CRP Group will exhibit at Aeromart Toulouse 2026, taking place from 1 to 3 December at MEETT in Toulouse, France. CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology will meet professionals from the international aerospace supply chain to explore opportunities for functional prototyping to support product development and the supply of end-use components in small and medium batches, showcasing examples of polymer and metal additive manufacturing and precision CNC machining.
Discussions will draw on experience in manufacturing satellite subsystems, UAV structures and wind tunnel models. The parts on display will provide practical examples of how to make better use of available space, achieve functional surfaces and manufacture components to meet project testing requirements.
TuPOD and AlbaPod will highlight two different approaches to small satellite deployment, both 3D printed in Windform® XT 2.0.
Manufactured by CRP USA, the TuPOD structure accommodated cylindrical TubeSat satellites within a CubeSat form factor compatible with the International Space Station deployment system. AlbaPod, built by CRP Technology for Alba Orbital, includes components designed to secure PocketQube satellites during launch and enable their subsequent deployment, including moving parts in the ejection mechanism.
CRP USA’s experience with small satellites grew out of its work with Professor Raymond Gilbert “Gil” Moore, who first championed the use of Windform® XT in this field, and its collaboration with Professor Robert “Bob” Twiggs, co-creator of the CubeSat standard. This work helped introduce Windform® 3D printing into the manufacture of satellite structures and subsystems, from university projects to operational applications.
The 3U CubeSat demonstrator built by CRP Technology with the LISA laboratory under CNES supervision, and the AMPS-H experimental propulsion system manufactured by CRP USA for Experimental Propulsion Laboratories, provide further examples of this experience. In the LISA project, tailoring the structure to the payload, electronics and mechanisms made it possible to optimise the use of internal space. AMPS-H demonstrates the manufacture of internal cavities and channels within a compact body. Both projects will provide further starting points for technical discussions at Aeromart.
The Windform® range includes materials that have passed outgassing tests in accordance with NASA and ESA requirements. Positive results from vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) exposure tests have also been documented for specific formulations. These tests help assess material suitability for the environmental conditions expected in a given space project.
The drone components on display will also illustrate how manufacturing supports design verification. The body and arms of the Parrot Bebop 2 functional prototype, manufactured by CRP Technology in Windform® GT, will demonstrate the role of physical components in development testing. The Hoverfly fuselage, also manufactured in Windform® GT by CRP USA, will showcase experience with structural components that are intended for operational platforms and have undergone environmental qualification to MIL-STD-810H.
These applications will provide a basis for discussing the requirements of functional prototyping and small- and medium-batch production of end-use parts. Intended use, required quantities and project testing requirements will guide discussions with teams developing new drones and unmanned systems.
CRP Meccanica’s components for robotics and motorsport will offer further examples of precision manufacturing. The selected housings require different machining strategies to control multiple functional diameters and machine thin, protruding fins. These features will support discussions in Toulouse about fit requirements and machining challenges that can also arise in aerospace projects.
The event’s B2B meetings, scheduled for 2 and 3 December, will be an opportunity to discuss development projects and small- and medium-batch component supply with the CRP Meccanica and CRP Technology teams. To arrange a meeting at Aeromart Toulouse 2026, contact CRP Group and share your component requirements.
