Thales Alenia Space to build plant in Leuven, Belgium

Cannes - Thales Alenia Space Belgium announced that it will build a new plant in Leuven, which will start operations in the first half of 2014.
This strategic new facility reflects Thales Alenia Space’s growing role in Belgium, a country that is fully committed to the programs developed by the European Space Agency (ESA).

The new structure will initially have a team of about 20 engineers, tasked with developing new avionics products and technologies for satellites and launch vehicles. The facility will work closely with the company’s microelectronics center of expertise in Leuven, as well as with Thales Alenia Space’s Charleroi plant.

According to Emmanuel Terrasse, Vice President for R&D and Business Development, “By setting up this new operation in Leuven, Thales Alenia Space Belgium will strengthen its leadership in the Belgian space industry. In particular, this new facility will offer design services focused on Europe’s new launchers. Our aim is to develop innovative solutions that will enable us to carve out a position as the primary supplier for avionics and other electronics equipment on Ariane 6.”


About Thales Alenia Space
The European leader in satellite systems and a major player in orbital infrastructures, Thales Alenia Space is a joint venture between Thales (67%) and Finmeccanica (33%). Thales Alenia Space and Telespazio embody the two groups’ “Space Alliance”. Thales Alenia Space sets the global standard in solutions for space telecommunications, radar and optical Earth observation, defense and security, navigation and science. With consolidated revenues of 2.1 billion euros in 2012, Thales Alenia Space has 7,500 employees in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and United States.
www.thalesaleniaspace.com


Thales Alenia Space Belgium
Thales Alenia Space Belgium is the largest Belgian manufacturer of space electronics and the World leader in satellite power supplies. The company is also the foremost supplier of electronics for the Ariane 5 satellite launcher. Almost 600 people work at its Mont-sur-Marchienne site.