Adelaide-based manufacturer Axiom Precision Manufacturing has been selected by Lockheed Martin to produce machined components for the next generation Orion spacecraft program.
With the aim to return humans to the moon before continuing to Mars, the Orion spacecraft will be central to NASA’s Artemis mission to the Moon as the primary crew capsule.
First established as a family business specialising in automotive machining and manufacturing in 1979, Axiom has since transcended into defence before landing in the space sector.
“Gaining traction in the defence industry, we then focused on aerospace,” said Axiom Aerospace and Defence Manager Fred Hull. The company was first exposed to Lockheed Martin through the advanced F-35 jet program where it proved its capability through an evaluation process.
“Once we achieved our AS9100 aerospace certification and had success with many Australian and international aerospace primes, we knew that the space industry should be highlighted in our business plan.”
Mr Hull attributed the company’s success to continuously lifting its standards to create new opportunities.
“Manufacturing for the Orion program will be another steppingstone in the advancement of our high-precision manufacturing and will help drive our quality system to the next level.”
Head of Industrial Development for Lockheed Martin, Chris Hess said that Axiom is a prime example of an SME that has pivoted to meet the demands of the growing space sector.
“Many Australian companies are doing incredible work and innovating cutting-edge technology in other industries, and they can apply that expertise in the space marketplace,” he said.
“We are also seeing companies investing in modern technologies, attaining the highest levels of quality accreditations, and new facilities to improve their capability, capacity, and readiness to support bigger programs.”
The Orion Production and Operations Contract is an indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract encompassing up to 12 vehicles. The opportunity for up to six additional spacecraft may be ordered under the IDIQ contract, leveraging cost data to enable optimised unit prices.
