Rolls-Royce has announced a £21.3m investment to expand capacity at its Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham, in a move set to boost UK aerospace manufacturing capability and support long-term export growth.
The funding package includes £19.3m from the company and a £2m grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA). It will be used to enhance productivity and introduce new specialist equipment at the site, with output expected to double by 2030.
The ABCF produces some of the world’s most advanced turbine blades, which are used in Rolls-Royce’s Trent family of jet engines powering long-haul aircraft. The expansion is designed to strengthen the UK’s position in high-value aerospace manufacturing while reinforcing regional supply chains.
Nigel Bird, Executive Vice President for Turbine Systems at Rolls-Royce, said the investment signals confidence in both the company’s workforce and the wider South Yorkshire manufacturing ecosystem.
“We’re grateful to South Yorkshire’s Mayor for his support. It’s a clear example of how regional government can generate confidence for private sector investment, helping to retain and expand this type of unique UK capability, and supporting UK exports.
“Thanks to Rolls-Royce’s ongoing transformation we’re able to make this investment, which will bring benefits to the region and our customers. Our incredible team in Rotherham are making components every day that are pushing the boundaries of science.”
– Nigel Bird, Executive Vice President for Turbine Systems at Rolls-Royce
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said the investment would help secure the region’s position at the forefront of advanced manufacturing.
“South Yorkshire is home to world-class engineering, world-class innovation and world-class talent,” he said. “I’m proud that our support will help to unlock growth, keep cutting-edge manufacturing here in South Yorkshire and further strengthen our role at the heart of the UK’s advanced manufacturing industry.”
Opened in 2015, the Rotherham facility employs more than 300 people, the majority recruited locally. It specialises in casting, machining and inspecting intermediate and high-pressure turbine blades for engines including the Trent XWB-84, which powers the Airbus A350-900, and the Trent 1000 XE, used on the Boeing 787.
Each high-pressure turbine blade generates power comparable to a Formula 1 car, with up to 90 blades operating within a single engine to deliver the thrust required for some of the world’s largest and most efficient aircraft.
The latest investment underscores Rolls-Royce’s continued focus on strengthening its UK manufacturing base while scaling production to meet growing global demand for fuel-efficient aircraft engines.
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