SWISSto12 Pursues Profitable Growth with 3D-Printed Payloads

SWISSto12 is on track to generate approximately 200 million in revenue this year while remaining profitable, Chief Financial and Strategy Officer Fredrik Gustavsson stated at World Space Business Week in Paris. The company's growth is fueled by its core technology: the 3D printing of antennas, filters, and payload components for satellites.

Gustavsson attributed this financial performance to a deliberate strategy of profitable growth. He identified strong momentum in sovereign demand and commercial opportunities from integrating terrestrial and non-terrestrial networks.

Expanding Partnerships in Japan

The company announced a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Electric to jointly explore opportunities in Japan and the wider Asia-Pacific region. Alongside this agreement, SWISSto12 secured a deal to supply payloads for the Japanese Ministry of Defense in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric.

Gustavsson explained the focus on Japan, despite Europe's expanding programs, by noting strong demand there. This builds on an existing agreement in Japan with Space Compass for SWISSto12's HummingSat small geostationary satellite platform.

Core Technology and Platform Offerings

At the heart of SWISSto12's business is proprietary 3D-printing technology and patents for manufacturing radio-frequency components. This approach enables smaller satellite form factors with high throughput, which helps preserve cost per bit and opens new use cases.

The company offers its 3D-printed payloads for integration onto third-party satellite platforms in any orbit. It also provides complete satellites on its own HummingSat platform, which is designed for geostationary orbit missions.

Gustavsson highlighted the speed to market this technology enables, with satellites now built within three years and the timeline moving toward two years.

European Projects and Direct-to-Device

Europe remains a central market for SWISSto12. Gustavsson highlighted ongoing work with HPS in Germany on a large unfurlable reflector for a geostationary satellite. This satellite is designed to broadcast television directly to unmodified smartphones, representing a significant direct-to-device opportunity.

Headquartered near Lausanne, with additional offices in Madrid and Foster City, California, SWISSto12 is exploring how to extend its international footprint as global traction grows. The company's model is designed to unlock business cases that others cannot, according to Gustavsson's presentation.