Údarás-Supported Company Awarded European Space Agency Contract [ Gaeilge ]

CTL Tástáil Teoranta Wins Contract to Evaluate Carbon Fibre Materials for Next Generation Space Launchers

A Spiddal-based company has been awarded a major contract from the European Space Agency (ESA) to evaluate new carbon fibre reinforced materials for the next generation of space launchers.

The company, CTL Tástáil Teoranta, employs 10 people at the Údarás na Gaeltachta Industrial Estate at Baile an tSagairt, Spiddal. Another three people are employed at a sister company, Ábhair Cumasc Teoranta, at the same location, who will also participate in the ESA project.

The European Space Agency contract is to evaluate and test new manufacturing methods for advanced carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites. The aim of the project is to reduce the cost of manufacturing the large liquid fuel tanks employed in space launchers such as the Ariane programme.

The contract consists of composite laminate manufacturing and mechanical and physical testing, all of which will be carried out at the company premises in Spiddal. The new thermoplastic composite materials being evaluated can be processed faster, and in a more flexible manner than existing materials, as well as having attractive mechanical and environmental properties.

Managing Director, Dr. Conchúr Ó Brádaigh, welcomed the ESA contract as firmly establishing CTL Tastáil Teo. as one of the leading research and development companies in Europe in the area of lightweight, high performance, carbon fibre reinforced materials.

Mr. John Lowery, Údarás na Gaeltachta Deputy Chief Executive with responsibility for Industrial Development said, "The European Space Agency contract is a recognition of CTL's high-quality expertise as a test laboratory. Enterprises such as CTL are the bridge between the traditional/conventional industries which are in decline and the modern/new-age enterprises which we are endeavouring to attract to the Gaeltacht".

Mr. Tony Mc Donald of Enterprise Ireland, with responsibility for European Space Agency Programmes, said, "the placing of the contract by the European Space Agency is an endorsement of the high technical standards attained by the company. CTL is yet another example of emerging Irish innovative technology companies developing in the aerospace sector with the active support of the European Space Agency and Enterprise Ireland."

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Conchúr Ó Brádaigh, Managing Director, CTL Tastáil Teo: (091) 504 777
Pádraig Ó hAoláin, Deputy Chief Executive/Regional Development, Údarás na Gaeltachta: (091) 503 104

Notes
CTL Tastáil Teoranta provides accredited mechanical and physical testing services to leading manufacturers of composite materials throughout Europe. CTL is the only independent accredited testing laboratory in the European Union that specialises in composite materials. CTL stands for Composites Testing Laboratory, and is a spin-off company of the National University of Ireland, Galway. The company's main markets are in aerospace, wind-energy, automotive and Formula 1.

Composite materials are lightweight, carbon fibre or glass fibre reinforced plastic materials that are used in aerospace, marine, automotive, environmental, wind turbine blades application. A typical carbon fibre reinforced composite has 5 times the stiffness and strength of steel, when compared on the same weight basis, i.e. Kg for Kg.

Enterprise Ireland, in association with the Office of Science and Technology of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, manages Irelands participation in the programme of the European Space Agency.