In a release published on December 8, French Industrial group Thales announced it was going to implant in Casablanca a plant specialized in additive manufacturing also known as 3D printing.

The factory which is to be built on 1,000 m2 will in its initial stage produce satellites parts, said the electronic firm active in the aerospace, defense, security and land transportation sectors. The company however, did not disclose the amount of the investment.  

The 3D printing process selected by the French group consists in binding metal powders with a high power laser.

The plant which was scheduled to commence production in 2018, fully integrates Morocco’s 2014-2020 Industrial Acceleration Scheme which plans for the establishment of an innovating ecosystem involving Thales and its locals suppliers.

“This centre of competence and production will help us benefit from an ecosystem of industrial suppliers efficient in the mechanical industry and able to meet our needs and requirements in terms of materials, skills and reproducibility specific to the aerospace markets,” emphasized Pierre Prigent, director of Thales Morocco, cited in the release.

“This project strengthens Morocco’s position as a key platform, building up its aerospace ecosystem, through the introduction of this technology, which will undoubtedly shape the future of the aerospace industry,” says Morocco’s minister of industry, Moulay Hafid Elalamy.

Thales, installed in Morocco since 2006, already won a number of contracts in the sectors of defense, aerospace, transport and security.