precision mechanisms operating in cryogenic and extreme-temperature environments (up to +507 degrees C), thermo-elastic stability at sub-micrometer level, and lightweight gravity-deployed composite structures.
The business operates as a B2B engineering services and hardware provider, generating revenue through multi-year bespoke projects delivered to ESA, NASA, CNES, and major European aerospace primes including Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup, OHB, Leonardo, and Thales Alenia Space. Pricing is quote-based with no standard published tiers, reflecting the custom nature of flight hardware development. The company reports 115+ space projects completed across 20+ missions with cumulative USD value delivered exceeding $88M. The six service lines (Launchers, In-Orbit Servicing, Space Infrastructure, Satellite Equipment and Payloads, Space Innovation, Engineering Services) are supplemented by the ZESST sub-brand targeting zero-emission maritime transport as a cross-industry diversification.
Almatech SA firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Almatech SA
- Legal name
- Almatech SA
- Website
- https://almatech.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2009
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Almatech SA is a Swiss space engineering company founded in 2009 at EPFL Innovation Park that designs and manufactures flight-proven precision mechanisms, ultra-stable CFRP structures, and thermal systems for ESA and European aerospace primes across reusable launchers, scientific satellites, and in-orbit servicing applications.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Almatech SA industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Space Engineering Services
- NAICS
- Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)
- SIC
- Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control (IMABACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial) (IMABACAB), Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Spacecraft Integration, Assembly & Test (IAT) (IMABACAK), Launch Vehicles & Orbital Rockets (IMABACAA), Avionics Test, Simulation & Calibration Equipment (IMABAFAN)
Keywords
Where Almatech SA is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Lausanne
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Almatech SA business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Space Engineering Services: Bespoke engineering solutions for space missions including system engineering, design, development, manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing (MAIT). Full project lifecycle from RFQ through final delivery and post-delivery support. Projects span launchers, satellites, orbital structures, and lunar applications.
- Flight-Proven Space Hardware: Delivery of flight-qualified mechanisms, structures, and thermal systems for ESA and commercial space missions. Hardware includes precision mechanisms, CFRP structures, thermal control systems, and optical instruments for science and Earth observation programs.
- Cross-Industry Engineering Services: Space-grade engineering methodologies applied to solve complex challenges across industries including maritime (ZESST electric hydrofoiler), transportation, and advanced consumer products. Includes FEM analyses, design optimization, prototyping and testing services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom project-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Almatech SA product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Almatech SA is a Swiss space engineering company that designs, develops, manufactures, and qualifies bespoke flight hardware and precision mechanisms for space missions. Its work spans system engineering, mechanical and thermal design, manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing (MAIT) for launchers, satellites, orbital structures, and lunar infrastructure. The company delivers flight-proven mechanisms, CFRP optical structures, and thermal control systems to ESA, NASA, and European aerospace primes, and leverages AI-driven design and proprietary compliant-mechanism technology (Almaflex, SMA actuators) to support mission-critical space and cross-sector engineering programs.
Product overview
Almatech SA is a Swiss space engineering company founded in 2009 at EPFL Innovation Park, providing bespoke flight hardware and precision engineering solutions for space missions. The company offers a portfolio of six service lines (Launchers, In-Orbit Servicing, Space Infrastructure, Satellite Equipment and Payloads, Space Innovation, and Engineering Services) complemented by proprietary products including the Almaflex Large Angle Flexible Pivot and SMA Actuator. Key flight hardware includes the CHEOPS Optical Bench Telescope Structure, Solar Orbiter components (STIX Detector Electronics Module, STIX Attenuator Mechanism, SPICE Slit-Change Mechanism, STIX X-Ray Windows), Metop-SG Thermal Control Hardware, FLEX FLORIS Calibration Unit, Sentinel-5 IOMSR Instrument Structure, Bepi Colombo Reflective Baffle, and THEMIS Landing Legs for reusable launchers. The company also applies its space engineering expertise to non-space markets through ZESST (electric hydrofoil vessel) and general engineering services. Almatech collaborates with ESA, NASA, Airbus, ArianeGroup, and other major European space organizations on science, Earth observation, and exploration missions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZESST: Zero Emission Speed ShuTtle - An electric hydrofoiler powered by a hybrid system combining hydrogen fuel cells and batteries. Designed for zero-emission transport of passengers and cargo via waterways, leveraging Almatech's space expertise.
