Dowty Propellers today inaugurated its new facility in
Brockworth, England to provide a modern operation for the company’s
development, manufacture and support of state-of-the-art propeller
systems with all-composite blades.
Located just outside Gloucester at Brockworth’s Gloucester
Business Park, this 183,000-sq. ft. building brings together Dowty
Propellers’ primary resources at one site: from the full production
process for its propeller systems to the company’s administrative
offices, design and engineering teams, as well as the Dowty
Propellers Repair and Overhaul (DPRO) center – the U.K. arm of
Dowty Propellers’ global support network.
It will incorporate technologies for the high-quality
production, control, repair and in-service support of the company’s
propeller systems, which are used on turboprop and turboshaft
engines powering regional airliners and military airlifters, along
with amphibious aircraft and marine hovercraft.
The Brockworth facility replaces Dowty Propellers’ original
headquarters and blade manufacturing facility in Gloucester that
was destroyed by fire in February 2015. To enable the continuation
of operations, the company purchased new production equipment and
created an interim blade manufacturing facility in the
Gloucestershire area at Mitcheldean. This equipment is now being
transferred from Mitcheldean into the new building at Brockworth,
which is to become fully operational in the first half of 2020.
Additionally, the U.K. DPRO center – which previously had
operated at a separate location in Gloucester – will now be
integrated into the new Brockworth facility, providing additional
synergy with the company’s design engineers, production specialists
and support teams. There also are DPRO centers in Sterling,
Virginia, U.S.A., and Brisbane, Australia, as well as a team of
field service engineers that are deployed around the world for
field repairs.
“Today’s inauguration underscores Dowty Propellers’ firm
commitment to continuing its leadership in creating, manufacturing
and supporting the most sustainable, efficient and robust propeller
systems,” said Dowty Propellers President Oliver Towers. “It also
is an unequivocal testament to our employees, who met the challenge
of literally rebuilding Dowty Propellers from the ground up in what
is widely seen as one of the most remarkable recoveries in the
aviation industry.”
With the dedication to putting its customers first, Dowty
Propellers’ post-fire recovery efforts ensured that the supply and
support of propeller blades and their related control systems
continued unabated. This enabled airframers to maintain the
production line cadence for new-build airplanes, while airlines and
military operators kept their aircraft fleets flying – including
Lockheed Martin’s C130J Super Hercules airlifters and De Havilland
Aircraft of Canada’s Dash 8-400 regional airliners.
“The entire Dowty Propellers team was focused on the
return-to-production, as well as providing support that was
critical to the C-130J Super Hercules’ global operator community.
Lockheed Martin values the commitment and partnership exemplified
by Dowty Propellers as the company worked to rebuild its operations
and restart the propeller blade production line,” stated Rod
McLean, the Vice President and General Manager for Air Mobility and
Maritime Missions at Lockheed Martin.
Todd Young, Chief Operating Officer of De Havilland Canada,
added: “On behalf of myself and our team, I want to acknowledge the
extraordinary commitment of Dowty Propellers and its employees. The
Dowty Propellers team has always maintained a partnership approach
with De Havilland Canada. Notwithstanding the 2015 event, the Dowty
Propeller team has been able to provide seamless support to our
production line and ensured continued worldwide support to our
airlines. The De Havilland Canada team is delighted to be here on
this inaugural day, and we look forward to a continued prosperous
relationship with Dowty Propellers.”
As a business of GE Aviation, Dowty Propellers benefited from
its parent company’s resources in the post-fire recovery efforts.
Within hours of the February 2015 fire, core Dowty Propellers teams
had been relocated a few kilometers away to GE Aviation offices in
Bishops Cleeve, Cheltenham, where they were provided with
telephones, computers and system connectivity.
This enabled the preparation of a reset plan that focused on
three elements: keeping the Dowty Propellers-equipped aircraft
fleets flying with customers and operators; rapidly re-establishing
the composite propeller blade production capability; and retaining
the company’s ranks of skilled employees. The reset plan was
successfully carried out as defined immediately after the fire,
with Dowty Propellers meeting its milestones during the four years
that followed – including the timing for today’s new facility
inauguration ceremony.
“The new facility offers a unique opportunity to realise the
benefits of the significant investments made in recent years in the
new technologies and advanced manufacturing techniques that will
support the development of more-efficient and lower-noise
propellers,” said Gary Elliott, Chief Executive Officer of the
Aerospace Technology Institute which creates the technology
strategy for UK aerospace, and funds research and development. “We
are pleased to support the DigiProp programme and Dowty Propellers’
state-of-the-art research to find ways to increase the efficiency
and reduce the noise footprint of what is already an inherently
efficient propulsion system. Propellers have a great future as we
need ever more efficient aircraft, including their application in
hybrid and electric-powered solutions.”
“Dowty Propellers’ efforts over the past four years not only
represent its commitment to the exciting future of propellers, but
also its commitment to providing world-class products and solutions
for its global customer base,” added Brad Mottier, GE Aviation’s
Vice President and General Manager of Business and General Aviation
& Integrated Systems. “With this state-of-the-art facility,
Dowty Propellers is poised to continue its leadership in this
industry with sustainable, smart technologies and a driven,
dedicated workforce.”
About GE Aviation
GE Aviation, an operating unit of GE (NYSE: GE), is a
world-leading provider of jet and turboprop engines, components,
integrated digital, avionics, electrical power and mechanical
systems for commercial, military, business and general aviation
aircraft. GE Aviation has a global service network to support these
offerings and is part of the world’s Digital Industrial Company
with software-defined machines and solutions that are connected,
responsive and predictive.
About Dowty Propellers (www.dowty.com)
As a leader in the development, manufacture and support of
electronically controlled, all-composite propeller systems, Dowty
Propellers provides solutions for the propulsion needs of today and
tomorrow. Its products are used in applications that range from
commercial airliners and military airlifters to multi-role
seaplanes and marine hovercraft. With a proven record of product
development, introduction and support, Dowty Propellers continually
invests in technologies, production capabilities and human
resources – resulting in propeller systems that are safe, efficient
and reliable. Its history of firsts-to-market includes the
all-composite propeller blade and full-authority digital propeller
control. More than 23,000 advanced composite blades have been
delivered to date by Dowty Propellers, with the lead blade logging
over 45,000 hours of flight time.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191204005646/en/
Media contacts: Dowty Propellers: Jennifer Villarreal T: + 1 616
241-8643 e-mail: jennifer.villarreal3@ge.com
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