One of the largest industrial 3D printers in Europe is to be installed in the highlands to produce bespoke parts for space rockets.
Orbex said it would expand its Forres factory by 1,000 square feet to accommodate the equipment that will print a range of rocket parts using a custom mix of metals such as titanium and aluminum.
Orbex believes that creating the components as one-off pieces eliminates potential weaknesses that can arise when joining and welding elements. The components are to be used in Orbex’s 19-meter-long launch vehicle.
It is set to launch small satellites into orbit and is expected to operate from the Sutherland space hub, which was granted planning permission last August.
Orbex has agreed a