Develops and manufactures release actuators, deployable solar arrays and structures for space
Dcubed GmbH
Germering (DE) · Westminster/Denver, CO (US) · Berthoud, CO (US)New on Amplifa
About Dcubed
Dcubed is a German NewSpace company headquartered in Germering near Munich that develops and manufactures free-flying hardware and subsystems for space applications. The portfolio includes COTS release actuators, i.e. Hold-Down Release Mechanisms (HDRM), based on patented Shape Memory Materials, deployable solar generators including launch lock, substrate and solar cells, deployable structures and antennas as well as In-Space Manufacturing (ISM). Manufacturing takes place entirely in Germany and includes, among other things, a robot-assisted assembly line for series production of solar arrays; 3D printing is used for prototypes and structures. Customers are satellite integrators, subsystem manufacturers, space agencies, primes and NewSpace companies in 15 countries on 4 continents; to date Dcubed has supplied over 140 customers, including Intuitive Machines, HawkEye 360, DLR and EnduroSat. In addition to its headquarters, the company operates manufacturing sites in Westminster/Denver and Berthoud, Colorado under Dcubed USA Inc.
- Site
- Germering
- Processes
- Hold-Down Release Mechanisms (HDRM) / Release Actuators, Deployable Solar Arrays (including launch lock, substrate, solar cells), Rigid deployable solar wings, 2 kW end-of-life total power, In-Space Manufacturing (3D-printed truss structure, approx. 30 cm high), Origami structures (proprietary), Testing and validation of space products (ISO 9001:2015 QM), COTS Release Actuators / HDRM, Deployable Solar Arrays
- Materials
- Shape Memory Materials (patented), Additive Manufacturing, Solar Cells
- Certificates
- ISO 9001:2015
- Founded
- 2018
- Industries
- Space/NewSpace, Satellite Manufacturers, Space Agencies, Primes, Lunar/Moon Missions, Launchers
- 01
Engineering & Development
- 02
Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing)
- 03
Manufacturing of Mechanisms and Solar Arrays
- 04
Robotic Assembly Line (Series Production)
- 05
Testing & Validation
- 06
Delivery / Direct E-Commerce Sales
- 07
Integration & Test Support (AIT)
Materials & Processes
Shape Memory Materials (patented)
Patented shape memory materials form the functional basis of the resettable release actuators and HDRM.
Additive Manufacturing
Used for structures such as the approx. 30 cm high ISM truss demonstrator as well as the original prototype development.
Solar Cells
Integrated into the solar array subsystems including launch lock and substrate.
Locations
Germering
DEHeadquarters, development and manufacturing (100% made in Germany)
- Lot size
- Prototype to series
- Materials
- Shape Memory Materials
- 3D printers
- Robotic assembly line for solar arrays
Westminster/Denver, CO
USUS site of Dcubed USA Inc., manufacturing
Berthoud, CO
USUS facility Colorado (integration of ARAQYS-D3 payload)
Products & Components
Inside the production
Industries
Processes & technical limits
| Processes | Tolerance | Max. part | Weight | Lot size | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hold-Down Release Mechanisms (HDRM) / Release ActuatorsAssembly | – | – | – | – | Shape Memory Materials |
| Deployable Solar Arrays (including launch lock, substrate, solar cells)Assembly | – | – | – | – | Solar Cells |
| Rigid deployable solar wings, 2 kW end-of-life total powerAssembly | – | – | – | – | – |
| In-Space Manufacturing (3D-printed truss structure, approx. 30 cm high)Additive | – | 30 cm | – | – | – |
| Origami structures (proprietary)Engineering | – | – | – | – | – |
| Testing and validation of space products (ISO 9001:2015 QM)Testing | – | – | – | – | – |
2 Anlagen & Maschinen
| Machine | Manufacturer / model | Quantity | Working area | Year built | Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D printers | – | – | – | – | Germering/Munich |
| Robotic assembly line for solar arrays | – | – | – | – | – |
Additional services
Reference customers
Quality
All products undergo extensive testing and validation for use under space conditions. The quality management system is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and meets industry-specific and customer-specific requirements.
| Evidence | Germering |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001:2015 |
Company History
- 2018
Founded as Deployables Cubed GbR by Dr. Thomas Sinn
- 2019
ESA BIC, win at the Innospace Masters, EXIST scholarship; founding of Deployables Cubed GmbH in December and first deliveries (including MIT Haystack Observatory, University of Auckland)
- 2020
Seed financing, relocation to Germering, rebranding to Dcubed
- 2021
First ESA development contract for compact 100W solar modules; IAF membership
- 2022
First launch (SpaceX Transporter 3, January 2022); SmallSat solar modules; ESA and government contracts
- 2023
First constellation customer; ISM solar module prototype with Solestial; expansion to Colorado (Broomfield)
- 2025
Order from Intuitive Machines for the solar array of the Space Data Network satellite (November 2025)
- 2026
ARAQYS-D3 power beaming mission; partnership with EnduroSat for series production