Company Profile
Alta SpA is an independent SME in the aerospace and advanced technology sector. Owned by a group of private investors including the company's key managers, Alta enjoys the status of spin-off company of Università di Pisa. Core activities include development, manufacture and marketing of advanced space propulsion systems; test services for aerospace systems; simulation and engineering studies on a variety of aerospace subjects; plasma technologies for industrial use; high vacuum systems and facilities. In 2005 Alta acquired Energetica Srl, adding energy generation and conversion systems to the company's portfolio. The company presently employs 62 people in the Pisa, Grosseto and Bari premises, for a total of about 2700 m2 of laboratories and office space.
Since 2001, the company's quality system is certified by DNV according to the ISO 9001:Vision 2000 standard, for the "Design, development, test and qualification of components and technologies for aerospace propulsion subsystems". In 2005 Alta received the Tuscany Region award "Toscana Eco Efficiente" in recognition of the company's established good practices in environmental compatibility.
Our History
Alta's roots date back to 1989, when Centrospazio was set up as the space research laboratory of Consorzio Pisa Ricerche (CPR), building on the expertise available at the Department of Aerospace Engineering of the University of Pisa. Established by the Italian Institute for Industrial Reconstruction (IRI) in 1987, CPR was as a private, non-profit joint venture between industry (IBM, Agip, Alenia, Fiat Avio and others), local administration bodies (the Tuscany Region, the Province and the Town councils of Pisa) and academic institutions (Università di Pisa, Scuola Normale Superiore, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, CNR, INFN). In the following years, Centrospazio gradually consolidated its capabilities in the field of space propulsion, coming to be internationally recognised as a leading research centre for advanced propulsion and for electric propulsion in particular.
In late 1990's some of Centrospazio’s activities turned decidedly towards an industrial character. As a consequence, it was decided to set up a private company endowed with the industrial activities of Centrospazio, and Alta SpA was established in December 1999. During 2000 most of Centrospazio’s assets, facilities and personnel related to areas of industrial interest were transferred to the new company. While the industrial activities were moved to Alta, Centrospazio retained the facilities and personnel it needed to carry out basic research activities in the aerospace propulsion field. Through its close links with the Aerospace Engineering Department of the University of Pisa and with a number of other research institutions worldwide, Centrospazio provides high quality scientific support to Alta’s activities.
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