News

A company using drones to deliver cargo, food and medical supplies to remote locations has seen demand for its services take off. Skyports Drone Services, based in the Westcott Space Cluster, is going from strength to strength thanks to a clutch of contracts from across the world. They include: The launch of a new project in Yeosu, Korea, for the delivery of pharmaceuticals and foodstuffs by drone. Phase one will see regular flights between the Yeosu mainland and three islands, Gaedo, Geumodo and Songdo, bridging communities in hard-to-reach parts of the region. Successful participation in phase two of the Royal [...]

Space research, manufacturing and testing facilities at the Westcott Space Cluster will get a £5.9 million boost thanks to UK Space Agency funding, which was announced during the UK Space Conference held in Belfast yesterday. The investment is a result of a successful collaborative bid led by URA Thrusters and including Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership (Bucks LEP), Skyports Drone Services and Plastron UK. Together, they made a compelling submission for the Space Cluster Infrastructure Fund (SCIF) which was delivered by industry, for industry and supported by Government. With this substantial financial injection, the Westcott Space Cluster is poised to [...]

A company helping to lead the electric vehicle revolution has relocated its Global Technical Centre to a new facility at Silverstone Park. Saietta Group Plc has taken a newly-built 22,000 sq ft hi-tech engineering facility within the Buckinghamshire Enterprise Zone at Silverstone Park, moving its electric drivetrain design, engineering, and development activities under one roof from its previous base at Upper Heyford, Oxfordshire. The move will enable the fast-growing business to create a further 12 highly-skilled jobs on top of its existing 66-strong workforce, with the Silverstone Global Technical Centre at the heart of its UK operations. Saietta designs, [...]

A pioneering piece of equipment designed to help cyclists and bicycle manufacturers maximise performance has been launched. The Silverstone Sports Engineering Hub (SSEH) has added a Pedalling Efficiency Rig to its already impressive list of facilities which will allow professional cyclists to boost their efficiency using cutting edge equipment. The rig complements the comprehensive existing cycle test facilities at the SSEH including the Sports Performance Wind Tunnel which make it the leader in its field. Many cycle teams from the world tour are now SSEH customers thanks to the combination of facilities and location along with the ability to use [...]

A company which transforms refuse trucks and classic cars into state-of-the-art electric vehicles has been named the Buckinghamshire Business of the Year. Lunaz, based at Silverstone Park, picked up the prestigious honour along with the Innovative Business of the Year title at the Buckinghamshire Business Awards, which showcases the best of the county’s business talent. The firm, which has seen a major expansion of its workforce to more than 300, recently won contracts to ‘upcycle’ bin lorries to electric power for national operator Biffa as well as Buckinghamshire Council. It also has a waiting list for its work to [...]

Westcott based European Astrotech has successfully fuelled and pressurized the F7R Triton satellite with hydrazine in preparation for the next Vega flight, VV23 on 4th October. The fuelling took place in the S3B facility at Europe's spaceport in French Guiana, on behalf of the Taiwanese Space Agency (TASA) and Arianespace.  This is the second fuelling mission undertaken for TASA, following on from the successful multiple loading of six F7 spacecraft at SpaceX in 2018. This marks the third successful collaboration between Airbus Space and Defence, Toulouse and European Astrotech, following on from FalconEye-1 and FalconEye-2. In July a team [...]

A company specialising in 3D modelling for space and engineering applications has been given a major boost after being accepted onto a support and development scheme. Techwerk will benefit from the Westcott Incubator and Accelerator (WIA) Programme  aimed at encouraging start up and SME companies to grow and develop at Westcott Venture Park in Buckinghamshire. The business has been accepted onto the incubator section of the £500,000 scheme and will also have support and use of facilities at the Westcott Innovation Centre. Buckinghamshire Local Enterprise Partnership launched and funded the programme and appointed the Satellite Applications Catapult (SAC) to run [...]

A company which is developing rocket technology powered by water has been shortlisted for an international award. URA Thrusters has been shortlisted in the top 50 finalists for the European Startup Prize for Mobility. The company, based at Westcott Venture Park made the cut in the competition aimed at identifying Europe’s top clean mobility startups which attracted a record 700 entries. Chief Operating Officer Emily Dingle said: “Electric and clean mobility has been a hot topic in the automotive and motor sectors in recent years. However, even more recently, the sector has been looking at how it can reduce [...]

Silverstone Park clean-tech business Lunaz has been appointed to ‘upcycle’ bin lorries to electric power for national operator Biffa as well as Buckinghamshire Council. The first truck converted from diesel to electric inside Lunaz’s 200,000 sq ft Silverstone Park premises will be delivered to the Buckinghamshire authority this autumn ahead of its wider fleet undergoing conversion in 2024. Lunaz’s Founder and CEO David Lorenz commented: “Lunaz is proud to unlock the power of up-cycling to provide local authorities and waste management companies with electric refuse trucks that represent a dramatically better outcome for both the planet and the taxpayer. “As a [...]