Gilmour Space Technologies provides Australia Access to Space
Queensland-based Gilmour Space Technologies is a leading Australian space technology company, building and operating an advanced integrated launch vehicle, satellite platform and spaceport capability.
This Gold Coast company was founded in 2013 by brothers Adam and James Gilmour with Adam having had a long-standing passion for space, leaving a successful career in banking to build one of Australia’s first private space technology companies. Today Gilmour Space Technologies is developing capabilities to provide flexible access to space for commercial, government and defence customers worldwide.
From small beginnings on the Queensland Gold Coast with three employees, the company has grown to now employ more than 280 personnel, designing and manufacturing launch vehicles and satellites with its own licenced orbital spaceport in Bowen, North Queensland. From its original location in a small industrial unit at Strawberry Farm in Pimpama the company has moved three times and now operates from a 10,000m2 advanced manufacturing and test facility at Yatala.
Advanced precision Okuma CNC machines have played an important role in this development of this high technology company with the first Okuma CNC Machining Centre model Genos M660-V-e commissioned in 2021 along with the purchase and commissioning of an additional five Okuma machines from 2024. According to Matthew Halstead, Gilmour Space Head of Manufacturing, the strong relationship between Gilmour Space and Okuma has been born out of product offerings, high precision and machine stability, attention to service from initial sales enquiries to commissioning, after sales service and the on-going training available to our technicians. “Having extensive manufacturing capability onsite means our team can be flexible and agile in moving new design changes to a finished part giving us greater control over quality and lead times which allows us to improve our designs faster,” he said.
“Our range of Okuma machine tools support turning and 3-Axis and 5-Axis milling across a wide range of geometries and advanced materials used in components for our launch vehicles, satellites and ground support equipment,” said Matthew Halstead. “The Okuma machines allow us to maintain the dimensional accuracy required for performance-critical aerospace components while giving us the ability to quickly introduce design changes and work across different materials,” he said.
Today, Gilmour Space designs and manufactures a significant proportion of its technology in-house with some components manufactured and supplied through their Australian and international supply chain. The addition of a multi-pallet Okuma CNC Horizontal Machining Centre Model MB-5000HII in 2024 has improved the operation performance by allowing the machining of components in batches.
Matthew Halstead commented, “Our machine shop team values the opportunity to work with modern advanced technology as they continue to develop their skills. The significant investments we have made in the machine shop within a relatively short period has provided our operators with opportunities to learn across different machines, processes and technologies and this keeps the work challenging and engaging. It is also proving to be an advantage in attracting and retaining skilled personnel and attracting young people into the trade.
Gilmour Space Technologies holds certification to ISO9001, ISO45001, ISO1400 and is registered with JOSCAR-AU.
The expansion and development of new products to support the launch and satellite programmes continues for Gilmour Space Technologies. As demand for launch and space services grows, the company is developing more advanced products which will require continued investment in the manufacturing capability, equipment and facilities.
Recent milestones for the company include –
June 2025 – Gilmour Space’s first 100-kg satellite, ElaraSat MMS-1 was successfully launched and remains operational in orbit.
July 2025 – First test flight of the Eris rocket was completed, becoming Australia’s first Australian-designed and manufactured orbital-class rocket to lift off from Australian soil.
Gilmour Space Technologies is a company with global ambitions with a belief that continued investment, building sovereign capabilities, skills and a strong supply chain will help strengthen Australia’s manufacturing future.
“At Okuma Australia, we are delighted to have developed such a strong relationship with Gilmour Space Technologies where precision machining is such an essential element in the success of this advanced, highly skilled, important and ever developing global industry. Gilmour Space Technologies, as an Australian pioneer in the advancement of space launch vehicle, satellite platform and spaceport capability, is a perfect fit with the Okuma philosophy of ‘Monozukuri’ (the art of making things better than ever),” said Dean McCarroll, Managing Director, Okuma Australia and New Zealand.