UHI Moray students to train on Orbex rocket component machine

Equipment used to make space rocket components has been donated to the Moray campus of the University of the Highlands and Islands.

Orbex, the Forres-based spaceflight company, has donated a manual milling machine which can shape solid materials such as metal and wood.

Phil Chambers, CEO of Orbex, said: “You don’t often find the kind of components we need for our rockets at the local hardware store – so machines like this one are essential for customising and refining parts in-house.

“We hope students at UHI Moray will enjoy the same freedom in their design work, gaining hands-on experience with the tools that bring engineering concepts to life.

“Who knows, maybe we’ll see some of them join the Orbex team in the future.”

Samantha Bright, from UHI Moray stated the machine would be a fantastic addition.

She said: “It will support the studies of both our engineering students and our modern apprentices – many of who are employed by local firms and complete their first year of training with us.

“It’s a great example of education and industry working together to develop future engineering talent.”

The milling machine will be used across UHI’s Engineering Practice course at SCQF Level 5, as well as in its HNC Engineering Systems programme.