Is space the final frontier? Kieron Salter of engineering firm KWSP certainly seems to think so. Because despite being in charge of an automotive manufacturing consultancy down here on planet Earth, it's clear that he has designs on reaching beyond the atmosphere.
If nothing else shows the transformative winds coursing through the automotive industry at the moment, it's KWSP's attitude to the future. Salter has mentioned space at least half a dozen times in our opening conversation with him.
Weight and size are the key considerations up there, because everything has to be sent up in costly rockets, and this is the core focus of KWSP's exosphere work: an ongoing feasibility study into additive manufacturing in space.
"If I send the raw materials up into space and I have a 3D-printing factory in space, then I can send all the raw material and won't have to worry about how big [the part] is. If you can put all your raw materials [on the rocket], you can actually print structures as big as you want in space." That could include large structural elements of satellites, say.
Needless to say, I didn't expect to be discussing Star Trek-style tech solutions when I came to see Salter at his base in the Silverstone technology park. But then there's not much that's normal about this high-tech engineering company.
It's worth explaining who Salter and KWSP are, given the variety of work they're engaged in.
Salter started his career with motorsport constructor Reynard. That was wound up in 2002, but he was there for long enough that he managed to build up the contacts and business acumen that have stood him in good stead since.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 01, 2023-Ausgabe von Autocar UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der March 01, 2023-Ausgabe von Autocar UK.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
MG 4
An EV changes your driving style - but not to the detriment of pleasure
PEUGEOT E-208
Time with our French hatch is up. Is it good riddance or au revoir?
In the hot seat
Is the best automotive job in the world actually in miniature scale? Hot Wheels' design boss assures STEPHEN DOBIE it is
Correcting the record
Autocar invented the road test back in 1928 - or did we? KEITH JONES trawls the past to find the true starting point
Road test rebooted
As the Autocar road test forges into its second century, its brief is expanding and it's returning to a familiar place. MATT SAUNDERS explains
Cyber attack
MG is back on the international stage and now trying to return to its sports car roots. MATT SAUNDERS sees if the Cyberster EV can match up to a rival from the present and a relation from the past
KIA PICANTO
As rivals fall by the wayside, Kia's popular city car gets a makeover
MASERATI GRANTURISMO
Latest coupé in a long line of Maserati GT cars hits the UK with V6 power
PORSCHE CAYENNE GTS COUPE
New V8 model gets all the goodies
TOYOTA PRIUS
Back by popular demand with a cool new look and greater driver appeal