Products and services
- Launchers Engineering Services System engineering for the next generation of reusable launchers, including landing legs, thrust vectoring systems, and grid fin actuators, delivered as multi-year engineering and hardware projects to ESA, ArianeGroup, and other launcher integrators.
- In-Orbit Servicing Engineering Services Engineering services and mechanisms for in-orbit servicing, including capture and docking mechanisms, refueling and resource transfer systems, and gripper technologies for satellite servicing and orbital operations. Customers include European Commission Horizon Europe / EROSS SC program partners.
- Space Infrastructure Engineering Services Engineering services for space infrastructure, delivering structures, mechanisms, and technologies powering next-generation platforms including lunar gateway hardware and Earth observation support systems.
- Satellite Equipment and Payloads Engineering Services Engineering services delivering precision mechanisms, CFRP structures, and thermal systems for science and Earth observation programs, including telescopes, detectors, and calibration units for ESA and aerospace prime customers.
- Space Innovation Engineering Services R&D engineering services that transform advanced engineering concepts into market-ready solutions, including additive-manufactured battery packs, camera stabilization systems, and pointing mechanisms.
- Cross-Sector Engineering Services General engineering services extending space-grade methodologies to all sectors, including concepts and trade-offs, FEM analyses, design, prototyping and testing, and thermo-elastic analysis for maritime, transportation, and advanced industrial customers.
- Almaflex Large Angle Flexible Pivot Patent-pending flexible pivot mechanism achieving ±90° rotational amplitude with infinite cycle life and zero geometrical center shift; operates in cryogenic environments and meets demanding cleanliness requirements.
- High-Temperature Resettable SMA Actuator Shape Memory Alloy actuator built with Cu-Al alloys and activation temperatures above typical spacecraft operating conditions; bi-stable push-pull configuration, electrically resettable, tested through 1000+ cycles with triple-redundant heating elements.
- ZESST Electric Hydrofoiler (Zero Emission Speed ShuTtle) Electric hydrofoiler vessel powered by a hybrid system combining hydrogen fuel cells and batteries, designed for zero-emission transport of passengers and cargo via waterways and leveraging Almatech's space-engineering expertise.
- THEMIS Reusable Launcher Landing Legs Deployable gravity-deployed composite landing legs system for the THEMIS TH1 reusable launcher, combining reusability, low maintenance, and cost effectiveness, developed under the ESA Future Launcher Preparatory Program for ArianeGroup.
- CLIC Gripper Capture System Robotic end-effector for the secure capture of unprepared targets via Launch Adapter Rings (LARs), scalable for integration into next-generation in-orbit servicing architectures.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sub-micrometer thermo-elastic stability achieved for CHEOPS optical structure
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Almatech SA
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Almatech SA technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Almatech SA partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology)flagshipCo-organizer of ESMATS 2025 European Space Mechanisms and Tribology Symposium. CSEM is a Swiss research institute specializing in microtechnology, nanoelectronics, and space technologies.
- EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne)coreCo-organizer of ESMATS 2025. Host institution for ESMATS 2025 symposium in Lausanne. Almatech founded at EPFL Innovation Park in 2009.
- ArianeGroup SASflagshipSelected by ArianeGroup to develop, manufacture, and test deployable landing legs for THEMIS T1H reusable launcher under ESA Future Launcher Preparatory Program. Fast-track, agile co-engineering development.
- NASAcoreSolar Orbiter mission partnership with strong ESA participation. In-situ observation of Sun and corona. Almatech delegation invited by NASA attended launch at Cape Canaveral.
- University of BernflagshipCHEOPS mission partnership led by Prof. Willy Benz. Almatech as main industrial partner developed ultra-stable telescope structure, heart of the optical instrument. First Swiss-led exploration satellite.
- EROSS SC Horizon Europe ProgramcoreCapture Tool development within EROSS SC Horizon Europe program. Functional tests conducted on DLR's CAESAR robotic arm for in-orbit servicing and space sustainability applications.
