Seattle-based Machinists Inc (MI) has announced a partnership with Swansea University (www.swansea.ac.uk) to develop a low-cost space launch system (SLS) that can be manufactured in Wales.

This follows over three years of assessing the Welsh economy and a two-year collaboration with the university’s College of Engineering.

MI (www.machinistsinc.com) is a medium-size family-owned manufacturing and engineering machine shop based in the world’s largest aerospace cluster, with a long-established customer base in the USA for its aerospace engineering, tooling and design capabilities.

The company is active in the civil aerospace and defence sectors; it will be providing its expertise and logistical support to introduce a ‘cost down’ framework to its Welsh SME supply chain for the SLS.

The software and electronics supply chain lead for the project has been confirmed as Cardiff-based Cydweithio Ltd.

Its managing director, Wynne Compton, said: “I am very pleased with this announcement. It is a significant milestone that illustrates MI’s confidence in the Welsh electronics and software industry — and in Cydweithio’s supply chain.

"The project is technically interesting, and it will expand Welsh industry, with inherent high-value job creation.”