NASA selects Catalan company Thinex to develop a new sensor printing system for spacecraft landing parachutes

The Catalan company Thinex has been selected by NASA, the US space agency, to develop a new sensor printing system capable of measuring the tension experienced by parachutes as they deploy in space. Specializing in printing electronic materials onto a wide range of fabrics and surfaces, Thinex has already supplied NASA with several prototypes of ultra-thin printed strain sensors.

Thinex has been supported by ACCIÓ–Catalonia Trade & Investment, the agency for business growth belonging to the Ministry for Business and Labour, to support both the company’s growth and its agreement with NASA. Specifically, the company has received funding and advisory services to develop a new strategic business line to develop innovative technology and access the opportunity to work with NASA through the Catalonia Open Challenges platform, with support from the New York Catalonia Trade & Investment international office.
 

“Our printed sensor technology provides NASA with excellent adhesion while maintaining the elasticity and mechanical strength of the underlying parachute material”

Marc Vizern, Business Unit Manager at Thinex

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Thinex is collaborating with the US space agency on a project aimed at improving the performance of its spacecraft parachutes, one of the most critical components of space landing systems. These parachutes must withstand extreme aerodynamic loads while deploying flawlessly within fractions of a second.

According to Marc Vizern, Business Unit Manager at Thinex, “Because these systems are extremely difficult to test on Earth, Thinex’s technology has been designed to adapt to the delicate ripstop nylon used in parachutes, enabling in-situ measurement of strain and load while preserving the fabric’s original performance.” He also adds, “Our printed sensor technology provides NASA with excellent adhesion while maintaining the elasticity and mechanical strength of the underlying parachute material.”

Printed electronics as a new business line

Thinex was created as part of a strategic initiative by a family-owned industrial group with a long history in the printing industry, aiming to transfer its technical expertise and manufacturing capabilities into new, high-value markets. This evolution has resulted in a new business line focused on functional printed electronics, a technology that enables sensors and electronic circuits to be integrated onto flexible materials and a wide variety of surfaces.

According to Vizern, “We come from the world of industrial printing, but we’ve successfully leveraged that expertise to develop new technological applications. Printed electronics allow us to add intelligent functionality to materials and surfaces that previously had none.”

In addition to its collaboration with NASA, Thinex is also developing projects in other fields, including printed electronics for integrated furniture heating systems and heating elements for containers used in the meat industry to prevent condensation.

Established in 1989, the group employs more than 200 people, generates annual revenue of €42 million and has a strong international focus, with 55% of its sales generated in markets abroad. The company also invests 2% of its annual turnover in research and development.