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Mettis wins £20 million contracts with Rolls-Royce
September 2006

Mettis Aerospace announced at Farnborough today that it has won contracts worth nearly £20 million to supply high precision engine components to Rolls-Royce.

The Midlands-based company will supply engine sector stator vanes for the new Trent 900, launch engine for the A380 Airbus, and annulus fillers for a range of engines including the Trent, BRR and RB211.  Both product ranges are used to control air flow into the engine

The three-year contract for Trent 900 is to supply precision-forged and machined vanes to the Rolls-Royce engine plant in Barnoldswick, Lancashire.

The Trent 900 has a fan diameter of nearly 10ft, physically the largest engine built by Rolls-Royce. It is also the world’s cleanest large turbofan engine, measured by emissions per pound of thrust.

The aircraft, which can carry over 500 passengers, is scheduled to enter commercial service later this year with Singapore Airlines.  There are now firm orders for 159 aircraft and purchase options for a further 100 A380’s. 

The success of the A380 is welcome news for Mettis, who also supply aero-structural components directly to Airbus.

Karl Bishop, Sales and Marketing Director of Mettis Aerospace, said: 
“We are delighted about this award as it provides us with a platform for continued investment in new skills and technology. 

“Our strategy is to provide single-stop supply solutions to major aerospace manufacturers.  This award involves precision forging and complex five-axis machining of titanium airfoil sections.  This is a highly specialised area and the fact that Mettis has proven its capability in this field is to be celebrated.”

To support this contract, Mettis will invest almost £1million in new technology including two five-axis machine tools, built by Mazak and commissioned next month.

The contract to supply annulus fillers to Rolls-Royce is also part of a three-year agreement.

The contract encompasses forging, machining, processing and the kitting of a range of aluminium components.  Mettis also take a supply chain management role for other assembly items required within the engine kit boxes that are supplied to the engine line.

Mettis has proven its expertise in this field over many years and has now developed a total manufacturing capability at its 26-acre site in Redditch. 

Karl Bishop, Mettis Sales and Marketing Director, said: “We are delighted to have secured these contracts with Rolls-Royce. We are particularly pleased that they have confidence in our ability to supply high-precision components.

“We have a unique capability that allows us to forge, machine, process, paint, assemble and kit within our Redditch plant. 

“This gives us a major competitive advantage and provides us with a capability that helps our customers achieve their goals of working with a smaller number of more capable suppliers.”

Mettis Aerospace is exhibiting at Farnborough Air Show (17 – 23 July) in Hall 4, Stand B11.