Rolls-Royce
Rolls-Royce’s Hucknall facility manufactures a range of aero-engine parts. Credit: alobos life via flickr.

UK-based Rolls-Royce has proposed certain actions to strengthen the position of its ITP Aero business as a major global aerospace company.

The proposal is part of the company’s current detailed review of its Civil Aerospace facility footprint as it focuses on efforts to recover the business from the impact of coronavirus.

The news comes three months after Rolls-Royce announced plans to sell ITP Aero and other assets to raise at least £2bn.

Under this restructuring, Rolls-Royce is initially proposing to transfer its Hucknall-based aero-engine component production facility to ITP Aero.

The company is also proposing to merge aero-engine structures manufacturing into ITP Aero.

With this move, the company’s structure manufacturing facility in Barnoldswick will be closed but will accommodate a product development and technical support centre for wide chord fan blades.

It will also continue to produce blades for defence and civil aerospace applications.

Rolls-Royce civil aerospace president Chris Cholerton said: “The proposals we are laying out today will provide an opportunity for our workforce in Hucknall to benefit from being part of an enlarged global aerospace leader that can compete for business with other engine manufacturers.

“But I understand that the announcement will be hugely upsetting for our colleagues in Barnoldswick.

“This is a very difficult proposal to make, but we cannot afford to retain every Rolls-Royce factory that was supported by the demand that has been dramatically reduced by the pandemic.

“No government support scheme can replace sustainable customer demand and no government can sign-up to extending the sort of short-term measures we have been very grateful for, over multiple years.”

Rolls-Royce is also proposing to merge some manufacturing of aero-engine turbine blades and compressors aerofoils in Inchinnan, Scotland, into its other site in Derby, UK.

The company has also negotiated with Trade Union to reduce operating costs and define the medium-term direction in its site in Ansty.

In October, the company revealed plans to raise up to £5bn to bolster its balance sheet.