Citation
(2000), "Aerospace rings bound for China", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 72 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2000.12772bab.036
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Aerospace rings bound for China
Aerospace rings bound for China
A party of visitors from China recently viewed precision ring-rolling technology at South Wales aerospace supplier Doncaster's Blaenavon (Plate 6). The visitors from Chengdu Engine Company travelled 12,000 miles around the world to the Welsh valleys to witness state-of-the-art processes for rolling nickel alloy rings used in the fabrication of gas turbine components in the Far East.
Doncaster's Blaenavon is a subsidiary of Derbyshire-based Doncaster's plc, international manufacturers of precision components for aerospace and industrial gas turbines. Chengdu, based in Sichuan Province, manufactures engine components under formal contract for leading major gas turbine manufacturers Rolls-Royce, General Electric and Pratt & Whitney.
Plate 6 Robert
Hudson with members of the Chinese delegation
The visit, led by Executive VP Mr Gong Yichun, was the culmination of six months' discussion by Blaenavon with Chengdu, regarding the potential supply of forged rings for specific aero-engine programmes currently being subcontracted in the Far East.
Blaenavon has recently commissioned a new precision ring-rolling mill, which can forge high profile nickel alloy rings in sizes up to 1.6m diameter.