PCB Fabricator Cistelaier Receives ESA Qualification

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The capability and independence of its space industry are strategic for Europe, and the European Space Community needs a qualified, resilient supply chain with adequate production capacity. Specifically, it requires greater production capacity in PCB manufacturing.

On this premise, in early 2020, Cistelaier began the process of obtaining an ESA qualification.

Today, after much effort and dedication of resources, we are pleased to inform you that on October 3, 2024, the European Space Agency formally recognized Cistelaier with ESA qualification for the production of:

• Sequential rigid polyimide PCBs according to PID_v05
• Rigid-flex polyimide PCBs according to PID_v05

in accordance with the ECSS-Q-ST-70-60C standard.

Cistelaier thus becomes the first Italian PCB manufacturer qualified by ESA according to the ECSS-Q-ST-70-60C standards and, to date, the only Italian manufacturer qualified by ESA.

Cistelaier S.p.A. will use its expertise and production capacity to support the European Space Community's current and future programs.

This ESA qualification is what we call "Phase A" of a broader project. "Phase B will involve extending our current PID, and Phase C will allow us to "qualify the state of the art of rigid HDI PCBs based on polyimide material for space applications."

To this end, Cistelaier has already submitted a project to ESA within the General Technology Support Program.