Northern Waves to open metal additive manufacturing facility in Spain
Spanish startup backed by European Space Agency veteran plans to produce up to 15,000 satellite antennas per year at new Asturian plant
Northern Waves, a technology company specializing in the design and manufacture of radiofrequency components and satellite antennas using metal additive manufacturing, is establishing a production facility in the Porceyo industrial district of Gijón, in the Asturias region of northern Spain. The company plans to invest €1.5 million ($1.75m) in equipment and facility preparation.
The new plant is scheduled to be operational this summer, with an initial production capacity of 5,000 antennas per year. Northern Waves projects that output will grow to between 12,000 and 15,000 units annually within approximately 24 months. To support that ramp, the company is installing four new metal additive manufacturing machines alongside one already in operation, with four additional machines to follow over the next year.
Northern Waves’ components serve applications across satellite antenna systems, satellite-connected terminals, high-power radar, automotive systems, mobile base stations, and 5G and 6G communications infrastructure. The use of metal additive manufacturing allows the company to produce parts that are lighter and structurally optimized for high-performance operating environments.
Talent repatriation and regional strategy
The company was founded three and a half years ago by Pepe Rico, an Asturian native and University of Oviedo graduate who previously conducted research across Asturias, Sweden, and the European Space Agency. Northern Waves was incorporated in Sweden and currently operates across both Sweden and Spain. The gradual transfer of industrial activity to Asturias is part of the company’s growth and technology consolidation strategy.
Northern Waves currently employs 11 people across its two countries of operation. Five roles have already been filled for the Gijón facility: two factory technicians, two radiofrequency engineers, and a production director. Starting in September, the company will add an industrial researcher pursuing a doctorate in collaboration with the University of Oviedo, along with additional hires in additive manufacturing and administration.
The project was facilitated by SEKUENS, the Asturian regional government’s agency for science, business competitiveness, and innovation. Borja Sánchez, Regional Minister of Science, Industry and Employment, stated that the arrival of Northern Waves “is good news for Asturias not only for the investment, but for what it represents: technological industry, advanced manufacturing, internationalization, and a return of talent.”
He added that “the project fits fully with the Principality’s policy of attracting investments capable of generating added value, future industrial activity, and of strengthening sectors in which Asturias wants to gain a position, such as aerospace.”
