Dowty Propellers to build new UK headquarters and production facility

Dowty Propellers, a leading manufacturer of aircraft propeller systems for both civil and military applications, has announced approvals to create a new facility in the Gloucester area. This follows a fire in February 2015 that destroyed its operating headquarters and blade manufacturing facility. It is expected that the new facility will be operational in 2019. The exact facility location will be determined by the end of this year on completion of a tender process to ensure that the best combination of cost and efficiency can be achieved. Dowty Propellers has also announced the commencement of a £20m technology development project to deliver capabilities for both propeller systems and future propulsion systems. The project, Digital Propulsion, is match funded by the United Kingdom’s Aerospace Technology Institute with a grant of £9.5m, and overseen by Innovate UK. Partners include the UK’s National Composites Centre, The University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre and the Manufacturing Technology Centre.