02 / HOLD
MGSE and tooling.
Mechanical ground support equipment and handling tooling to integrate, rotate, test and transport parts that cannot be touched twice.
What we solve
The part doesn't move. The fixture does.
MGSE (mechanical ground support equipment) is everything that holds the hardware while it is not flying: the frame it is integrated on, the fixture that rotates it, the cradle it is tested in and the base it travels on. If the fixture fails, the programme fails.
We design every fixture from the part's interfaces, its mass and centre of gravity, the handling loads and the environment it will be used in: cleanroom, test chamber or integration hall. We analyse it, build it in steel or aluminium, load-test it and deliver it with its justification report and certificate of conformity.
- Integration frames and trolleys
- Rotation fixtures, from horizontal to vertical
- Cradles and supports for vibration and thermal vacuum testing
- Load-rated lifting fixtures and spreader beams
- Access platforms and steps to the part
Capabilities
What we can build.
- Working load
- Up to 6,000 kg
- Interface tolerance
- ±0.5 mm
- Load test
- 1.5 × working load
- Materials
- S355 steel · 6082 aluminium · stainless steel
- Movements
- Tilt 0–180° · rotation 360°
- Actuation
- Manual or motorised
- Finishes
- Epoxy · anodised · cleanroom-ready
- Identification
- Plate with rated load and serial number
- Documentation
- Analysis · report · certificate
- Maintenance
- Periodic inspection and recertification
What we integrate.
Mechatronics
Motorised tilting and rotation, limit switches, safety brakes and control by pendant or from the control room.
Cleanroom
Finishes that shed no particles, antistatic castors, ESD protection and a documented cleaning procedure.
Transport
The same fixture is the base inside the container, with shock isolation and tie-downs, so the part is not handled again between phases.
Standards and documentation
Calculated, tested and documented.
Every fixture leaves with its structural analysis, design justification report, load test records and certificate of conformity. When the fixture is a lifting accessory or a machine, we prepare the technical file and CE marking.
Frequently asked questions
What clients usually ask.
What is MGSE?
It stands for mechanical ground support equipment: the fixtures, frames, cradles, trolleys and lifting gear that hold and move a satellite, a launcher stage or an instrument during integration, testing and transport.
What do you need to quote a fixture?
A model or drawing of the part's interfaces, its mass and centre of gravity, the movements the fixture must allow and the environment where it will be used. With that we prepare the concept and a first estimate of cost and lead time.
Do fixtures carry CE marking?
If the fixture is a machine or a lifting accessory, yes: we prepare the technical file, the declaration of conformity and the manual. If it is a support structure, it is delivered with its analysis and certificate of conformity.
Can you build fixtures for cleanrooms?
Yes. We choose materials and finishes that shed no particles, fit antistatic castors and components, and deliver the fixture cleaned and bagged, with its cleaning procedure.
Do you build one-offs or series?
Both. Most fixtures are one-offs, but we also build short series when a programme needs several identical integration stations.
From the workshop to the launch pad.
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