Doncasters Blaenavon Boosts Forgings with Engine-Ready Parts
20 June 2005
The Doncasters Group Ltd, a leading global manufacturer of tolerance critical components for the aerospace industry, has invested in excess of £6.5m in a Centre of Excellence for Forgings at its Blaenavon facility in South Wales.
The move boosts Doncasters’ manufacturing capabilities with ‘engine-ready’ forged blades and rings.
The ongoing investment programme at Blaenavon is designed to meet aero-engine manufacturers’ requirements for ‘engine-ready’ components, shorter lead times and a reduction in the number of supply chain partners. Doncasters can now manufacture and machine increasingly complex forgings with greater efficiency and reduced lead times – all at one dedicated site. This increased control of the supply chain enables Doncasters to offer greater differentiation and sophistication to its forgings range.
Eric J. Lewis, CEO for the Doncasters Group, said: “We are committed to providing tailored supply chain solutions to our aero-engine customers which harness the full depth and breadth of the Group’s manufacturing capabilities. This major investment in a Centre of Excellence for forgings in Blaenavon is an important step. We are already manufacturing simple ‘engine-ready’ forgings and are now in a position to introduce increasingly complex parts. The expansion of our capabilities is further indication of our role as a trusted supply chain partner to many of today’s major aero-engine programmes.”
As part of the investment programme, Doncasters has installed a 16,000t press which already has secured approval to manufacture forged blades for a major aerospace customer and a CNC multi-axis vertical turning lathe used to manufacture forged rings. Further investments in multi-axis machining and automated blade finishing are also planned. These new technical capabilities mean Doncasters can manufacture parts such as “engine-ready” flash butt welded rings for housings and casings with greater speed and efficiency.
Doncasters has been helped by a Regional Selective Assistance grant aid from the Welsh Assembly Government and support from the Welsh Development Agency to launch the two-phase programme of redevelopment at Blaenavon. Doncasters is planning the second phase of activity this year and will make further announcements in the coming months.
