ALCAN Systems

ALCAN Systems GmbH, based in Darmstadt, Germany, develops a new class of smart antennas built on liquid-crystal (LC) phased-array technology. The company's ultra-thin, flat-panel antennas use electronically steerable liquid-crystal elements to point their beam without any mechanical moving parts, enabling low-cost, low-power, low-profile terminals that can track satellites across LEO, MEO and GEO orbits on Ku- and Ka-band frequencies, as well as support 5G mmWave applications.

The company's core technology originated from research by co-founder and CEO Dr. Onur H. Karabey during his PhD at TU Darmstadt, and ALCAN has since built a leadership team combining deep RF/antenna engineering expertise (including alumni of NASA JPL) with product and business development experience. ALCAN manufactures its antennas using an adapted liquid-crystal-display assembly line approach, which the company says allows for significantly lower production costs than conventional phased-array or mechanically steered antennas.

ALCAN is developing satellite ground terminals for enterprise, consumer broadband, and mobility (land, sea, air) markets, targeting applications such as cellular backhaul, maritime and aero connectivity, connected vehicles, energy and mining site connectivity, and disaster recovery. In parallel, the company applies its LC antenna technology to 5G mmWave customer premises equipment, including a transparent window-mounted antenna developed in collaboration with glass manufacturer AGC for fixed wireless access.

The company is backed by strategic investors including Merck (the world's largest liquid-crystal producer), satellite operator SES, and SPC (investment arm of a major LCD manufacturer), reflecting close industrial ties across its liquid-crystal materials, display manufacturing, and satellite communications value chain.