General Atomics

HRH The Princess Royal opens thermal imaging facility at Thermoteknix

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal opened a new electro-optics facility at Thermoteknix in Cambridge and presented the company with the King’s Award for Enterprise trophy for Innovation, in recognition of the company’s groundbreaking development in thermal imaging.



Above: Managing Director Dr Richard Salisbury proudly accepts the King’s Award for Enterprise (Innovation) from HRH The Princess Royal.
Courtesy Thermoteknix


Employing 75 people, Thermoteknix was established in 1982 by Managing Director Dr Richard Salisbury. The company manufactures a wide range of industrial and surveillance infrared based systems. With more than 40 years of milestones and groundbreaking innovation, the company made history in 2009 when its thermal imaging cameras were used by NASA on its successful LCROSS moon landing mission which identified the presence of lunar sub-surface water.

Thermoteknix has been the recipient of five such prestigious Queen’s and King’s Awards in recognition of its innovation and sales success in overseas trade, helping to promote the United Kingdom’s status as a world leader in design, manufacturing and customer success.    



Above:
Software Development Manager Simon Hothersall demonstrates the latest AR and thermal imaging breakthroughs to HRH The Princess Royal during her visit to Thermoteknix.
Courtesy Thermoteknix

The Princess Royal toured Thermoteknix’ headquarters in Cambridge, during which Her Royal Highness was given demonstrations of the company’s thermal imaging products, including cameras and systems which reduce industrial Carbon emissions, and fused night vision goggles which deliver UK forces with superior situational awareness and Augmented Reality capabilities.

The Princess Royal, attended by Mrs Julie Spence, Lord-Lieutenant of Cambridge, greeted Thermoteknix employees from each department and formally opened the new electro-optics facility and presented The King’s Award for Enterprise trophy to Managing Director, Dr Richard Salisbury.

The Princess Royal then unveiled a commemorative plaque to mark her visit.

The new electro-optics facility will support the company’s growth and increased demand for its thermal imaging products by forces around the world.   



Dr Salisbury commented: “It was an absolute privilege to host Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal at our headquarters in Cambridge and to receive the King’s Award for Enterprise trophy form her. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to present our exceptional staff to Her Majesty. This Award is a testimony to their skills, dedication and commitment. The visit marks a crowning moment for Thermoteknix as we celebrate and prepare for the year ahead with new product launches and expansion of our work force.

“The King’s Awards are one of the UK’s most prestigious awards and to have had the pleasure of a visit from The Princess Royal for its presentation is a massive honour which will be a lifelong memory for every one of our team at Thermoteknix.”

Related

Edgewing opens engineering hub in Italy with UK site to follow
The GCAP fighter jet
Edgewing opens engineering hub in Italy with UK site to follow
The first of three engineering hubs designed to support the development of the future GCAP fighter has opening, with similar sites in the UK and Japan coming soon.
Aerospace Defence

9 Oct 2026

Marshall Aerospace begins new chapter as Aurelius acquisition completes
Marshall Aerospace C-130s
Marshall Aerospace begins new chapter as Aurelius acquisition completes
The completion of AURELIUS' acquisition of Marshall Aerospace marks a new chapter in the company's illustrious history, which spans more than a century of engineering excellence, innovation and service.
UK and Germany back SaxaVord in new European space launch deal
SaxaVord Spaceport, Shetland
UK and Germany back SaxaVord in new European space launch deal
The UK and Germany have agreed to deepen space launch cooperation, with Scotland's SaxaVord Spaceport securing European access to orbit.
Aerospace Defence Space

9 Oct 2026

Sentinel Photonics brings multiple laser detection sensors into one hub
Sentinel Photonics' LASARD MAX Connect
Sentinel Photonics brings multiple laser detection sensors into one hub
With one single hub that joins up laser detection sensors, operators can now see, share and act on laser threats across a wide area in real time.
AI to help SMEs win defence contracts: Inside Strategical’s solution
Aerospace SME using AI to win defence contracts
AI to help SMEs win defence contracts: Inside Strategical’s solution
Smaller suppliers can struggle to turn technical capability into defence orders. Strategical is using AI to make specialist bidding expertise more accessible and help businesses focus on work they can realistically secure.
Defence Member News

10 Oct 2026

Edgewing opens engineering hub in Italy with UK site to follow
The GCAP fighter jet
Edgewing opens engineering hub in Italy with UK site to follow
The first of three engineering hubs designed to support the development of the future GCAP fighter has opening, with similar sites in the UK and Japan coming soon.
Aerospace Defence

9 Oct 2026

UK and Germany back SaxaVord in new European space launch deal
SaxaVord Spaceport, Shetland
UK and Germany back SaxaVord in new European space launch deal
The UK and Germany have agreed to deepen space launch cooperation, with Scotland's SaxaVord Spaceport securing European access to orbit.
Aerospace Defence Space

9 Oct 2026

Excelerate Technology to build UK CNI robotic security solution
Satellite in Earth orbit
Excelerate Technology to build UK CNI robotic security solution
In a project co-funded by the European Space Agency Business Applications and Space Solutions (ESA BASS) and supported by the UK Space Agency, Excelerate Technology will build and demonstrate how space-enabled assets can provide innovative safety and security solutions, including protection of Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) at a site in the UK.
World Space Week: How British technology will help ESA return to the Moon
ESA Argonaut
World Space Week: How British technology will help ESA return to the Moon
As Europe prepares to return to the Moon, British-developed LEIA LiDAR technology will help ESA's Argonaut lander autonomously identify safe touchdown zones on the lunar surface.
Space

5 Oct 2026

Sentinel Photonics brings multiple laser detection sensors into one hub
Sentinel Photonics' LASARD MAX Connect
Sentinel Photonics brings multiple laser detection sensors into one hub
With one single hub that joins up laser detection sensors, operators can now see, share and act on laser threats across a wide area in real time.
Big cargo drones complete first BVLOS delivery to North Sea wind farm
Skyports and Ørsted North Sea wind farm cargo drone trial
Big cargo drones complete first BVLOS delivery to North Sea wind farm
Skyports and Ørsted conducted a complex North Sea cargo drone trial, illustrating how heavy loads can safely and efficiently be delivered offshore beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).
Aerospace Security

9 Oct 2026

UK Government and UKRI invest £54m to prevent future disease outbreaks
Poultry facility
UK Government and UKRI invest £54m to prevent future disease outbreaks
The UK Government and UKRI are investing £54 million in biosecurity research to tackle antimicrobial resistance, improve disease outbreak preparedness, develop next-generation vaccines and strengthen protection against emerging biological threats.
Security

8 Oct 2026