The Square Kilometer Array is a vision of a new telescope of gigantic proportions: thousands of large-diameter telescopes with a total reflective area in the order of a square kilometre will work together to create the largest telescope human mankind has ever seen. The location for this telescope is yet to be selected from the two main candidates South Africa or Australia. In any case the array will span a whole continent; for example in the case Australia is selected, it will spread from the most western part of Australia up to New Zealand.

The critical factor in the go-ahead decision for this project is whether the high precision telescopes can be made at an affordable cost.  It is clear that the current available technologies are not sufficient enough, and that a radical step-change is required.

Airborne has developed a concept for fully automated manufacturing of a thermoplastic composite reflector. A continuous fibre placement process is used to manufacture consolidated blanks from UD thermoplastic tape, these blanks are press-formed into shape, automatically assembled by pick & place robots and welded together with welding robots. This concept can use low-cost composite materials, has short cycle times and requires a minimum of production people.  This results in a very efficient production process.

Airborne has taken the lead to form a Dutch consortium of industry and research institutes that combines the strengths of all partners. Airborne has the unique continuous fibre placement process, DTC is an internationally recognised specialist in thermoplastic press forming, KVE has developed a special induction welding process, TU Delft is renowned for its material expertise on thermoplastic composites and ASTRON is a world-class radio astronomy institute. In this project the partners work together to develop the technology, proof the production concept, investigate whether thermoplastics can be used as material for telescope reflector and demonstrate the concept by manufacturing composite panels that will be integrated in the Westerbork radio telescope and used for astronomical observations. This project is funded within the Dutch polymer research programme 'Polymeren Innovatie Programma'.

Please read the article (in Dutch) about our project in the project overview book of the Polymer Innovation Programme, by Agentschap NL, an agency of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs. Our project is on page 33, it can also be downloaded below.

For more information, feel free to contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , project leader of this project.

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