The Luxemburg-based company ESPACE 2001 S.A., which specialises in industrial robotics and image processing, is taking over all shares in the joint venture 3D.aero GmbH from the previous owners Lufthansa Technik and Pepperl+Fuchs on January 1st, 2021. 3D.aero was founded in 2017. Since then, the company has been researched, developed and sold innovative automation and digitization solutions for the aviation industry. In addition to industrial maintenance and operational automation solutions, 3D.aero also offers optical measuring device applications, digital inspection and image processing applications, as well as with its related consulting services. 
 
ESPACE 2001 S.A., which provides robotics and industrial automation services, intends to further develop 3D.aero's portfolio and to market the company's existing products and expertise in sensorbased automation technology in various industries outside of aviation. 
 
The Managing Director of ESPACE 2001 S.A., Dr. Werner Neddermeyer, commented: "We are very pleased to be able to continue the successful and close cooperation with 3D.aero that has grown over the years. As a shareholder of 3D.aero, we will focus on further promoting development in the field of sensor-based automation technology, and here in particular in the field of high-resolution 3D sensor technology. It is particularly important to us to continue to lead our highly specialised and motivated employees to economic success with interesting and future-oriented technologies in the field of industrial 3D sensor technology and data processing. To this end, we will expand the strategic partnerships that exist to a large extent in the aerospace industry and in other areas." 
 
Dietmar Focke, head of Engine Services at Lufthansa Technik, assessed the agreement: "The dramatic effects of the Corona crisis on the aviation industry have unfortunately not stopped at 3D.aero. In order to ensure the survival of the company, an orientation into new markets is necessary. We are therefore extremely happy that with ESPACE 2001, we have found a buyer who, in addition to a high level of expertise, also has the necessary broad market positioning. I wish our staff the best of luck and success in their new home and thank them for the great work they have done over the past years." 
 
Dr. Gunther Kegel, CEO of Pepperl+Fuchs SE welcomes the agreement: "We are convinced that the strategic realignment of 3D.aero, which was made necessary by the consequences of the Corona pandemic, can be advanced much more quickly under the umbrella of ESPACE 2001, and we are pleased to have found such a future for 3D.aero and our employees. We thank them for their excellent work and wish them all good luck and success. We would like to continue the cooperation in automation in the future on a project-specific basis." 
 
The headquarters of 3D.aero with its approximately 20 employees is the Hamburg Innovation Port (HIP).