Korean startup to create space launch vehicle with 3D printer

MADDE CEO Cho Shin-hu

MADDE, a South Korean startup that spun off from Hyundai Motor Co. in July, plans to establish a production plant later this year after successfully securing initial investments in a pre-A funding round from a local investor.

The company’s vision includes manufacturing silicon carbide-based components such as a space launch vehicle in the coming year.

MADDE possesses the technology to use silicon carbide powder in 3D printers to create various forms, which opens up a multitude of possibilities in the manufacturing sector.

“We plan to produce silicon carbide-based components for various industries by next year,” said MADDE CEO Cho Shin-hu in a recent interview with Maeil Business Newspaper.

Silicon carbide is the third-hardest material on Earth, following diamond and boron carbide. It is a silicon-based substance extensively utilized in a wide range of fields, including the semiconductor industry, space launch vehicles, and nuclear power plants.

“We have several sample tests lined up with various large companies, including state research institutes,” Cho said. “From next year, we plan to apply this technology to actual industries in earnest.”

Cho envisions significant applications in three main sectors – semiconductors, space, and nuclear.

In the space sector, the technology could be applied to rocket components, contributing to the development and efficiency of launch vehicles. In the nuclear field, the versatility of silicon carbide opens up numerous opportunities for enhanced applications.

“While there are companies overseas that use 3D printers to create silicon carbide components, they typically modify conventional metal-based 3D printers,” the CEO said. “In contrast, we have developed a dedicated 3D printer designed to harness the unique properties of silicon carbide. This allows us to ensure significantly superior quality compared to other products in the market.”