- ESA (European Space Agency)flagshipMultiple programs including I-HAB Module Development Phase for Lunar Gateway, Future Launcher Preparatory Program for THEMIS, and numerous science missions (CHEOPS, Solar Orbiter, BepiColombo).
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Almatech SA competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sener Aeroespacial: Spanish mid-cap space mechanisms and structures specialist supplying ESA programs with mechanisms, antennas, and pointing systems, comparable to Almatech in scope, SME scale, and ESA-driven business model.
- SABCA: Belgian aerospace supplier of mechanisms, actuation systems, and thermal hardware for launchers and satellites; comparable to Almatech in mechanism specialization and European institutional customer base.
- APCO Technologies: Swiss SME delivering space mechanisms, deployable structures, and optical benches for ESA and prime contractors; comparable as a fellow Swiss space component specialist with similar headcount and project-driven revenue model.
- Beyond Gravity: Formerly RUAG Space, Beyond Gravity is a Swiss-headquartered supplier of space mechanisms, structures, and thermal products, directly comparable to Almatech in product portfolio and institutional customer base across ESA and prime contractor programs.
- HPS (High Performance Space Structure Systems): German SME specializing in CFRP ultra-stable structures for space telescopes and instruments, directly comparable to Almatech's CHEOPS and Sentinel-5 optical bench work; similar precision-structures niche and ESA customer overlap.
Emerging players
- D-Orbit: Italian in-orbit servicing and satellite deployment company; overlapping with Almatech's in-orbit servicing and CLIC gripper focus as Almatech supplies capture/docking mechanisms while D-Orbit operates the orbital platforms.
Broad incumbents
- Thales Alenia Space: Major European space prime competing with and sourcing from Almatech; comparable on satellite structures and payload mechanisms but operating at substantially larger scale with broader system integration scope.
- Airbus Defence and Space: Almatech's customer for Sentinel-5 and MetOp-SG and a competitor for full spacecraft and launcher scope; relevant for benchmarking prime-level capability in mechanisms and structures against Almatech's specialist positioning.
- ArianeGroup: European launcher prime and Almatech's THEMIS customer; relevant peer as the buyer/integrator for reusable launcher hardware and the operator of the program where Almatech's landing legs technology is validated.
- OHB System AG: European mid-cap space prime serving as both customer (ExoMars carrier module) and competitor in spacecraft structures and mechanisms; broader portfolio but overlapping in thermal control and satellite subsystems.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Almatech SA social profiles
Digital presenceAlmatech SA financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Almatech SA leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Almatech SA funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
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Almatech SA M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Almatech SA
What does Almatech SA do?
Almatech SA is a Swiss space engineering company that designs, develops, manufactures, and qualifies bespoke flight hardware and precision mechanisms for space missions. Its work spans system engineering, mechanical and thermal design, manufacturing, assembly, integration and testing (MAIT) for launchers, satellites, orbital structures, and lunar infrastructure. The company delivers flight-proven mechanisms, CFRP optical structures, and thermal control systems to ESA, NASA, and European aerospace primes, and leverages AI-driven design and proprietary compliant-mechanism technology (Almaflex, SMA actuators) to support mission-critical space and cross-sector engineering programs.
Is Almatech SA a public or private company?
Almatech SA is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Almatech SA founded?
Almatech SA was founded in 2009. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Almatech SA based?
Almatech SA is headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Almatech SA make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Space Engineering Services are the primary driver. The others are flight-Proven Space Hardware and cross-Industry Engineering Services.
Who are Almatech SA's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sener Aeroespacial, SABCA, APCO Technologies, Beyond Gravity and HPS (High Performance Space Structure Systems). D-Orbit is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Thales Alenia Space, Airbus Defence and Space, ArianeGroup and OHB System AG.
Does Almatech SA have an API?
No public API is recorded for Almatech SA.
What industry is Almatech SA in?
Almatech SA's product category is Space Engineering Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABACAF, Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control, with a secondary code of IMABACAB, Spacecraft & Satellites (Civil/Commercial). Its NAICS code is 336419 and its SIC code is 3760.