Key highlights

Strategic capability in Europe - Integrates a market-leading capability in printed refractory metals, oxidation-resistant coatings, and the manufacture of highly engineered propulsion components.

Niobium C103 thrust chambers - Adds one of the first EU-based commercial capabilities for printing and coating high-performance thrust chambers in niobium alloy C103 for civil and defense applications.

Capacity expansion - Thrustworks will scale facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia, add new manufacturing capabilities, and grow its team to serve TEC, the wider aerospace and defense sector, and adjacent industries.

Resilient supply chain - Enhances TEC’s in-house product roadmap, improving control of performance, quality, and lead times while opening new external revenue opportunities.

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Press Release

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The Exploration Company (TEC) announces the acquisition of Thrustworks Additive Manufacturing GmbH (Thurstworks), an end-to-end specialist in advanced additive manufacturing technologies for aerospace components, spanning design optimization, post-processing, and quality assurance.

The transaction strengthens TEC’s supply chain and unlocks new investment in North Rhine-Westphalia to expand advanced manufacturing, create skilled jobs, and accelerate the production of high-performance propulsion components.

Thrustworks brings a market leading capability in printed refractory metals, oxidation-resistant coatings, and the manufacturing of highly engineered propulsion components.
Under TEC ownership, Thrustworks will expand its capacity, add additional manufacturing  capabilities, and grow its team to service TEC, the  aerospace &defense industry as well as other industries. Notably Thrustworks is one of the first companies to commercialize an EU based capability for the printing and coating of high performance thrust chambers made Niobium alloy C103, used for both civil and defense applications.

TEC in-house products have been developed to support our programmes and operational needs, giving full control over performance, quality, and technological differentiation. Beyond their internal value, these products now represent a strong commercial opportunity with external customers facing similar technical and operational challenges. By opening these products to the market, TEC transforms a purely internal capability into a tangible competitive asset, able to generate growth, reinforce innovation profile, and enhance resilience in a rapidly evolving commercial landscape. Thrustwork is aligned with this approach.

Helene Huby, CEO and Founder of The Exploration Company:
‍“With this merger, we integrate within TEC and scale at the service of the European industry a unique niobium printing capability and a great team. We intend to serve our clients with applications ranging from satellite thrusters to thrusters for defense applications.”

Christopher Mihm and his co-founders, Alexander Albrechtand Felix Thiel:
“Joining The Exploration Company marks a defining step for ThrustWorks. Together, we will scale our operations in North Rhine-Westphalia and expand our additive manufacturing capabilities to strengthen Europe’s resilient space supply chain.”


Media Contact
media@exploration.space

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