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Dowty Propellers restarts its composite blade production

27 Feb '18

2 min read

Dowty Propellers has re-established its composite blade production for its civil and military propeller systems, marking the company’s recovery from a fire that destroyed its original production site in England. Dowty Propellers supplies propeller systems for applications in regional aircraft, military airlifters, amphibious aircraft, and marine hovercraft.

Operating from an interim facility at Mitcheldean in Gloucestershire, Dowty Propellers has re-created the complete blade manufacturing capability for its propeller system product lines – with output reaching the highest rates in company history.

During its creation of the interim Mitcheldean operation, Dowty Propellers utilised the opportunity to implement new production layouts and processes, as well as introducing updated equipment, thereby enhancing its manufacturing performance when compared to the previous facility.

Additionally, this experience will be applied when the company develops a purpose-built replacement site in the Gloucester area, which is expected to be operational in 2019 – housing the headquarters and production facility, along with the main repair and overhaul operation and its research and development centre. Supporting the current Mitcheldean production site is a 13,500 square feet centre for propeller system assembly and deliveries, located in Gloucester adjacent to Dowty Propellers’ previous headquarters at Anson Business Park.

During the post-fire recovery, the company maintained its full repair and overhaul capabilities through Dowty Propellers’ Repair and Overhaul (DPRO) centre, situated in Gloucester at a location that was unaffected by the 2015 fire. Completing the network is the US-based Dowty Propellers Americas repair and overhaul operation at Sterling, Virginia; the Australian MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) facility at Brisbane Airport; along with more than 50 local repair sites around the world.

The company also relied on its global resources – including field service representatives in locations around the world, who worked closely with both aircraft manufacturers and operators in actions that included conducting repairs at customer sites and locating temporary replacements while production was being restored. (GK)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India