In October 2025, GRADEL celebrated its 60th anniversary – a milestone that marks far more than longevity. Founded in 1965, the Luxembourg company began as a pioneer in nuclear maintenance equipment at a time when Europe was commissioning its first commercial reactors. Over the decades, GRADEL became a reference for underwater filtration systems and custom machinery for power plants in operation and decommissioning. Its expertise earned the trust of customers across Europe and built a reputation for highly specialised solutions in demanding environments.
Diversification came early. When glass manufacturer Guardian established its first European factory in Luxembourg in 1981, GRADEL supplied welded and machined parts, later developing a continuous casting process for sputtering targets. Today, hundreds of these targets are produced each year for glassmakers across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, under the subsidiary Gradel ST. The manufacturing concept was circularity-driven long before the term became fashionable: 99.5% of alloys are recycled, damaged components are refurbished, and rainwater replaces powered cooling systems.
The company also turned toward space. Since Luxembourg joined the European Space Agency in 2005, GRADEL has supplied ground support equipment for leading satellite manufacturers. Multi-purpose handling systems, integration tools and transport containers have since become part of its engineering portfolio, giving the company an entrance into one of the world’s most innovative industries.
Yet today, the most ambitious transformation is underway. In 2019, GRADEL began developing a patented endless-filament winding technology: GRAM – Gradel Robotic Additive Manufacturing. Born inside a joint R&D programme with the Luxembourg Space Agency and supervised by ESA and in collaboration with the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), GRAM enables the creation of ultra-light, 3D-shaped structures with minimal material waste. Weight reductions reach up to 70%, material consumption can drop by 80%, and the process can combine almost any fibre and resin. In a geopolitical and industrial context marked by supply-chain vulnerability, GRAM presents a convincing alternative to rare raw materials such as titanium.
GRAM is more than a production method: it is a new business model. GRADEL aims to supply full production cells, software and engineering to industrial customers, shifting from one-off projects to scalable, recurring products, assembled, integrated and tested in-house. The timeline is ambitious. Commercialisation of GRAM equipment is planned with Tier-1
to Tier-4 aerospace and defence suppliers, universities and research centres. The first dedicated manufacturing site opened in Bascharage in 2023, located strategically next to LIST to reinforce a joint laboratory and collaborative research.
To accelerate industrial deployment, GRADEL has formed a strategic partnership with Data Design Engineering (DDE), a pioneer in artificial intelligence. Together they are developing the GRAM AI suite, expected to cut engineering and robot programming costs by a factor of five to ten. The collaboration has already yielded a second breakthrough with strong commercial potential: an ultra-light autonomous drone able to navigate without GPS, GNSS or remote control, using only an onboard optical sensor. GRADEL plans to produce the composite structures of these drones using GRAM technology from 2026, targeting defence applications where longer range, lower energy consumption and reduced detectability offer a decisive operational advantage.
Another end product under development is a composite back-panel for photovoltaic systems. By significantly reducing weight, these structures make it possible to install advanced solar panel components on a wider range of industrial roofs and façades, expanding solar capacity and supporting industrial decarbonisation.
A third project focuses on high-altitude platform systems capable of flying at 18 km to provide 5G telecommunications and earth-observation services. Deutsche Telekom is among the prospective end users. Because operating such platforms in the European airspace requires stringent certification, the project’s progress will depend on strong governmental backing.
If successful, GRAM positions Luxembourg as a supplier of strategic technology that supports European sovereignty in space and defence. GRADEL is already involved in several European R&D programmes, with projects worth EUR 12 million over the next three years. To move from pilot scale to industrial production, the company is negotiating with strategic investors and expects to expand its Bascharage facilities. International joint ventures are also being examined, notably in Saudi Arabia, with a GRAM manufacturing site planned for lightweight concrete reinforcement – an application that could cut construction cost by 30% by replacing steel with fibres while also reducing global CO₂ emissions.
After 60 years, Managing Director Claude Maack compares GRADEL to a start-up: high risk, high innovation, but anchored in decades of engineering know-how. His message is unambiguous: lightweighting is not a niche, it is an industrial catalyst. Every kilogram saved cuts emissions, reduces energy use, increases payload and boosts performance. From aircraft and satellites to drones and civil engineering, the label “lightweighted” unlocks significant potential for the future.
For Luxembourg, GRADEL’s story is a reminder that small countries can shape cutting-edge industries. For the company, it is a new chapter – one where advanced materials, robotics and artificial intelligence converge to build the next generation of composite structures.
Like many industrial companies, GRADEL faces a shortage of skilled labour, particularly in production. “Recruiting engineers for ambitious R&D projects remains relatively manageable,” notes Claude Maack. “Finding people for production roles is far more difficult.”
As Claude Maack said during the anniversary celebration, the mission is not only commercial. It is about contributing to strategic autonomy, decarbonising industry, and proving that innovation made in Luxembourg can compete at the highest level.
