4 minute read•Updated 9:37 AM EDT, Wed April 9, 2025
British electromechanical component specialist Olsen Actuators and Drives have announced plans to establish its first U.S. office at Cape Canaveral, marking a significant step in its expansion into the fast-growing American space market.
The company, founded in 2004 and based in the United Kingdom, has been steadily increasing its footprint in the space sector. Olsen specializes in electromechanical actuators, devices that convert energy into motion, which are used for critical functions like satellite deployment mechanisms and thrust vector control.
The Florida office is scheduled to open in 2026 and will initially serve as a sales and business development hub, with ambitions to expand into prototype assembly and eventually full-scale manufacturing.
“Over the next five years, there are 70,000 satellites planned for launch to low Earth orbit alone...There are lots of new applications that will all require motion control actuators for solar array deployment and all kinds of mechanisms.” - Olsen Statement
A Rising Force in Space Components
Olsen Actuators already has established partnerships in the U.S. space ecosystem. The company currently supplies components for California-based ESI Motion, whose rugged motor control systems are widely used in aerospace and defense.
Olsen's products were also aboard NASA’s PACE satellite, launched in 2024, which monitors ocean health and atmospheric aerosols from orbit.
With demand rising rapidly in the American market, the company views its upcoming U.S. branch as a strategic move to better support current partners and pursue new customers in both the commercial and governmental space sectors.
The North American space technology market is projected to grow from $262 billion in 2024 to nearly double in value by 2034, according to Precedence Research. That growth, Olsen noted, is being driven by the surge in constellations, small satellite launches, and emerging in-orbit servicing technologies, all of which require reliable motion control solutions.
From UK to the Space Coast
The company’s expansion follows a British government-led space trade mission to Florida in February, during which Olsen executives visited Cape Canaveral and surrounding facilities, engaging with potential collaborators and assessing the local business climate.
“What we saw in Florida was an ecosystem that’s maturing quickly, with strong support infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and increasing investment,” - Olsen Statement
In tandem with its expansion plans, Olsen Actuators also acquired part of French company ALT Roller Screws, which produces high-performance roller screws that play a central role in the company's actuator systems. Compared to traditional ball screws, roller screws are both lighter and more efficient, offering about five times the load capacity for the same mass—a crucial factor for space hardware where every gram matters.
A Growing British Presence on the Space Coast
Olsen joins a growing list of UK-based space companies establishing operations in Florida.
Most recently, Space Forge, a startup focused on in-space manufacturing and reentry-capable spacecraft, opened a facility near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.
Cape Canaveral and the broader Space Coast region have emerged as a global hotspot for space activity, offering proximity to major aerospace firms, launch sites, and government agencies such as NASA and the U.S. Space Force.
“Being here puts us within arm’s reach of potential customers and partners. It's a place where deals are made, technology is tested, and rockets fly almost every week,” - Olsen Statement
Eyes on the Future
As it builds its presence stateside, Olsen Actuators and Drives is looking beyond just components.
The company is actively exploring opportunities to support next-generation satellite platforms, lunar landers, and deep space missions, where actuator performance and reliability are paramount.
“We’re not just selling parts...We’re enabling the motion that makes space systems come alive.” - Olsen Statement
