Showcasing Innovation in UK Manufacturing and Space Sector Collaboration
At Roland Plastics, we’ve always believed that great things happen when people come together, especially when they bring bold ideas, technical expertise, and a shared passion for innovation and design. That’s why we were delighted to recently host a Space East networking event at our Wickham Market facility, welcoming engineers, designers, and forward-thinkers from across the East of England.
Connecting Innovation with UK Manufacturing Excellence in Suffolk
This event was part of Space East’s wider mission to support the growth of the UK space industry by bringing together local talent, research leaders, and businesses involved in the supply chain. With a growing number of manufacturers like ourselves playing a critical role in enabling space technology, the event provided the perfect opportunity to highlight the capabilities and future potential of UK injection moulding and manufacturing.
A Full House for a Future-Focused Event
The event saw a fantastic turnout, with nearly 30 delegates joining us for a morning of talks, factory tours, and conversations about the intersection of advanced UK manufacturing and the space industry.
Speakers included:
- Minima Design – showcasing their experience in designing low-mass, high-performance water filtration components, designed to extract and purify water from moon ice.
- SuperSharp – offering insight into the development of their pioneering foldable space telescopes.
- James Williamson from Made Smarter UK – highlighting the support available for manufacturers looking to expand and future-proof their operations.
The presentations sparked lively discussion around the current challenges facing the space sector, and how the UK manufacturing community can support its continued growth.
Our Role in the Space Industry Supply Chain
As a trusted UK manufacturing and injection moulding company with decades of experience, Roland Plastics is increasingly supporting clients in aerospace and defence with the development of lightweight, high-performance plastic components.
For space industry applications, our technical capabilities include:
- Cleanroom manufacturing facilities (ISO Class 8) for producing sensitive components in contamination-controlled environments.
- Overmoulding and insert moulding for complex assemblies.
- Design for Manufacture (DfM) support to ensure parts are optimised for both form and function.
- Materials expertise, including high-grade engineering plastics suited to extreme environments.
These services allow us to support projects at any stage – whether that’s prototyping early concept designs or delivering consistent production runs for mission-critical parts.
Championing UK Manufacturing and Regional Collaboration
Events like the Space East networking showcase are a powerful reminder of just how much talent and opportunity exists within UK manufacturing – particularly here in East Anglia. Suffolk and the wider East of England have a rich engineering heritage, and we’re proud to be playing our part in carrying that legacy forward.
By opening our doors to fellow businesses, design consultancies, and space-sector pioneers, we’re able to foster new relationships, exchange ideas, and explore potential partnerships that drive real progress.
We believe that strong regional collaboration is essential to maintaining a robust and resilient supply chain—especially in industries as fast-moving and technically demanding as space and aerospace.
Opening Up Our Facility
Alongside the presentations, guests were given a behind-the-scenes tour of the Roland Plastics facility. This included:
- A look at our recently upgraded factory and tool racking systems.
- A demonstration of our injection moulding robots in action.
- A look at our Electronic Terminations Ltd sister company.
- Insight into our product development process, from concept to production.
The tour offered visitors a closer look at how our team works, the technologies we use, and the attention to detail that goes into every component we manufacture.
Looking to the Future
As the UK space industry continues to expand – driven by advancements in satellite technology, low-orbit missions, and sustainable propulsion systems – manufacturers like Roland Plastics will have an essential role to play.
We’re excited about the road ahead and the opportunities to support both established organisations and emerging innovators with high-quality, cost-effective plastic moulding solutions. Our goal is to make it easy for clients to develop components that are lightweight, strong, and ready for the rigours of space.
Whether you’re in the early stages of product development or looking to scale up production, we’re here to help you bring your ideas to life, efficiently, sustainably, and with a sharp eye for quality.
Interested in Visiting Us?
We’re always happy to welcome visitors to Roland Plastics and showcase our facility, whether you’re in the space sector or any other industry seeking expert UK injection moulding. If you’re looking for a collaborative partner in UK manufacturing, we’d love to hear from you.
Contact our team to see how Roland Plastics can support your next project — or book a visit and take a tour of our plastic injection moulding factory in Suffolk.
You can also follow us on LinkedIn to stay up to date with our latest news and innovations.
