Inside Italian defence tech (2026)
Jul 17
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Ellange Mondorf-les-Bains, LuxembourgHautcharage, LuxembourgEllange Mondorf-les-Bains, LuxembourgHautcharage, Luxembourg
Gradel
Builds mechanical ground support equipment for spacecraft, nuclear maintenance machinery and robotic composite manufacturing systems for European aerospace, defence and energy customers.
Founded 196551-200 employeesBascharage, Luxembourg7 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Space & SatellitesAdvanced Materials
Products & Solutions
Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE)
Transport trolleys, rotation systems and lifting devices designed to handle spacecraft safely before launch. Built to distribute weight evenly, minimise vibrations and maintain precise alignment during assembly, integration and testing. Has supported ESA missions including JUICE and ExoMars.
Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) System
Antenna support structures used inside anechoic test chambers to evaluate spacecraft communication systems. Minimises electromagnetic interference reflections and accommodates thermal cycling and vibration testing that simulates launch and in-orbit conditions.
Nuclear Maintenance Equipment
Custom-built machinery for operational nuclear power plants and decommissioning projects, including underwater filtration systems and specialised handling equipment. Designed for European nuclear installations, with recent deliveries to Forsmarks Vattenfall Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden.
Sputtering Targets
High-purity rotatable metallic targets for thin-film deposition in the glass manufacturing industry. Available in tin (Sn, >99.9% purity), zinc-aluminium (ZnAl 2%) and zinc-tin (ZnSn 30%) alloy compositions. Over 3,000 targets produced from the Luxembourg facility, designed around a circular economy approach.
GRAM — Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing
A robotic filament-winding process that wraps continuous carbon fibre and resin around moulds to produce composite structures more than 60% lighter than metal equivalents. Available in two configurations: GRAM V2.1 for rapid prototyping and research, and GRAM V4 for continuous 24/7 industrial production. Used in aerospace and satellite structure manufacturing.
About
Founded in 1965 in Luxembourg, Gradel is an engineering and manufacturing company serving the aerospace, defence, nuclear and glass industries. The company designs and builds special-purpose machinery — from spacecraft handling equipment for satellite programmes to filtration systems for nuclear power plants — operating from two facilities in Luxembourg.
Offices
Ellange Mondorf-les-Bains, LuxembourgHautcharage, LuxembourgCustomers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)AirbusAirbus Defence and SpaceSAFRANForsmarks Vattenfall Nuclear Power PlantThales Alenia SpaceLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
Timeline
2026
Entered EUR 12 million in European R&D programmes, with plans to expand Bascharage facilities and negotiate with strategic investors.
2025-11
Delivered fourth MGSE unit to SAFRAN in India.
2024
Won the FEDIL Innovation Award and the Altair Enlighten Award (sustainable process category) for the BMW M Visionary Materials Seat.
2018
Developed the GRAM (Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing) filament-winding process for composite structures.
1965
Founded in Luxembourg as a specialist in nuclear maintenance equipment.
Gradel
Builds mechanical ground support equipment for spacecraft, nuclear maintenance machinery and robotic composite manufacturing systems for European aerospace, defence and energy customers.
Founded 196551-200 employeesBascharage, Luxembourg7 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Space & SatellitesAdvanced Materials
Products & Solutions
Mechanical Ground Support Equipment (MGSE)
Transport trolleys, rotation systems and lifting devices designed to handle spacecraft safely before launch. Built to distribute weight evenly, minimise vibrations and maintain precise alignment during assembly, integration and testing. Has supported ESA missions including JUICE and ExoMars.
Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) System
Antenna support structures used inside anechoic test chambers to evaluate spacecraft communication systems. Minimises electromagnetic interference reflections and accommodates thermal cycling and vibration testing that simulates launch and in-orbit conditions.
Nuclear Maintenance Equipment
Custom-built machinery for operational nuclear power plants and decommissioning projects, including underwater filtration systems and specialised handling equipment. Designed for European nuclear installations, with recent deliveries to Forsmarks Vattenfall Nuclear Power Plant in Sweden.
Sputtering Targets
High-purity rotatable metallic targets for thin-film deposition in the glass manufacturing industry. Available in tin (Sn, >99.9% purity), zinc-aluminium (ZnAl 2%) and zinc-tin (ZnSn 30%) alloy compositions. Over 3,000 targets produced from the Luxembourg facility, designed around a circular economy approach.
GRAM — Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing
A robotic filament-winding process that wraps continuous carbon fibre and resin around moulds to produce composite structures more than 60% lighter than metal equivalents. Available in two configurations: GRAM V2.1 for rapid prototyping and research, and GRAM V4 for continuous 24/7 industrial production. Used in aerospace and satellite structure manufacturing.
About
Founded in 1965 in Luxembourg, Gradel is an engineering and manufacturing company serving the aerospace, defence, nuclear and glass industries. The company designs and builds special-purpose machinery — from spacecraft handling equipment for satellite programmes to filtration systems for nuclear power plants — operating from two facilities in Luxembourg.
Offices
Ellange Mondorf-les-Bains, LuxembourgHautcharage, LuxembourgCustomers & Partners
European Space Agency (ESA)AirbusAirbus Defence and SpaceSAFRANForsmarks Vattenfall Nuclear Power PlantThales Alenia SpaceLuxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST)
Timeline
2026
Entered EUR 12 million in European R&D programmes, with plans to expand Bascharage facilities and negotiate with strategic investors.
2025-11
Delivered fourth MGSE unit to SAFRAN in India.
2024
Won the FEDIL Innovation Award and the Altair Enlighten Award (sustainable process category) for the BMW M Visionary Materials Seat.
2018
Developed the GRAM (Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing) filament-winding process for composite structures.
1965
Founded in Luxembourg as a specialist in nuclear maintenance equipment.
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