At Barum & Dewar, we are always striving to innovate and develop sustainable packaging solutions for our clients. We understand the growing importance of providing packaging solutions that are not only effective but also environmentally friendly. This commitment to sustainability is key to our design and specification process, and it’s reflected in our approach to container repurposing.

As part of our dedication to sustainability, container repurposing allows our clients to take a previously used container and collaborate closely with our expert design team to refit, refurbish, or upgrade it to meet new protection requirements. By extending the life of these containers, we provide a cost-effective solution with shorter lead times, helping our clients save both time and money while reducing waste.

Our team frequently receives projects where containers that have served their initial purpose are returned to us for reconfiguration. These containers are then adapted to support new client programs. When a project comes in, our design team carefully reviews the new brief and proposes the necessary changes to fit the new project’s needs. This might involve fitting the container with new protective foam, upgrading the shock mounts to accommodate a different payload, or making other adjustments as required.

No matter the size of the project or the sector in which it will be deployed, Barum & Dewar is adept at repurposing containers to add additional value for our clients. We believe that every container has potential beyond its original use, and through our repurposing services, we help our clients unlock that potential, ensuring their packaging solutions are both sustainable and perfectly tailored to their evolving needs.

Having recently attended both SpaceCommExpo Scotland and the Space Zone at the Farnborough International Airshow, projections for the UK space sector offer huge opportunity and excitement for the coming years. Having worked in the sector for over 25 years, the B&D team have a wealth of understanding of the development of the sector to date and in this article we seek to reflect on key themes driving the growth of the sector.

The UK space sector has seen remarkable growth over the past decade, establishing itself as one of the world’s key players in the global space economy. As of 2024, the sector is poised for continued expansion, driven by government initiatives, private investment, and innovation in areas like satellite technology, space exploration, and sustainability. The UK’s ambition to capture 10% of the global space market by 2030 reflects its strategic importance and the country’s commitment to developing its space capabilities.

Government Support and Investment

One of the most significant drivers of the UK’s space sector growth has been strong government support, particularly through the UK Space Agency and various strategic funding initiatives. The UK government has pledged over £1 billion to the space industry, with a focus on innovation, research, and the development of commercial capabilities.

Key to this investment is the National Space Strategy, which was launched in 2021, and outlines the UK's vision for becoming a major space power. This strategy aims to support space startups, enhance the UK's satellite launch capabilities, and promote international collaborations. Notably, the UK Space Agency has funded a range of pioneering missions, including satellite launches and the development of spaceports across the UK.

Spaceports and Launch Capabilities

The UK has made significant progress in developing domestic satellite launch capabilities, marking a key milestone for the nation. Spaceport Cornwall, SaxaVord Spaceport, and Space Hub Sutherland in Scotland are all at various stages of development, with the goal of enabling the UK to conduct small satellite launches, particularly to low-Earth orbit (LEO).

While Spaceport Cornwall’s inaugural launch in 2023, carried out by Virgin Orbit, did not reach orbit due to technical issues, the event signalled a turning point for the UK. The launch demonstrated the country’s determination to create a fully functional launch ecosystem. Both SaxaVord and Sutherland are expected to begin launches in the near future, with the UK set to become a leading hub for small satellite launches in Europe, providing much-needed infrastructure for the burgeoning new space economy.

Satellite Technology and Space Data

Satellite technology remains a cornerstone of the UK space sector, with the country being home to several key players in the global satellite market. Companies like OneWeb and B&D client, Surrey Satellite Technology Limited (SSTL), the latter of which is developing innovative smallsats, are driving the development of advanced satellite systems.

One of the UK’s strengths lies in satellite-based services, including communications, Earth observation, and navigation. The UK is a leader in space data analytics, harnessing the power of satellite data for climate monitoring, agriculture, urban planning, and disaster management. This has been facilitated by the UK’s involvement in the European Space Agency (ESA) and its Copernicus program, which provides crucial data for environmental monitoring.

Sustainability and Space Debris

As space becomes more congested, sustainability is a growing concern within the UK space sector. The UK has taken a leading role in addressing the issue of space debris, with several initiatives aimed at cleaning up low-Earth orbit. Companies like Astroscale, another B&D client, are working on missions to remove defunct satellites and other debris that pose a risk to active space assets.

The UK’s commitment to space sustainability is also reflected in its membership in the Space Sustainability Rating (SSR), a global framework designed to promote responsible behaviour in space. The UK government has emphasised the importance of sustainable practices as the country seeks to balance the growth of the space sector with long-term environmental considerations.

At SpaceCommScotland, companies were able to sign the European Space Agency - ESA Statement for a Responsible Space Sector further emphasising the sectors commitment to sustainability.

Challenges and Opportunities

While the UK space sector is experiencing significant growth, there are still challenges ahead. The industry is capital-intensive, and access to funding remains a barrier for many startups. Additionally, the spaceport development timeline has experienced delays, and the country must ensure that it can meet the demand for launch services from both domestic and international customers.

