Marking 25 years of innovation: EM Solutions Unveils Expansive Factory Upgrade

7 September 2023

 As EM Solutions prepares to celebrate its 25th anniversary, it also marks another significant achievement: the first stage completion of its factory expansion. The additional space, required to accommodate the design, manufacture and testing of its flagship Naval SATCOM systems, includes a new ISO7 (Class 10,000)   clean room. This room spans 100 square metres and features eight new workstation areas as well as three chip and bond machines. The expansion plan also incorporates a 125 cubic metre environmentally-controlled chamber for MIL standard certification of its 2 m King Cobra systems, as well as a 150 square metre R&D laboratory, providing room for new innovations and designs.

In addition, plans are currently being finalised for a 135 square metre “RF Transparent All- Weather Testing Facility”, which will offer visibility of satellites in a secure physical environment. This will enable the engineering team to conduct 24/7 testing of terminals in simulated “real world” conditions.  The RF transparent facility will have the capacity for simultaneous testing of up to five terminals, comprising a mix of Cobra and King Cobra terminals, and will also feature two 6-axis platforms that simulate vehicle and vessel operational movement and vibration.

Vice President of Operations Georgios Makris commented: "This factory expansion program increases not only our capacity to meet customer demands for the Cobra family of SATCOM systems, but also enhances our technical agility to deliver high quality space products in an increasingly demanding environment. It underscores our ongoing commitment to invest in Australian sovereign SATCOM capabilities, serving both the ground segment but also for space."

He further added, “Owing to our recent success in securing contracts in both domestic and international markets, EM Solutions’ workforce has expanded by more than 30%. We now have 95 positions based in Queensland, two interstate and four overseas. Our Brisbane headquarters has added extra personnel specifically for the design and manufacture of the new products and services, with particular emphasis on Program Management and Integrated Logistics Support (ILS) to aid our defence-oriented programs. Additionally, as EM Solutions’ footprint in Europe continues to grow, we are preparing to open a facility in the Netherlands to better support current and new installation activities and offer local presence to our European customer base.”