ACTIA, a Trusted Industrial Partner for Aerospace and Space Programs
Aerospace expertise powered by Automotive excellence. ACTIA has developed a dedicated EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) offer tailored to the needs of aerospace and space industry leaders. Drawing on its experience and proven track record in the automotive sector, ACTIA brings a high level of competitiveness and performance while meeting the most stringent quality standards in a highly certified industrial environment. Excellence, process digitalization, and an ambitious industrial vision—both technological and human—are at the heart of ACTIA’s “Factory of the Future” programs: a new generation of smart, responsible manufacturing.
ACTIA, a long-standing industrial EMS partner in aerospace
Since 1998, ACTIA has been manufacturing electronic boards and equipment for both civil and military aviation, including mission-critical avionics systems linked to flight control. Nearly 6,000 flight computers are produced annually by ACTIA.
As the first European EMS provider accredited with NADCAP in 2008, ACTIA offers a comprehensive range of industrial services for the aerospace sector, including:
- Early-stage design and industrialization support, with the development of dedicated production testers
- An agile and resilient supply chain capable of handling crises and shortages while optimizing lead times
- A cutting-edge production facility, offering fully modular capacity—from small to large volumes—in a highly certified environment
- High-value-added electronic services such as operational maintenance, obsolescence management, as well as lifecycle analysis conducted from the design phase onward to reduce the carbon footprint of electronic boards.
ACTIA’s capabilities in electronic design and development enable upstream support starting from the initial concept, including DfX approaches (Design for Manufacturing, Design for Test, Design for Assembly…). ACTIA also offers redesign services to upgrade existing boards and products, in compliance with aerospace quality and methods standards, while significantly optimizing costs.
Thanks to its dual expertise in design and manufacturing, its Tier-1 supplier experience in automotive, and its deep know-how in embedded electronics—from control systems and power electronics to telematics—ACTIA is a key partner for aerospace and space OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers).
ACTIA, a global EMS partner in the space sector
In the space industry, ACTIA addresses both the most demanding engineering and manufacturing standards as well as the sector’s evolving needs and business models: larger industrial volumes, greater competitiveness driven by a changing market landscape, standardized processes without compromising quality, and agility from the development phase onward.
With over 25 years of experience serving aerospace primes and nearly 40 years in automotive electronics as a Tier-1 supplier, ACTIA is a trusted partner for new satellite constellations and next-generation space missions.
The 2024 integration of Steel Electronique an engineering firm specialized in space technologies into the ACTIA Group reinforces this positioning and enhances the Group’s capabilities in this fast-evolving sector.
With over 25 years of experience serving aerospace primes and nearly 40 years in automotive electronics as a Tier-1 supplier, ACTIA is a trusted partner for new satellite constellations and next-generation space missions.
The 2024 integration of Steel Electronique an engineering firm specialized in space technologies into the ACTIA Group reinforces this positioning and enhances the Group’s capabilities in this fast-evolving sector.
The strategic role of EMS in space and aeronautics
In the space and aeronautics sectors, EMS play a strategic role in ensuring the reliability, performance and regulatory compliance of complex electronic systems. These systems are embedded in critical in-flight applications, including avionics, engine control units, environmental monitoring and satellite communications, where failure is not an option.
As an EMS provider for both sectors, ACTIA must deliver consistent manufacturing precision, integrity and full traceability, within an environment governed by strict aeronautical and space standards such as EN 9100. Beyond production, ACTIA’s customers are involved early in the production cycle, to optimize designs through Design for Manufacturing (DfM), Design for Test (DfT), and Design for Assembly (DfA) approaches. This upstream involvement ensures industrial efficiency and technical robustness aligned with mission requirements.
The strategic value of EMS for space and aeronautics also lies in its ability to secure supply chains, manage components obsolescence and support long product lifecycles. These factors are particularly critical in aerospace programs, which often span decades. ACTIA enables OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to focus on innovation while maintaining full compliance with safety and reliability standards.
As an EMS provider for both sectors, ACTIA must deliver consistent manufacturing precision, integrity and full traceability, within an environment governed by strict aeronautical and space standards such as EN 9100. Beyond production, ACTIA’s customers are involved early in the production cycle, to optimize designs through Design for Manufacturing (DfM), Design for Test (DfT), and Design for Assembly (DfA) approaches. This upstream involvement ensures industrial efficiency and technical robustness aligned with mission requirements.
