LiftOff" equips aerospace firm to double turnover

Citation

(2007), "LiftOff" equips aerospace firm to double turnover", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 79 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/aeat.2007.12779aaf.016

"LiftOff" equips aerospace firm to double turnover

"LiftOff" equips aerospace firm to double turnover

A UK business based in Leicester that uses a casting technique invented by the Ancient Egyptians is set to double its turnover to £8m next year thanks to the introduction of world beating technology.

Lestercast reports that it owes its success to the LiftOff scheme delivered by the Manufacturing Advisory Service in the East Midlands, which helps regional aerospace- related companies boost their profits.

The programme, which is heavily subsidised, has enabled the firm based on Ireton Avenue in the north of the city to source production software which will allow it to attract more profitable customers and markets.

Lestercast manufactures metal investment castings for a range of applications – everything from braking systems for Dunlop Aerospace and components for Smiths Aerospace to the “B” marque for the new Bentley Azure Convertible and specialised lock parts for Rockwell International.

The company's managing director Chris Batty said: “LiftOff has helped us fund the specialist IT support we needed to take our company to the next level. Without it, development costs would have been prohibitive. It's too early to put an exact figure on how much our increased efficiency has saved us, but more importantly this new technology will help us to attract lucrative new customers and expand our markets.

“We already have the orders building that will push our turnover to £8m next year and are about to add another three employees to our current workforce of 34 to help manage our expansion.”

Lestercast also has a foundry in China that produces its high volume orders. It's the first company of its type in Europe to use this innovative software technology which it applies to casting using the “lost wax” technique which dates back to Ancient Egypt. It can be used to cast in a range of alloys including high nickel chrome, stainless steel, mild steel, aluminium, inconel and hastalloy”x”.

The software enables technical and customer data relating to a production batch to be automatically updated as a casting travels through the manufacturing process. Barcodes also enable photographic images to be pulled off during the manufacturing process and automatically displayed on large wall mounted monitors, so that operators can quickly identify batches and determine the next production stage.

The software also provides an automatic link from production to the company's finance department and has helped Lestercast develop a much more sophisticated method of trading online.

The LiftOff programme is heavily subsidised and is available to manufacturing companies which are connected to the aerospace industry and based in an Objective 2 area of the region. It can provide help on a range of business areas including developing new workforce skills, introducing new business competencies and processes plus marketing support to look at new markets and diversification. MAS is looking for companies to take advantage of this offer before March 2007.

To find out if your company is eligible to benefit from LiftOff, log onto or call (0)1664 501301.