Products
Mesh is our passion.
We call it European Space Mesh - ESM.
As high conductivity is essential for good RF-reflectivity, reflective surfaces made with our ESM are perfectly suited for reflector antennas, for both with deployable- and shell-reflectors.
Applications in space range from telecommunications to earth observation, from L- to Ka- and even up to V-band. Terrestrial use include portable and lightweight ground antennas.
We are even investigating possibilities to introduce products that serve as shields against electro-magnetic radiation.
Our products provide best possible balance between RF performance and mechanical elasticity.
We offer both, well defined products with fix characteristics off the shelf and customized ones to meet specific customer needs. In case of need, batch related characterisation tests (RF, mechanical, thermo-optical, etc.) can be performed on request.
The reflective surface is typically composed of a very delicate technical fabric, manufactured by a warp knitting machine. Single ultra-thin gold-plated metallic wires are used as basic material of our warp knitted metallic fabric. Different frequency bands are satisfied by different mesh densities.
a) The weight of the fabric needs is always targeted to be as low as possible.
b) The wire material in use provides an optimum of electric conductivity and is able to withstand both very low and very high temperatures when the reflector antenna is exposed to the sun or to some possible shadow conditions in the orbit such as an eclipse.
Out of the multitude of technical textiles, warp knitted fabrics are the ones with the properties best suited for reflector surfaces. Several variants of mesh made out of different core wire materials such as tungsten or molybdenium are currently under investigation.
The wire diameters depending on the applications range from 20µm to 30µm.
The differences in the mesh coatings materialize through different plating thicknesses and are for example made of gold. The manufactured mesh has outstanding drapability properties which allow to form a perfectly parabolic reflector shape.
The warp knitting patterns like the two main ones called ATLAS and TRICOT are commonly used nowadays for reflectors, since they have the best properties in terms of drapability.
ESM-L
L-Band Mesh
L-band meshes are mainly used for very large earth observation antennas. Our ESM here is characterized by relatively low density and very high elasticity. It can be used also for lower frequencies such as UHF. Advantages for L-band meshes are very attractive prices due to lower material costs and to simpler warp knitting machine configuration needs.
Currently one specific product is available from our portfolio (see table below). Other configurations (wire-material/-thickness/-coating, warp knitting pattern, density) can be provided on request.
Product Information
| ESM-L-A | |
|---|---|
| Application Frequencies: | L-band and lower |
| Wire Material: | Tungsten, gold plated |
| Warp Knitting Pattern: | ATLAS |
| Density: | 12 OPSI |
| Available width/length: | On costumer request |
| Characteristics: |
- Tear resistant - Lightweight - Drapability - Foldability |
ESM-Ku
Ku-Band Mesh
Ku-band mesh is most commonly used for earth observation antennas as well as for telecommunications missions. The respective ESM is characterized by relatively medium density coupled with reasonable elasticity. It can be used also for lower frequencies such as X-band.
Currently two specific products are available from our portfolio (see table below). Other configurations (wire-material/-thickness/-coating, warp knitting pattern, density) can be provided on request.
Product Information
| ESM-Ku-A | ESM-Ku-T | |
|---|---|---|
| Application Frequencies: | Ku-band, X-band and lower | Ku-band, X-band and lower |
| Wire Material: | Tungsten, gold plated or Molybdenum, gold plated | Tungsten, gold plated or Molybdenum, gold plated |
| Warp Knitting Pattern: | ATLAS | TUCH |
| Density: | 20 OPSI | 20 OPSI |
| Available width/length: | On costumer request | On costumer request |
| Characteristics: |
- Tear resistant - Lightweight - Drapability - Foldability |
- Tear resistant - Lightweight - Drapability - Foldability |
ESM-Ka
Ka-Band Mesh
The development of the high performance Ka-band mesh is close to finalization. Highest reflectivity of the ESM-Ka is a “must” when it comes to telecommunications antennas, same applies to very specific earth observation missions (such as the Copernicus Mission CIMR). The Ka-band mesh is characterized by relatively high density at moderate elasticity. It can be used also for lower frequencies such as K-/Ku-band. The manufacturing of such meshes is quite demanding due to the need for hundreds of wires feeding our warp knitting machines simultaneously.
One specific product is going to be available within our portfolio, starting December 2021 (see table below). Further configurations (wire material/-thickness/-coating, warp knitting pattern, density) will be offered in 2022.
Product Information
| ESM-Ka-x | ESM-Ka-y | |
|---|---|---|
| Application Frequencies: | Ka-band, and lower | Ka-band, and lower |
| Wire Material: | On request | Release in 2022 |
| Warp Knitting Pattern: | On request | Release in 2022 |
| Density: | On request | Release in 2022 |
| Available width/length: | On request | Release in 2022 |
| Characteristics: |
- Tear resistant - Lightweight - Drapability - Foldability |
- Tear resistant - Lightweight - Drapability - Foldability |
ESM-V
V-Band Mesh
Our most outstanding development challenge currently is a mesh for V-band telecommunications antennas. It is characterized by extremely high densities while still providing specific elasticity. Manufacturing this type of mesh requires highly sophisticated configurations for the production machines.
Currently several configurations (wire-material/-thickness/-coating, warp knitting pattern, density) are under investigation under ESA contract. A first qualified product is expected by end 2022.
Product Information
| ESM-V-x | ESM-V-y | |
|---|---|---|
| Application Frequencies: | V-band, and lower | V-band, and lower |
| Wire Material: | Release end of 2022 | Release end of 2022 |
| Warp Knitting Pattern: | Release end of 2022 | Release end of 2022 |
| Density: | Release end of 2022 | Release end of 2022 |
| Available width/length: | Release end of 2022 | Release end of 2022 |
| Characteristics: | Release end of 2022 | Release end of 2022 |