Rolls-Royce boosts blade facility output

Rolls-Royce is investing £19.3 million in its Advanced Blade Casting Facility (ABCF) in Rotherham, supported by a £2 million grant from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA). The total £21.3 million funding aims to significantly enhance the plant’s productivity and technical capabilities.

The ABCF produces highly specialised turbine blades for Rolls-Royce jet engines used in long-haul aircraft. With the addition of new advanced machinery, output at the site is expected to double by 2030, strengthening the UK’s position in advanced aerospace manufacturing.

Nigel Bird, Executive Vice President, Turbine Systems at Rolls-Royce, highlighted the importance of regional support in securing private investment and sustaining critical industrial capabilities. He described the move as a strong vote of confidence in both the Rotherham workforce and the wider South Yorkshire manufacturing ecosystem.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard emphasised the region’s global reputation for engineering excellence, noting that the investment will help drive growth, retain cutting-edge manufacturing, and reinforce the area’s role in the UK’s industrial future.

Opened in 2015, the ABCF employs over 300 people and produces intermediate and high-pressure turbine blades for engines including the Trent XWB-84 and Trent 1000 XE, powering aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787.