The Exploration Company expands industrial presence in Germany with Thrustworks acquisition
New site in North Rhine-Westphalia integrates niobium metal 3D printing capability; move strengthens supply chain resilience for civil and defense propulsion programs
The Exploration Company has acquired Thrustworks Additive Manufacturing GmbH, a German specialist in advanced 3D printing for aerospace propulsion components. The move expands TEC’s industrial footprint in Germany with a new facility in North Rhine-Westphalia and brings in capabilities in printing refractory metals and oxidation-resistant coatings for high-performance thrusters.
Thrustworks adds a rare European capability to TEC’s portfolio: the commercial-scale production and coating of niobium alloy C103 thrust chambers, which are used in both civil and defense applications. Niobium C103 is prized for its high-temperature strength and oxidation resistance, enabling propulsion system performance beyond what traditional materials allow.
Under TEC ownership, Thrustworks will scale its operations, grow its workforce, and broaden its offering to serve both internal TEC programs and external customers in the aerospace and defense sectors. The integration aims to enhance production speed, tolerance precision, and overall program flexibility.
The acquisition aligns with TEC’s goal of internalizing key technologies and reducing dependencies in Europe’s space supply chain. By producing critical propulsion hardware in-house, the company gains greater control over quality, performance, and lead times, while also opening up new revenue opportunities through third-party sales.
“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,” said Hélène Huby, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Exploration Company. “We intend to serve our clients with applications ranging from satellite thrusters to thrusters for defense applications.”
Christopher Mihm, Co-founder of Thrustworks, added: “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.”
