Sheffield Forgemasters has secured defence export contracts worth over $30m to supply castings for the US Navy’s OHIO submarine replacement programme.
The project has been granted full approval by the UK government.
Dr Graham Honeyman, chief executive at Sheffield Forgemasters International, said: “These orders provide a boost for our Brightside Lane operations as we work towards our business turnaround plan.
“Work has already started on these orders and the first parts will complete in 2016 with another tranche of components anticipated to follow in 2017, providing work for our Melt Shop, Foundry and Machine Shops. These are complex components and require detailed modelling and manufacturing to highly specific tolerances.”
“One of the company aims is to broaden our market reach for defence contracts, which we have unparalleled experience in servicing.
“We hope to build on the success of these orders as our teams search out greater opportunities for product diversification and services in a challenging global market.”
The orders mark one of Forgemasters’ largest business wins for almost two years and follows an announcement earlier in 2016 of a £1m contract to cast a press frame for Arkansas-based Ajax-Ceco. Comprising 550 tonnes of steel, the frame will be almost 13m long, 3.5m wide and 3.2m deep.
Honeyman said: “Our sales teams are currently working with customers on a variety of potential projects including those within the power generation, defence, civil nuclear, materials processing, offshore and tidal power industries. We are hopeful that there will be conversions for a number of these enquiries as we work through the next 12 months.”
In 2014 Sheffield Forgemasters was awarded $6.2m to supply 84 castings to General Dynamics Electric Boat, the company responsible for the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the US Navy.
Well done Forgemasters, a contract well deserved. So no-one will want to trade with us if we leave the EU?? Europe and its supporters can have their hissy fit; companies like this will carry on doing what this country has always done – make high-quality goods that people want. I hope this is the start of a revival of our economy and one in the eye for the doomsayers
Who said no-one will trade with us? Is that what’s called a straw man argument?
We’re still in the EU…..