Steel giant invests £15m in hi-tech Yorkshire furnace for aerospace firms

The Indian steel giant said the cutting-edge vacuum induction melting furnace will allow the speciality steels business, which already supplies steel to aircraft engine and airframe makers, to deepen relationships with its customers and expand its product portfolio.

Tata Steel described it as “an important step towards consolidating (our) position as a leading supplier of high-purity steels to the global aerospace market.

German metallurgical technology company SMS Mevac will build the facility.

Henrik Adam, chief commercial officer at Tata Steel, said: “The addition of a VIM furnace to our asset base for aerospace steel production is an exciting prospect.

“It means we will be able to make more ultra-pure steel for fail-safe, safety-critical applications such as aircraft engines.

“This initiative enhances our role as a partner for key customers who require highly specialised products. Our ability to support them is an important aspect of our role in the aerospace steels supply chain.”

The furnace is expected to be commissioned early in 2015.

Mr Adam added: “This investment is a clear demonstration of the contribution foundation industries like steel make towards rebalancing the British economy.

“We are supporting high-skilled manufacturing jobs and developing innovative new products and services for customers around the world.”

Tata Steel is Europe’s second largest steel producer.