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Sigma secures project to develop composite drive shafts

07 Apr '15

2 min read

Sigma Precision Components has secured investment from the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI) to develop composite drive shafts for aerospace applications.

The project, worth £1.6 million, will see the Hinckley-headquartered business working in conjunction with engineers at the University of Manchester to develop composite drive shafts as a lightweight alternative to traditional designs. The project is being supported by Moog Aircraft Group based in Wolverhampton. AMSCI is supporting the project with a £0.3 million loan and a £0.7 million grant, Sigma informs in a press release.

Mike Andreae, director of technology and improvement at Sigma, said “The programme follows on naturally from our successful CleanSky-funded COMPipe project, which developed new manufacturing techniques to manufacture composite aero-engine pipes that offer significant weight savings when compared to their traditional, metallic counterparts. We’re now looking to apply some of that technology to this new drive shaft project.

UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills, Vince Cable said, “While there is much to celebrate about British manufacturing, it is clear that our supplier base has been eroded over the last thirty years. Reversing this will boost exports, and help safeguard UK jobs. Our targeted interventions have helped revive the great British manufacturing sector.”

Twenty supply chain projects across UK will benefit from a total of £67 million of Government investment, with £109 million being invested in the same project by industry.

AMSCI is a funding competition designed to improve the global competitiveness of UK advanced manufacturing supply chain. Funding is available to support research and development, skills training, and capital investment to help UK supply chains achieve world-class standards and encourage major new suppliers to locate in the UK.

Sigma Precision Components Ltd has a global reputation as a leading, aerospace manufacturing company. (GK)

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India