Zoppas Industries Heating Element Technologies (IRCA S.p.A) is an Italian manufacturer of flexible heaters for space applications, established in 1963.
In this article we discuss their growth over the last 12 months, look ahead to the company’s plans and ambitions in 2024, and share further information about their portfolio.
Contents
- Zoppas Industries’ growth in 2023
- Zoppas Industries’ ambitions for 2024
- Insights from the supply chain
- Zoppas Industries’ portfolio
- Further reading
Zoppas Industries in 2023
We asked Zoppas Industries what the company’s biggest wins in 2023 were. They replied with the following information:
2023 was indeed been an exciting year filled with hard work and success for us. Firstly, we renewed our ESCC qualification. The ESA team visited our plant, and our team underwent a thorough review of our processes, facilities, and capabilities, ultimately receiving confirmation that we can maintain our ESCC 4009/002 and 4009/004 certifications.
This process occurs every two years and is always a thrilling experience, allowing us to showcase our perspectives and capabilities to ESA. Currently, we stand as the sole company holding this certification, enabling us to provide comprehensive support for all institutional missions, not just limited to the European market.
Simultaneously, we successfully confirmed and expanded our presence in the space market. We have added a new product line, i.e. a stock catalogue, featuring space-qualified and space graded heaters.
We have proudly continued our supply for the leading European constellations, including Galileo, Copernicus, Iridium Next, Globalstar, and O3B first generation, and we have entered the supply chain for platform integrators and payload providers of the Transport Layer constellation. Our cutting-edge technologies have positioned us as trusted partners for those seeking reliable and advanced components for their space missions.
The invaluable support of the satsearch platform also played a crucial role, facilitating effective connections with key players in the industry and helping us thrive in the ever-evolving space sector.
Building upon the incredible excitement of the previous year, where our products journeyed around the Moon aboard the Orion capsule for the Artemis 1 mission, we achieved another significant milestone in 2023. Our products successfully reached the surface of our celestial neighbour aboard the Chandrayaan-3 probe.
Furthermore, we embarked on an exciting mission to Jupiter aboard the Juice spacecraft, marking another momentous achievement for our company.
These successes have not only reinforced our commitment to maintaining a high level of product quality but have also fuelled our enthusiasm to push the boundaries of our research and technological roadmap. Our ultimate goal is to create increasingly sophisticated products and solutions that cater to the evolving needs of our customers in both institutional and commercial missions within the new space economy.
For example, in 2023, we conducted an internal campaign of study and experimental validation to develop a digital model of our products. This will be finalised and officially presented in 2024, allowing us to deliver enhanced support to customers at all levels of expertise, including those who are new to the space industry.
Zoppas Industries in 2024
Zoppas Industries also shared the company’s strategic aims and ambitions for the rest of this year:
In 2024 we are excited to be embarking on new ventures and face fresh challenges. Our commitment to supplying major constellations continues, necessitating a continual increase in production efforts. This exciting endeavour pushes us to reach new heights and deliver top-notch solutions to meet the growing demands of these ambitious – and time-challenging – projects.
Our focus remains firmly fixed on our technological roadmap for the space market. Building upon the extensive research conducted thus far, we are diligently working to translate these findings into tangible outcomes. Our dedicated team is busy formulating a comprehensive plan for the production and qualification of new products for thermal management of small and large satellites and habitat modules, both in the short and long term.
In 2024 we will also complete the expansion project for our current ESA qualification. This expansion involves a new type of heater that boasts enhanced performance capabilities and reaches higher temperatures. We have dedicated substantial efforts to ensure that this new heater surpasses industry standards and delivers exceptional results.
Furthermore, our commitment to growth and innovation extends beyond this milestone. We are already in discussions with ESA about additional qualification projects that encompass the development of more complex products. These advanced products will integrate essential components such as connectors, temperature sensors, and cutting-edge controlling technology.
This comprehensive approach allows us to provide our customers with integrated solutions that meet their evolving needs and deliver unparalleled performance.
And, last but not least, we are delighted to announce the second edition of Space Meetings Veneto, set to take place in Venice from May 20th to 22nd, 2024. Following the resounding success of the inaugural edition in 2023, this event promises to be even more extraordinary.
We have a plethora of fresh ideas and captivating experiences for attendees. So, stay connected and be prepared to delve into the world of space exploration, networking with industry experts, and unveiling the future of space technology.
Insights from the supply chain
Some further thoughts and insights from Zoppas Industries:
Utilizing the digital twin: we are excited to announce that we are providing our customers with a digital twin of our products. Our digital twin technology offers engineers an invaluable resource for mission planning and design.
By leveraging the digital twin, engineers can simulate and test various scenarios, optimise performance, and identify potential issues before deployment. We encourage engineers to take full advantage of this powerful tool to enhance mission success and efficiency.
Embracing our expanded offerings: while our reputation has traditionally been built on providing customised ESA-qualified products for institutional customers, we want to highlight that we have expanded our offerings to include a comprehensive stock catalogue, specifically designed to cater to the evolving needs of our customers.
In addition, we also offer more commercial qualification levels (QM, PFM) that still ensure compliance with the demanding space environment but, at the same time, address requirements such as fast turnaround times and market competitiveness.
Collaboration for innovative solutions: we are in a phase of continuous development and actively seek to address our customers’ needs with new and innovative products. We encourage engineers to engage with us, communicate their requirements, and collaborate on designing tailored solutions.
With our expertise in designing complex products across various industries such as automotive, aerospace, scientific, and medical, we have the capability to develop cutting-edge solutions for space missions. By working together, we can create ground-breaking solutions that push the boundaries of what is possible in the space industry.
Zoppas Industries’ portfolio
This section includes a variety of Zoppas Industries’ products available on the global market today. Click on the links to open pages with more detail on each system.
You can then make requests for quotes, documents, or further information, and we’ll handle these for you (find out more about how this simple process works on this page). You can also submit an open tender here and our expert procurement team will get back to you ASAP.
The Zoppas Industries Flexible Heating Element is designed for thermal applications in space. The flexible heating element consists of an etched foil resistive element laminated between two acrylic insulation layers, providing excellent tensile strength, tear resistance, and dimensional stability. With its thin design and construction, it can be easily applied without sacrificing efficiency or dependability.
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The Zoppas Industries Polyimide-FEP Heating Element is designed for spacecraft, pressurized modules, launch vehicles, and ground-based antennas as per ESA's ESCC 4009/002 specification (qualified since 1992). It is produced by an etching process delivering a thin and lightweight flexible heater, which provides significant tensile strength, tear resistance, and dimensional stability.
The Zoppas Industries Polyimide-Acrylic Heating Element is designed for spacecraft, pressurized modules, launch vehicles, and ground-based antennas as per ESA's ESCC 4009/004 specification (qualified since 2015). The heater design can be fully customized with design options that other heater types cannot match or meet the particular mission demands.
Further reading
The links below will take you to other satsearch resources where you can learn more about some of the topics mentioned on this page: