SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric Sign MoU, Pairing 3D Printing with Satellite System Integration

15 Sep 2026

SWISSto12 and Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (MELCO) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to pursue joint opportunities in advanced payloads, RF products, and market development in Japan and the APAC region. The partnership combines MELCO's satellite system expertise and integration capabilities with SWISSto12's proprietary 3D printing designs and processes.

A contract alongside the handshake

This is more than a framework agreement. In addition to the MoU, MELCO has awarded SWISSto12 a contract to provide advanced phased array antenna products for the GEO secure communications program of the Japanese Government. That award gives the partnership an immediate, concrete program of record — and places SWISSto12's manufacturing approach inside a sovereign communications system.

Additive manufacturing at the core

SWISSto12's 3D printing technology forms the foundation of its next-generation payloads, with more than 2,000 products already in orbit and market adoption of HummingLink said to be growing. The company raised $70m earlier this year as it looks to scale its manufacturing and integration capacity — capital that now has a clear strategic outlet in Japan and APAC.

"We are proud to partner strategically with MELCO and support the next-generation sovereign communications system of Japan. Demand in APAC is growing for innovative, advanced payloads and RF products across sovereign land, sea, air, and space applications and we are confident that together, we can scale our ability to meet it."

— Emile de Rijk, Chief Executive Officer, SWISSto12

What each side brings

The logic of the deal is complementary capability. MELCO contributes satellite system expertise and integration; SWISSto12 contributes 3D-printing-based component manufacturing and its small geostationary satellite platform. Together, the companies aim to pursue new business opportunities in Japan and international markets while delivering advanced and highly competitive defence and space solutions.

"SWISSto12's innovative technologies, including its 3D-printing-based component manufacturing technology and small geostationary satellite platform, hold tremendous potential. By combining these technologies with our expertise in the development and manufacturing of defense- and space-related systems, which we have cultivated over the years, we are confident that we can deliver unprecedented value to our customers. Through this collaboration, we will leverage the respective strengths of both companies to pursue new business opportunities in Japan and international markets, while working to deliver advanced and highly competitive defence and space solutions."

— Masahiko Arai, Executive Officer and Group President, Defense & Space Systems, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation

Why it matters for manufacturers

For manufacturing professionals, the signal here is qualification at scale. With more than 2,000 3D-printed products already in orbit, additive processes are no longer a prototyping story in the space sector — they are being written into sovereign defence and communications programs. A memorandum of understanding is, by nature, non-binding, and the commercial shape of the Japan and APAC market development remains to be defined. But pairing the MoU with a phased array antenna contract for a government GEO program suggests both companies intend to move quickly from intent to hardware.