CastFast

The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) has made a major investment in UK aerospace and its supply chain. New
facilities funded by the ATI at the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) Casting Centre, in Rotherham, will
be used to develop and promote new technologies to UK foundries and tool manufacturers, which could help them to win
big contracts with major aerospace companies. This investment in the ‘Northern Powerhouse’, will benefit the entire UK,
as the AMRC Castings Centre is part of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult whose mission is to revitalise UK
manufacturing. The Catapult provides a gateway to some of the best manufacturing talent and facilities in the country.
The project will develop advanced world-class wing tooling and fast-make aerostructures and engine parts that will help
UK aerospace manufacturers to grow production rapidly. The project proposes solutions that will enable the full benefits
of 3D printing and sand and investment casting to be achieved, enabling aerospace components to be produced at lower
cost, with shorter lead times, at higher quality, and with less environmental impact than current processes, strengthening
the competitiveness of the UK aerospace sector. The project aims to deliver component weight savings of 23%, cost
savings of 38%, and an 89% reduction in lead-times compared to conventional processes. The project will help the ATI
to achieve its goal of ensuring that the UK remains Europe’s number one aerospace manufacturer, second only to the
US globally. The project will help protect and grow the number of jobs in UK aerospace and its supply chain.