Aerospacelab and Sambrinvest announce construction partners and share updates on the progress at the construction site in Charleroi.
Mont-Saint-Guibert, Belgium — 10 December 2024, 8.00 AM CET — Six months ago, Aerospacelab initiated the construction of its new Megafactory, a state-of-art facility expected to significantly enhance Europe’s space manufacturing capabilities. The construction of the Megafactory kicked off on May 16th, 2024, and is moving forward according to schedule.
In order to put together this cutting-edge facility in record-time (operational in 2026), Aerospacelab and Sambrinvest have secured key partnerships with constructors, engineering firms and equipment suppliers. Their experience in advanced manufacturing facilities and cleanroom construction, as well as their commitment to excellence ensure that we consistently achieve the highest standards for this significant project.
For Benoît Deper, CEO of Aerospacelab, "We are paving the way for a new era in satellite manufacturing and redefining what it is to be a space prime. With each development milestone, our vision for the Megafactory turns into reality, bringing significant benefits not just to the European space industry, but also positioning Charleroi as a hub for innovative revitalization. "
"This project stands as Sambrinvest's most ambitious and innovative project to date. It reflects our strategy and our unwavering support to companies and the growth of our region”, shares Grégoire Dupuis, CEO of Sambrinvest. “I am proud to report that construction is progressing on schedule, which will enable Aerospacelab to stimulate unprecedented advances in the industry in record time, on top of generating hundreds of jobs in the region."
Carried by Aerospacelab and Sambrinvest, the ambitious Megafactory project is supported by Wallonie Entreprendre as well as The Federal Holding and Investment Company (SFPIM Real Estate), whose commitment and resources have been instrumental. “Public funding plays a crucial role in enabling the acceleration of space development, and we have tremendous support we've received in Belgium to further propel our vision of making high-quality satellite technology more accessible — mass manufacturing is essential for achieving this goal" adds Benoît Deper.
Construction activities
As Aerospacelab advances in its plans, it announces its trusted structural partners involved in the first phase of the project: Besix-Galère (structural work and finishings), Bsolutions (engineering office), Cegelec-VMA (special techniques), Cosep (project management assistance), Europa-Levage (overhead bridge cranes), Jansen (cleanroom), Karno (geothermal and heat network), Office KGDVS-Reservoir A (architecture), TRBA (surroundings and earthworks).
Their expertise and collaboration will play an instrumental role in the successful completion of our facility.
In its construction phase, the Megafactory peak workforce is expected to reach several hundred skilled laborers onsite, with precise numbers determined as the project progresses. Currently, geothermal drilling is underway (Karno) meanwhile excavation work has been finished (TRBA). A total of 562 foundation pilings and two large cranes have been already installed by our partner Besix-Galère to further process assembling structural elements, facilitating the construction process, and ensuring efficient workflow handling of heavy loads.
The next steps will consist in launching structural work (gros œuvre) early Q1 2025, ending with the interior flooring of the building by the end of Q3 2025, when we will transition to specialized systems, including the installation of electrical systems, ventilation, heating as well as partitions of dedicated areas (allocation of spaces).
Megafactory overview
In the Megafactory, Aerospacelab will manufacture 150 kg to 1-ton satellites, with the capacity to produce up to 500 satellites a year. With an overall surface of 20,000 square meters (about twice a Manhattan city block) including 7,000 square meters of production area and 4,000 square meters of cleanroom, it will become Europe’s largest satellite factory and the third one in the world. This facility, a total investment of 100 million EUR, is designed to not only address current market needs but also to expand the limits of satellite technology.
For more information, photo assets and interview requests, please contact:
Aerospacelab
Célia Berlemont – Senior Communication, Marketing & PR Manager
+32 (0) 474/75.00.02 – celia.berlemont@aerospacelab.com
Sambrinvest
Emily Degrande – Communication & event officer
+32 (0) 473 80 55 18 – communication@sambrinvest.be