The company produces high-purity metal powders for applications such as 3D printing, aerospace, defence and medical sectors, as well as optimised induction plasma systems for industrial research and production.
The Materials business is primarily driven by sustained demand from aerospace and defence customers, supported by established qualifications and strong relationships with major OEMs in North America and Europe.
Arendals Fossekompani sat down with Tekna’s Nicolas Dignard, Chief Innovation Officer – Plasma Systems, to learn more about Tekna's progression to becoming a world-leading provider of plasma technology and advanced materials. Nicolas has been working with the company for 24 years, and the excitement he exudes when he talks about his work speaks to a man who has never stopped being curious.
Can you share what a normal day looks like as Tekna's Chief Innovation Officer?
The first thing I do is address questions from my team and colleagues. From there, I follow up on the multiple projects we have going and keep my fingers in every one of them by walking the floor and staying on top of the details.
You must be hands-on. It's what generates the best feedback and ultimately, success.
Where do you see the biggest growth opportunities for plasma-based materials and systems in the coming years?
Our most significant opportunities lie in the continued maturation of end-market applications, which are expanding in both scale and complexity. By maintaining close partnerships and staying at the forefront of innovation, we have been able to identify and deliver key solutions and look forward to continuing to support this growth and contributing to its success.
This is particularly evident in plasma sonic systems which is an exciting industry for me. In the old days, I had a bank of concepts, ideas, developments, potential upgrades and waited for the right market application. Now, the market comes to us and it’s always gratifying to make use of this preparation.
Aerospace is becoming central to Tekna's business. What makes it such a strong fit for the company’s technology?
We used to work on aerospace installations once every few years. Now, it's a rapidly growing customer segment and we're well structured and ready for it.
I believe we are a strong fit because we are able find where the niche and the conditions match whether it is 3D printing, materials products, induction systems, or aerospace conditions reproduction systems. We also have salespeople who previously worked as researchers, so they can show clients exactly how to maximise our applications in their context. In addition, our recent NADCAP certification adds value to the whole chain. Being first always helps.
What are the key challenges when developing materials that must perform reliably in the harsh environment of space?
We provide the tools that validate and test materials for exactly these conditions. A lot of high-level R&D goes into finding materials that work, and 3D printing allows to make components as light and as strong as possible. That matters enormously when everything goes to flight, along with other considerations.
For example, there are a lot of entities getting into the SatCom space right now. With the growing population of satellites, upon their end of life or premature end, they must burn out before re-entry. So, it’s critical to test to understand the full picture.
What has been the biggest challenge in scaling plasma technology from research to industrial applications?
Getting information for the full end use and having access to the right measurables. We can do anything, but we need the correct data. Sometimes clients don't have that upfront, which is fine because usually we are there to guide them.
Our ability to support the customer from the very beginning is a large part of our success.
What excites you most about the future of materials in the Aerospace and SatCom industries?
Partnerships. When we build transparent, win-win relationships and work towards a shared vision, that's what drives progress. Seeing the end application working in real life is always the cherry on top. Aerospace pushes the theory to its limits, and whenever you witness it all come together, that's what maximising progress really looks like.
About TEKNA:
Tekna is a world-leading provider of advanced materials and plasma systems to several industries. Tekna produces high-purity metal powders for applications such as 3D printing in the aerospace & defence, medical and consumer electronics sectors, as well as optimised induction plasma systems for industrial research and production.
Arendals Fossekompani Ownership: 72%
Employees: 152
Head Office: Sherbrooke, Canada
Global megatrends: Advanced materials and manufacturing, industrial digitalisation, aerospace and space technologies, sustainable production, and health/medical innovation.