Meggitt PLC, together with a consortium of selected business partners, has secured UK Government funding of £3.7 million to finance research and development in advanced thermal systems technology for next-generation energy efficient ultra-high bypass ratio (UHBR) aero engines.

The grant, provided through the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, will be matched by the consortium.

The £7.4m programme will focus on developing innovative new technologies which will enable the design of increasingly lighter, more compact thermal management solutions to maximise aero engine performance. The manufacture and production of these components along with in-service engineering will be undertaken by Meggitt in its new, Midlands-based Thermal Management Centre of Excellence. There will also be opportunities for Meggitt’s UK supply chain to benefit from this activity.

This programme will help Meggitt consolidate its UK footprint (as announced in Meggitt’s Capital Markets Day presentation on 16 May 2017) into a Centre of Excellence and will provide a platform for growth and future investment.

Richard Harrington, Minister for Energy and Industry said: “Aerospace is a great British success story, supporting over 120,000 high-skilled jobs in the UK and generating over £32 billion a year for the economy. Through our modern Industrial Strategy, the UK will continue to build on our strengths in the aerospace sector, and this investment in new products to support the next generation of engines demonstrates our commitment to this high-flying industry.”

Gary Elliott, chief executive officer of the Aerospace Technology Institute, said: “We are pleased to support this project to deliver novel heat management technology, which is a key enabler for next-generation engines. It demonstrates the UK’s technological capability in a challenging but strategic area.”

Hugh Clayton, Meggitt PLC group director, Engineering & Strategy added: “Meggitt is grateful for this ATI funding as we continue our focus on developing heat exchangers for the next generation of engines for passenger aircraft. This technology is an important enabler for more efficient and quieter air travel. This is very much a partnership programme and we are privileged to be working with some of the UK’s leading aerospace research bodies and institutions.”

Meggitt’s partners include members of the UK Government High Value Manufacturing Catapult network the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, the Advanced Forming Research Centre and the Manufacturing Technology Centre; together with heat transfer experts, S & C Thermal Fluids and Cranfield University.

www.meggitt.com