SELF IMPROVEMENT

TÜV Nord enters into satellite technology business

They care for the navigation of cars, ships passed through the oceans and provide data for weather forecasting: a satellite part of life to draw on the earth. On which commercial space is now also involved the testing company TUV Nord. "For us, the future of space technology, a global market," Volker Klosowski from the board of the company said on Tuesday in Hanover. With the purchase of the Spanish company Alter Technology Group (ATG), tested and certified by TÜV Nord now even components for satellites.

Under the name "Aerospace" the testing company wants to expand the new division with ATG - and sees the purchase as a leap into a growing market. "From the 772 satellites, which were designed 2000-2009, will increase the number to about 1200 to 2019," said a spokesman for TUV Nord. In addition, TÜV Nord is now the only testing and inspection in the world to compete in space technology. A new area to which the management is proud: "In addition to the commodities business in the future, the TÜV Nord Group has another unique feature of the market," said Guido Rettig, Chairman of the Board.

As a customer, TÜV Nord, the testing of electrical components for satellites in future space agencies, satellite construction industry and their suppliers as clients - including, inter alia, the European Space Agency (ESA) and Airbus. Other customers sit outside Europe, in Brazil, Argentina, China and India. "Our work is so important because if the electrical components are at first in the satellite in space, they can not be repaired," said the chief Luis Gomez of ATG at a telephone switching in Madrid.

Through the acquisition of ATG in the north hoped TÜV first time this year a turnover of over one billion euros. 2010 there were 923 million euros. The company is the third largest German TUV-tested and group products and services including in the areas of education, environment and transport.