New operations in Forres, Scotland, will become a hub for structures development and electronics.
Portuguese space technology business Omnidea has acquired the UK-based manufacturing assets and intellectual property of Orbex. The European space technology group will establish its UK operations at Orbex’s former manufacturing facility in Forres, Scotland. An initial team of former Orbex employees will join the business, with Omnidea planning further recruitment as the operation expands.
Omnidea was previously a partner with Orbex in the European Space Agency’s European Launcher Challenge (ELC) and has been developing its own suborbital launcher programme with ESA for the past four years. The new Scottish operation is set to become Omnidea’s centre for structures development and fabrication, as well as a hub for flight and ground-system electronics. This will complement the Group’s existing expertise in propulsion, fluid systems, and other critical space technologies.
While space will remain central to the operation, Omnidea intends to explore opportunities to apply its technologies and engineering capabilities in other advanced technology markets. Founded in Portugal, Omnidea is a space and advanced technology group with operations across Europe and Australia. The company has worked in the European space sector for over 20 years, developing technologies including propulsion and launcher systems, space-qualified fluid-control systems, satellite technologies, and advanced engineering.
Sérgio da Cunha Oliveira, Vice President of Omnidea, will lead the company’s UK operations. He stated: “Omnidea has spent more than 20 years building advanced engineering and technology businesses. We see a strong fit between the capabilities we have acquired in Scotland and our existing operations. This acquisition means we can combine deep expertise in structures, electronics and advanced manufacturing with the propulsion and fluid-systems capability we have built up over more than two decades. Just as importantly, it gives us access to an established base of highly skilled talent and space expertise in the UK.”
Mr da Cunha Oliveira added: “Our priority now is to establish a strong and sustainable UK operation in Forres. As a Portuguese company, we’re proud to be contributing to Europe’s ambitions for independent access to space, and to be growing that capability across Europe – and now from a UK base. We intend to build progressively, bringing investment, expertise and international connections to the UK as opportunities develop.” Omnidea also plans to proactively support the UK’s ambition to secure assured access to space and will continue to engage with relevant stakeholders and partners as its UK operations develop. The expansion further reinforces Portugal’s role as a hub for European space technology.
Omnidea purchased the Orbex assets from Joint Administrators, Chad Griffin, Geoff Rowley and Graham Smith of FRP Advisory. The Orbex legal entity is not part of the acquisition, while the Kinloss Test Facility and Sutherland Spaceport assets are being acquired in separate deals.
