Innerspace, a private space launch company, is ramping up its expansion into advanced manufacturing and deep tech. The firm has commercialized a groundbreaking technique that slashes both time and costs for producing curved structural components.
On Thursday, Innerspace announced a major milestone: becoming the first in South Korea to bring to market an innovative process for 3D printing high-precision titanium parts without support structures.
This cutting-edge technology enables the efficient manufacturing of complex curved components, such as spherical and dome structures. Industry experts predict it will revolutionize production methods for critical parts in the space and defense sectors, including satellite fuel tanks.
Innerspace achieved this by applying advanced process control technology. The company ensured product quality and stability without support structures, even using standard laser powder bed fusion equipment. It also addressed a key challenge in additive manufacturing by reliably producing titanium parts, a material known for its susceptibility to thermal deformation and complex processing requirements.
In December last year, Innerspace supplied high-precision, high-reliability parts manufactured using this novel process to a domestic aerospace firm, successfully completing practical application and verification. Compared to conventional methods, this new approach dramatically reduces post-processing steps, resulting in manufacturing times cut by 60% and cost savings of up to 40%.
The enhanced design flexibility also allows for lighter, higher-performing components. This advancement enables Innerspace to deliver the high-reliability parts customers demand in the space transportation and defense industries with greater reliability.
Metal additive manufacturing is considered a high-value deep-tech capability, enabling the production of complex structures in a single process. A report from Wohlers Associates projects the global additive manufacturing market will grow from $21.9 billion in 2024 to $145.2 billion by 2034, with an annual growth rate of 15% to 20%.
Innerspace CEO Kim Soo Jong said the company is leveraging its deep tech expertise from launch vehicle development to expand into high-value parts markets, including space, defense, and satellite structures, adding that the move is expected to strengthen its competitiveness in the global market.