Off into space

High-tech laser technology for the most demanding applications

The Ariane 5 is the most powerful European cargo rocket. If delivers heavy payloads into earth orbit. Shedding the payload cladding on a cargo rocket requires attenuator tubes, which split the payload cladding longitudinally and at the bottom edge. The attenuator tubes specially developed for this are laser machined at createch ag in Langenthal.

The manufacturing of attenuator tubes for cargo rockets demands special capabilities on the part of the laser operator. Mastery of applications such as laser cutting, laser welding, laser filler welding and laser engraving is indispensable. In addition, the laser operator must master all the test equipment for quality control for this process. This includes the analysis of the base material by X-ray fluorescence analyses, the testing using tension-compression test machines and the taking of metallurgical metallographic samples.

We provide within the company all the training necessary in order to satisfy these demands. The laser operator passes through several stages of training and completes the training with theoretical and practical tests.

Manufacturing is performed to a specific plan of work. It is based on a manufacturing specification (work instruction),  in which the manufacturing steps and quality tests are documented. After completion of the machining the process steps are additionally checked by a second person, trained to the same level. And, like the test results, comprehensively documented.