Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Rolls-Royce celebrates £50m investment in Barnoldswick

Aerospace Events

Rolls-Royce celebrates £50m investment in Barnoldswick

Rolls-Royce celebrated the beginning of construction of its Wide Chord Fan Blades Facility extension on Friday - part of almost £50 million worth of investment at its site in Barnoldswick, Lancashire - with a ground-breaking ceremony by Pendle MP Andrew Stephenson.

The new extension, announced in October, will support Rolls-Royce’s plans to double the production of new aero engines over the next few years. The expanded facility will be able to manufacture 6,000 large Trent fan blades a year, almost twice its current capacity. These titanium blades have a unique hollow structure and provide the majority of the thrust for Rolls-Royce’s Trent family of engines. Barnoldswick makes blades for engines including the Trent XWB, the world’s most efficient large civil aero engine.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT

Alongside the £28m extension to the fan blade facility, Rolls-Royce recently announced in November, the creation of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Structures & Transmissions in Barnoldswick. Over £20m is being invested in new machinery and technology to support the new centre, which will manufacture complex structures such as front bearing and tail bearing housings which feature in all Rolls-Royce aero engines.

Andrew Stephenson MP for Pendle said: “The aerospace sector is vital to our local economy and Rolls-Royce is certainly the jewel in the crown. I think the Wide Chord Fan Blade facility expansion and the creation of a Structures Centre of Excellence in Barnoldswick is very good news, as the skills and dedication of the Rolls-Royce employees I have met has always hugely impressed me. I’d like to pay tribute to the Barnoldswick workforce for their hard work in securing this investment, which will provide a fantastic boost to the local economy.”

Rolls-Royce has invested more than £100m in the Barnoldswick site over the last three years as it modernises its facilities and increases production of engines for widebody passenger aircraft. As these engines take to the skies over the coming years, Rolls-Royce’s share of the global market for large passenger aircraft will increase to more than 50 per cent for the first time.

Advertisement
Marshall RT 2

Manufacturing Executive Steve Kitson added: “We are delighted to begin construction on the £28m extension to our Wide Chord Fan Blade facility. This will increase capacity to manufacture fan blades for Trent civil aero engines including the Trent XWB, the world's most efficient large aero engine and the fastest-selling widebody engine in history.

“In addition, the creation of a first Centre of Excellence in Structures & Transmissions on the site means in total we are investing £50m in Barnoldswick. This investment recognises the dedication and flexibility of the Barnoldswick workforce and also demonstrates our commitment to innovative technology and world-class facilities which will improve performance and drive profitable growth for our business.”

In total, around 18,000 fan blades – including large Trent fan blades – are currently manufactured every year at Rolls-Royce in Barnoldswick.
 

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation LB 1
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic CEOs to speak at Sustainable Skies World Summit 2024

Aerospace

British Airways and Virgin Atlantic CEOs to speak at Sustainable Skies World Summit 2024

28 March 2024

Aviation leaders Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic and Sean Doyle, CEO of British Airways as keynote speakers at the Sustainable Skies World Summit 2024.

Airframe Designs helps to lead additive manufacturing industry body

Aerospace

Airframe Designs helps to lead additive manufacturing industry body

27 March 2024

Airframe Designs has joined a national industry body to help lead the development of additive manufacturing and 3D printing in the UK.

Leonardo secures presence at Bahrain International Airshow

Aerospace Defence Events

Leonardo secures presence at Bahrain International Airshow

26 March 2024

Italian aerospace, defence and security firm, Leonardo has secured its presence at the Bahrain International Airshow for the seventh year.

Made Smarter and tech institutes to demystify digital transformation

Aerospace

Made Smarter and tech institutes to demystify digital transformation

26 March 2024

Made Smarter and leading technology demonstrators have joined forces to demystify digital transformation with a new white paper.

Advertisement
Advanced Navigation RT
Britten-Norman secures new investment

Aerospace

Britten-Norman secures new investment

25 March 2024

Britten Norman has secured new investment from a group of investors led by 4D Capital Partners LLP (“4D”) The new investors are making funds available to Britten-Norman to fund working capital and to drive successful long-term growth.

First disability flying lessons to be launched at Kent airport

Aerospace

First disability flying lessons to be launched at Kent airport

25 March 2024

The UK’s disabled flying charity Aerobility has partnered with Lydd Aero Club in Kent to provide opportunities for lessons and experience flights for people living with disabilities, at Kent airport.

Advertisement
ODU RT