Production Rises 40% at Firth Rixson Turbine Rings

Sheffield, UK - Firth Rixson Limited today announced that its relocated, reengineered and renamed turbine-ring manufacturing operation has increased production 40% this year compared to last. The unit, known as Turbine Rings Technologies before it was acquired, has been renamed Firth Rixson Turbine Rings. Commenting on the unit's re-engineering, David Mortimer, Senior VP, Rings, said, "The physical relocation from a 14,000-square-foot plant in Wolverhampton to a 6,000-square-foot facility in Rotherham is complete. The combination of plant consolidation and a new lean-manufacturing shop-floor design are helping us attract and expeditiously process orders much more efficiently than we could at the time we acquired this ring operation in late 2003."

According to Mortimer, "The smaller factory layout cuts the time it takes for parts to travel through the shop. The facility's cellular-manufacturing configuration helps us reduce cycle time. Two new furnaces have allowed us to more than double our heat-treatment throughput. The addition of new controls and equipment are boosting overall productivity, allowing us to compete for–and win–new orders from international customers."

Mortimer also points to synergies that have been created as a result of becoming part of the growing Firth Rixson organization. "For example, we can obtain better pricing on raw materials by tapping into Firth Rixson's greater buying power. We can direct enquiries from customers and prospects to other Firth Rixson facilities that may have processes better suited for certain component configurations. This internal enquiry review system works in both directions," he said.

Mortimer says the flash-butt welding technology of Firth Rixson Turbine Rings complements the capabilities of the six seamless forged ring production facilities the company has in the UK and US. An eighth ring plant is currently being fitted out in China and will begin commercial production by year end. Firth Rixson Limited is a provider of highly engineered forged, cast and other specialty metal products to a range of industries, with more than 50% of its production going to aerospace customers.

Firth Rixson Limited (www.firthrixson.com) was formed in 2003 from a merger of UK-based Firth Rixson and US-based Forged Metals, Inc. It is majority owned by The Carlyle Group, a global private equity firm. Firth Rixson serves customers worldwide in market sectors such as aerospace, defense, power generation, transportation, petrochemical, medical and general industrial. Firth Rixson owns 15 operating facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

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