LIDAX

What LIDAX does

LIDAX (legal entity LIDAX Group S.L.) is a privately held Spanish aerospace engineering group founded in 2000 and headquartered in Paracuellos de Jarama, Madrid. The company specializes in the design, development, and manufacturing of high-precision optomechanical, thermal control, and cryogenic systems for scientific and space applications, including telescopes, focal plane assemblies (FPAs), flexible thermal straps (copper and pyrolytic graphite), and custom thermal vacuum chambers and cryostats operating at temperatures from 20K to 300K. Its operations are anchored in significant capital infrastructure — ISO 5 and ISO 7 clean rooms, optical metrology laboratories with interferometers and CMM equipment, helium leak detection (sensitivity up to 10⁻⁹ mbar·l/s), and full environmental testing capabilities (vibration, shock, thermal cycling, thermal balance).

The company serves a concentrated base of space agencies and aerospace prime contractors, including the European Space Agency (ESA), NASA, Airbus Defence and Space, Thales Alenia Space, and OHB System AG, as well as Spanish and European research institutions (INTA, CSIC, Tekniker, IDR-UPM). LIDAX has contributed flight hardware to flagship ESA and joint missions including James Webb Telescope (mirror movement validation at 25K), Bepi Colombo, EarthCARE, PLATO (26 focal planes for 26 telescopes), Meteosat Third Generation, ExoMars, ARRAKIHS, LISA, and SMILE, and reports a 100% success rate in delivered flight hardware over 25+ years.

LIDAX generates revenue through project-based engineering services and manufacturing contracts for space missions and scientific instruments, supplemented by participation in publicly funded R&D programs (European Union NextGenerationEU, CDTI, Ministry of Science). All engagements are bespoke, negotiated directly with space agencies and primes via competitive tendering, with multi-year contract cadences. The 2023 corporate restructuring created a holding structure (LIDAX Group S.L.) over subsidiaries including LIDAX Ingeniería S.L. (core space engineering), LIDAX Electro-Optical Systems (advanced imaging), SISTAM (portable NDT for civil infrastructure), and NeutroXplore S.L.

Name

LIDAX

Legal name

LIDAX Group S.L.

Website

https://lidax.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LIDAX is a Spanish aerospace engineering company that designs and manufactures high-precision optical, thermal control, and cryogenic subsystems for space missions, serving ESA, NASA, and prime aerospace contractors such as Airbus, Thales Alenia Space, and OHB System AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Space-grade optical and thermal systems engineering

NAICS

Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Industrial Design Services (54142)

SIC

Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMABACAD

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle Manufacturing

SECONDARYIMABACAF

Space Structures, Mechanisms & Thermal Control

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Aerospace & Defense Manufacturing/Spacecraft & Launch Vehicle Manufacturing

SECONDARYHDAHALAG

LiDAR & 3D Sensing Modules

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Semiconductors & Electronic Components/Sensors, MEMS & Optoelectronics

Keywords

• Aerospace engineering services
• Space optical systems
• Thermal control hardware
• Cryogenic space instruments
• Focal plane assemblies

Headquarters

HQ city

Paracuellos De Jarama

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Engineering Services and Manufacturing Contracts: LIDAX derives revenue from engineering design, development, and manufacturing contracts for space missions, scientific instruments, and advanced technology systems. Revenue is project-based and generated through direct contracts with space agencies (ESA), prime aerospace contractors, and research institutions. The company covers the full product lifecycle from conceptual design through to flight hardware delivery and serial production.
2. R&D Program Participation: Revenue generated through participation in publicly funded R&D programs including European Union NextGenerationEU projects, CDTI-funded initiatives, and national research programs. Projects include NETON, MOSES, TEO-DUX, and others.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LIDAX designs, develops, manufactures, and qualifies high-precision optical and optomechanical systems, focal plane assemblies, flexible thermal straps, and cryogenic/vacuum systems for space and scientific applications. The company provides vertically integrated engineering services and flight hardware for ESA, NASA, and aerospace prime contractor missions, supported by ISO 5/7 clean rooms, optical metrology, and full environmental testing facilities.

Product overview

LIDAX is a space engineering group offering a portfolio of interconnected products and services for aerospace, scientific, and defense applications. The core offerings include Optical Systems (telescopes, laser collimators, focal planes), Flexible Thermal Straps (copper and graphite for thermal management), Cryogenic & Vacuum Systems (thermal vacuum chambers and cryostats), and Test Facilities (ISO 5/7 clean rooms, metrology labs, environmental testing). The group operates through subsidiaries LIDAX Ingeniería (full product lifecycle development) and LIDAX Electro-Optical Systems (advanced imaging systems), with SISTAM (corrosion detection systems for civil infrastructure) as a related venture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LIDAX Ingeniería: Core engineering company developing opto-mechanical, thermal, and cryogenic systems
• LIDAX Electro-Optical Systems

Products and services

• Optical Systems

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% success rate in delivered flight hardware over 25+ years of operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, emerging and major.

• SatlantiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 September 2025LIDAX collaborates with Satlantis on the ARRAKIHS mission (ESA), developing the binocular telescope focal planes for dark matter observation. Satlantis leads the overall mission as the first ESA Scientific Programme led by Spain. LIDAX designs and manufactures the high-performance telescope and focal planes, ensuring mechanical and thermal stability of sensors for astronomical observation.
• Government of Canada (Consulate — Trade and Commercial Section)emergingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 February 2025LIDAX hosted Ms. Karra-Lee Gerritsver, Consul and Trade Attaché of the Consulate of Canada, to explore collaboration opportunities in precision optics between LIDAX and the Canadian business and institutional ecosystem. The visit identified potential areas for joint R&D projects, knowledge exchange, and strategic partnerships in advanced optics, photonics, and space sectors.
• Greenlight Solutions (GLS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2024LIDAX Group and Greenlight Solutions signed an Agreement of Intent to establish a strategic partnership for joint development of optical, opto-mechanical, and optoelectronic products for space, defense, and industrial sectors. LIDAX contributes its engineering and manufacturing capabilities for functional optical systems; GLS brings optical design, photonic product development, module integration procedures, and sensor characterization expertise. The agreement was signed by Carlos Laviada (LIDAX GRP) and Ana Manzanares (GLS).
• OHB System AGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOHB System AG serves as prime contractor for the ESA PLATO mission. LIDAX provides all 26 Focal Plane Assemblies with CCD sensors for the 26-telescope observatory. This is a flagship ESA science mission with LIDAX as a key subsystem supplier under OHB's prime contract.
• Thales Alenia SpacemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThales Alenia Space is a key industrial partner in the ESA PLATO consortium. LIDAX supplies optical and optomechanical subsystems through this prime contractor's value chain.
• INTA (Instituto Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLIDAX collaborated with INTA on the SMILE mission (ESA) for conceptual design and engineering analysis of the Soft X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument. INTA subsequently continued the development through manufacturing, integration, and testing to flight model. LIDAX also collaborates with INTA on PLATO (providing FPAs photographed at INTA facilities) and NETON consortium activities.
• NETON ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNETON is a consortium of four Spanish SMEs (Satlantis, LIDAX Ingeniería, Sanzar, GeoAI Tech) and four research centers (INTA, Tekniker, IDR-UPM, Camilo José Cela University), funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU, Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and CDTI. LIDAX develops an auto-focus system architecture for high-resolution Earth observation cameras on small satellites.
• MOSES ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMOSES (Modular Optical Scalable Equipment for Space Cameras) is funded by the Ministry of Industry and Tourism through the 2025 Innovative Business Clusters call. LIDAX leads the project and is responsible for the complete mechanical design, modular barrel architecture, thermal-structural analysis (FEM), and coordinates all technical activities. Consortium includes Greenlight Solutions (optical design), Solar MEMS (electronics), SECPHO (project coordination), and Andalucía Aerospace (sectoral support).
• TEO-DUX ConsortiummajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEO-DUX (Dual Extended Optical Telescope) is funded by the European Union NextGenerationEU under the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan. LIDAX leads a consortium including Greenlight Solutions and NeutronXplore (companies) and INTA-LINES and IAC (public research institutions). LIDAX develops an ultra-compact optomechanical architecture for LEO orbits that alternates between laser communication and high-resolution imaging configurations.
• CDTI (Centro para el Desarrollo Tecnológico y la Innovación)majorOthersCDTI is the Spanish public institution that supports and subsidizes LIDAX's participation in international R&D programs. LIDAX's NETON, TEO-DUX, and other projects are funded through CDTI within the European Union NextGenerationEU framework and Space Technology Programme.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SATLANTIS: Spanish space instrumentation company building high-resolution Earth observation cameras and optical payloads; also a LIDAX partner on ARRAKIHS. Comparable as a Spain-based peer operating in space optical instrument design and ESA mission participation.
• GMV: Spanish space technology firm providing guidance, navigation, control, and space systems engineering. Closely comparable as a Spain-headquartered mid-size space engineering supplier serving ESA, primes, and commercial operators.
• Jena-Optronik: German manufacturer of space-qualified optical sensors, star trackers, and instrument subsystems. Directly comparable to LIDAX in producing precision optoelectronic and optical systems for ESA science and Earth observation missions.
• Beyond Gravity (formerly RUAG Space): European supplier of space structures, mechanisms, thermal products, and dispensers. Overlaps with LIDAX in thermal control hardware, mechanical structures, and ESA mission participation.
• ALTER TECHNOLOGY: European space-grade component supplier with strong presence in Spain and Germany, offering testing, qualification, and EEE parts for space. Comparable to LIDAX in the European space components and qualification-services niche.
• SENER Aeroespacial: Spanish aerospace subsidiary of SENER Group, supplying space mechanisms, optical benches, and electromechanical subsystems to ESA missions. Directly comparable to LIDAX as a domestic Spanish specialist selling into the same ESA/prime supply chain.

Broad incumbents

• Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace: Norwegian broad aerospace and defense prime with space-related activities including structures, mechanisms, and EO payloads. Comparable as a larger incumbent offering overlapping optical and space hardware capabilities across a wider portfolio.
• Airbus Defence and Space: Major European aerospace prime and direct customer of LIDAX. Relevant as a broad incumbent that controls downstream demand for LIDAX's subsystems while also competing for ESA mission work internally.
• Thales Alenia Space: European space prime and LIDAX customer/subcontractor on PLATO and other ESA missions. Comparable as a large incumbent that both buys from and competes with LIDAX in space optical subsystems.

Emerging players

• SITAEL: Italian small-satellite and space technology company with capabilities in propulsion, avionics, and payloads. Comparable as a European mid-size space-systems specialist competing in adjacent NewSpace niches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@LIDAX_Technologies
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lidax

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about LIDAX