The universality of plastics is well known. Indeed, it is hard to imagine how mankind has managed for so long without them. Hoffmann GmbH, based in Heiligenhaus near Düsseldorf, Germany, is one of the companies that is constantly exploring what is feasible in the field of plastics. Founded in 1966, the family-owned company offers its customers holistic or highly specialized solutions made of plastics, with the main focus so far on building, automotive and aerospace technology. But now Hoffmann is aiming even higher. At HANNOVER MESSE 2022, the Rhinelanders will be presenting the PolyCube, a new lightweight product for space travel, a satellite base body in the small satellite class, also known as CubeSat.

The PolyCube is made from a space-grade high-performance polymer in a high-precision injection molding process. Compared to previously used aluminum CubeSat structures, the PolyCube is around 30 percent lighter and does not require complex assembly. This makes it significantly more robust and reliable. In addition, the manufacturing costs are comparatively low due to industrial series production. The smart design offers diverse and practical options for integrating additional mechanisms and payloads. For example, the PolyCube is already equipped with reliable ejection mechanisms with integrated verification switches for automated status control. Another key feature is its scalability: thanks to an innovative combination process, larger satellite systems can be assembled from several PolyCube basic bodies.

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