Boeing Gear and Actuation Systems Manufacturing Sheffield

Boeing, UK and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) are receiving funding from the ATI to fund research capital equipment as part of a research project to develop and evaluate new machining and casting technologies in a highly automated demonstration facility, which will manufacture actuator systems initially for commercial aircraft.
The research will target a reduction in cost of 20% and a 25% reduction in waste, whilst increasing productivity by 30%. The research costs proposed in this project are essential if manufacturing costs are to be reduced for future manufacturing systems. These complex high value components could be manufactured in a low cost economy so it is essential the UK competes to keep this work in this country.
It is envisaged that the technology developed in this project will be used in a new Boeing fabrication facility which Boeing plans to build adjacent to the AMRC Factory 2050 in Sheffield. Actuator components manufactured in Sheffield will be part of Boeing’s global supply chain and will be integrated into aircraft actuation systems and then into commercial aircraft.
The project will initially focus on improving machining time and accuracy using complex algorithms, new adaptive measurement and control systems and developing new methods of sensing and providing feedback control. Cost reductions and increases in productivity will be achieved by increasing levels of automation. In parallel AMRC Castings will look at the potential to reduce the cost of casting aluminium gear casings