Satellite and equipment for nuclear power plant

Design engineers at Tiyo apply their experience from the automotive industry to the design of highly specialized structures as well.

2. 11. 2026

Although the primary focus of Tiyo’s design engineers is the development of automotive components and assemblies, they also have experience in completely different fields. For example, they have contributed to the design of a satellite body and a special tightening device for a nuclear power plant.

“We had never done anything like this before, but we drew on our experience with both frame design and computer simulations to verify stiffness and strength,” says František Veselý, Engineering team manager at Tiyo.

His team focuses on structural development, numerical simulations, and design. It collaborates with leading European automakers on the development of components and assemblies.

Other standards and requirements

Tiyo has also recently been involved in the production of components for the aerospace industry. However, the development of a structure designed to house measuring devices was a first for the specialists in Hořice.

When designing the satellite’s body, they had to take into account the extreme conditions to which the structure would be exposed. These include, above all, a vacuum, significant temperature differences and rapid temperature changes, as well as thermal management requirements. At the same time, the structure must be sufficiently strong and rigid, yet as lightweight as possible.

“Completely different rules, standards, and requirements apply to such devices, and we also work with different materials than in the automotive industry. The demands on the structure in terms of strength, stiffness, and weight are very high. That doesn’t change the fact that the curiosity and creativity of our developers can be put to very good use in this field as well,” explains František Veselý.

Critical infrastructure

The engineers here also have experience developing equipment for critical infrastructure. They contributed to the design of electric torque wrenches and a control center for the precise tightening and loosening of flange joint nuts on reactor pressure vessels at a nuclear power plant.

The design included the mechanical structure of the tightening devices, the hydraulic system, and the control solution. “We helped design the structure that was lifted by a crane. Beneath it were rods about seven meters long that extended the arms so they could reach the nuts and bolts,” notes the Engineering team manager.

The creation of a digital 3D model was preceded by a spatial verification of the design using conceptual cross-sections. It was necessary to determine whether the structure would even fit into the confined space. 

“It had to be designed so that all the computers and sensors would fit inside. At the same time, we had to find the correct position for them,” says František Veselý.

Verification calculations were also an important part of the design. For example, the developers verified the frame’s rigidity to ensure the structure would not deform excessively during handling and installation.

Tiyo began in 1993 as an engineering design firm. The company gradually expanded its activities to include specialized prototype manufacturing, the design of test equipment, and component testing. Today, its engineers work on the development of plastic and sheet metal parts, assemblies, and functional modules, including welded vehicle bodies.