The strategic value of EMS for space and aeronautics also lies in its ability to secure supply chains, manage components obsolescence and support long product lifecycles. These factors are particularly critical in aerospace programs, which often span decades. ACTIA enables OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to focus on innovation while maintaining full compliance with safety and reliability standards.
PCBA traceability and data-driven manufacturing for aerospace compliance
In the space and aeronautics sectors, the reliability and safety of electronic systems depend on rigorous traceability and process control throughout the entire production lifecycle. ACTIA integrates full traceability into its Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) operations to meet the most demanding compliance requirements.
ACTIA achieves this by using serialized identification and recording key production data throughout the assembly process. This level of traceability enables root-cause analysis, customer and regulatory audits and contributes to long-term documentation requirements specific to aerospace programs.
ACTIA’s industrial model is based on digitally connected manufacturing systems that ensure real-time monitoring, process repeatability and continuous quality control. Automated inspection technologies are integrated into production flows to verify board integrity and prevent defects.
ACTIA supports its aeronautics and space partners in meeting the requirements of safety-critical and long-lifecycle programs by combining high-precision manufacturing with certified traceability and data management practices, ensuring transparency, conformity and manufacturing reliability.
ACTIA achieves this by using serialized identification and recording key production data throughout the assembly process. This level of traceability enables root-cause analysis, customer and regulatory audits and contributes to long-term documentation requirements specific to aerospace programs.
ACTIA’s industrial model is based on digitally connected manufacturing systems that ensure real-time monitoring, process repeatability and continuous quality control. Automated inspection technologies are integrated into production flows to verify board integrity and prevent defects.
ACTIA supports its aeronautics and space partners in meeting the requirements of safety-critical and long-lifecycle programs by combining high-precision manufacturing with certified traceability and data management practices, ensuring transparency, conformity and manufacturing reliability.
Thermal, mechanical, and environmental constraints in aerospace and aeronautics EMS
In the aerospace and aeronautics sectors, electronic components and systems operate under extreme conditions, requiring robust designs and manufacturing processes. As a major EMS provider, ACTIA addresses significant thermal, mechanical, and environmental constraints to ensure the reliability and longevity of critical electronic systems.
Thermal management is paramount, as avionics and space systems often experience extreme temperature fluctuations, ranging from intense heat of re-entry or engine operation to the frigid temperature of space when shielded from solar radiation. ACTIA’s expertise in electronic design and development enables the selection of components that can withstand such high and low temperatures. This includes careful consideration during the design-for-manufacturing phase to optimize board layout and material selection for efficient heat transfer.
Mechanical stresses, such as vibration, shock and acceleration are constant threats in aeronautical and aerospace applications. Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) must be designed to resist fatigue and maintain structural integrity under dynamic loads. ACTIA leverages its expertise in embedded electronics and its experience in these sectors to ensure the robustness of components, through careful assembly and the use of specialized materials.
Environmental conditions such as radiation, vacuum, humidity and corrosive agents can degrade electronic performance over time. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and signal integrity are also crucial, as electronic systems must operate without interference in complex electromagnetic environments. The strategic role of ACTIA is to provide customers with robust electronic components. ACTIA supports its aeronautics and space partners in meeting the requirements for reliable and long-lasting electronic equipment in extreme conditions through its digitally connected manufacturing systems that ensure real-time monitoring.
Thermal management is paramount, as avionics and space systems often experience extreme temperature fluctuations, ranging from intense heat of re-entry or engine operation to the frigid temperature of space when shielded from solar radiation. ACTIA’s expertise in electronic design and development enables the selection of components that can withstand such high and low temperatures. This includes careful consideration during the design-for-manufacturing phase to optimize board layout and material selection for efficient heat transfer.
Mechanical stresses, such as vibration, shock and acceleration are constant threats in aeronautical and aerospace applications. Printed Circuit Board Assembly (PCBA) must be designed to resist fatigue and maintain structural integrity under dynamic loads. ACTIA leverages its expertise in embedded electronics and its experience in these sectors to ensure the robustness of components, through careful assembly and the use of specialized materials.
Environmental conditions such as radiation, vacuum, humidity and corrosive agents can degrade electronic performance over time. Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and signal integrity are also crucial, as electronic systems must operate without interference in complex electromagnetic environments. The strategic role of ACTIA is to provide customers with robust electronic components. ACTIA supports its aeronautics and space partners in meeting the requirements for reliable and long-lasting electronic equipment in extreme conditions through its digitally connected manufacturing systems that ensure real-time monitoring.
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