Despite these challenges, the opportunities for growth are vast. The increasing reliance on satellite technology for communications, defence, and climate monitoring means that the UK is well-positioned to capitalise on the growing global demand. The UK’s emphasis on sustainability, innovation, and international partnerships ensures that it will remain a leading player in the space sector for years to come.

The UK space sector stands at a pivotal moment in its history, with strong government support, a thriving private sector, and a focus on innovation and sustainability. As the country continues to build out its launch capabilities and satellite infrastructure, the UK is set to become a major global hub for space technology and services. While challenges remain, the future of the UK space industry looks promising, and it is one in which we are proud to be an established player.

At Barum & Dewar we have extensive experience in designing bespoke solutions for our customers, so when long-standing client Parker Hannifin approached us with a new challenge, we were able to quickly find a solution.

The Instrumentation Products Division Europe of Parker Hannifin, based in Barnstaple, North Devon, are a global leader in motion and control technologies, and they required a compact and visually appealing case and foam solution for their client, a major European manufacturer of trucks and other large vehicles.

The brief was clear: to design a neat, compact, and eye-catching solution that would securely house a tool kit.

Working closely with Parkers to ensure that the brief was fully understood and satisfied, a black case paired with a black-on-yellow foam insert was selected for the project.

We finalised the design and then routed the foam insert to the profile of each too, before finishing with precise laser engraving, ensuring each tool had its designated place and could quickly and easily be identified by the end user.

Fitted into the case, the prototype was then presented to Parkers who then shipped the completed solution to the end user in Italy for final approval.

The response was overwhelmingly positive and, delighted with the case and foam, Parker Hannifin immediately placed a follow-up order for 180 units.

This solution has been a great success, resulting in several repeat orders, and it appears that the aim will be to furnish all of the end users fleet of vehicles with this neat tool case.

Our collaborative approach, innovative design and smart finished product has satisfied not only our client but theirs too, and paves the way for continued ongoing projects with our valued customer.

There are few more demanding and challenging sectors than space. For more than 25 years we have been the leading UK supplier of transit and storage containers for both flight hardware and ground support equipment to the global space sector. With deadlines to meet and the most valuable of cargo to protect, many of the world’s leading space companies put their trust in us to design, develop and supply all their container requirements.

Our in-house designed protective cases and containers have been shipped to launch sites all over the world with many undergoing numerous repeat missions before being reconfigured for fresh challenges. From satellites to propulsion systems, hand carry cases to 4.5m high containers, 5kg to 800kg payloads we have the capability to meet the needs of the space sector.

The UK is a major supplier and integrator of space hardware and mechanical ground support equipment and Barum & Dewar is long established as a key partner to clients in this market. Over the past decade the business has continued to grow into Europe and beyond which has brought new client challenges, allowing the team at Barum & Dewar to build upon existing experience and strengthen its offering for the sector.

With £33m of new funding for over 20 new space projects announced this week by the UK Space Agency’s National Space Innovation Programme, the sector continues to thrive and this investment highlights the huge potential of the UK’s space industry, especially as we collaborate with international partners.

Andy Harrison, Technical Design Manager at Barum & Dewar said:

“Working in this sector brings an exactness and attention to detail that we apply in all our projects, whether in this sector or other areas that we operate in. Knowing that we operate in the Space sector brings confidence to new and existing clients. We appreciate the importance of design and durability needed and this has enabled us to innovate, explore new technologies and ultimately bring high quality technical products to this industry for over 25 years which we look forward to continuing into 2025 and beyond.”

What excites you about a new design challenge?

Being involved in the space sector, B&D is increasingly approached by new clients with new protective packaging requirements for flight hardware. Not only do these new projects create interest around the contents we’re being asked to protect and the space missions that these are part of, but we’re also being challenged by new customer requirements that push the B&D capability. At B&D we are proud to deliver sustainable and robust packaging for the safe transport of highly sensitive space equipment.

What has been one of the biggest design challenges you have faced to date?

The challenge often revolves around scale, whether it's dealing with numerous components or large-sized items. When presented with a new brief, we must always carefully consider how to approach the project and our design process has been tried, tested and refined over the years. We embrace new challenges as they arise, recognising them as opportunities for growth. With our in-house expertise and skills, supplemented by support from suppliers when necessary, we are well-equipped to tackle these projects head-on.

What project have you been most proud to be involved with?

The SuperNEMO experiment by University College London’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) was an international collaboration to search for very rare and special nuclear decays which, if observed, would have huge implications for physics and cosmology.

Construction, assembly and transportation of the instrument had to be carried out in a carefully controlled and clean environment to avoid any contamination. The instrument was a one-off design and had taken many years to develop, therefore absolute confidence was required for the protective transit solution to ensure the mission was a success.

We built two highly bespoke DELTA containers with wire rope shock mounted frames to transport the detector instrument, from a clean room in the UK to its destination, 10 miles underneath the French Alps. The vibration damping frame was required to be continually purged with dry air throughout the journey, and the attached sensors monitored humidity, pressure and temperature while bagged within the DELTA container.

The sheer complexity of the requirement combined with the project purpose made it a milestone project to be involved with.