Wall Colmonoy Limited (UK) is to receive funding from the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) to support its Project EVaCC: experimental vacuum investment casting capability.
Project EVaCC aims to develop cutting edge vacuum precision investment casting (VPIC) facility in the UK.
The DTEP grant helps fund the nearly £2m project. DTEP is sponsored by the Ministry of Defence’s Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE) and delivered through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Innovate UK.
The addition of VPIC casting technology will greatly enhance Wall Colmonoy’s capabilities, enabling the production of next generation aerospace components.
Wall Colmonoy and Rolls-Royce Bristol will partner on retrofitting this technology, leveraging over one hundred years of combined metallurgical expertise.
“This investment represents a significant milestone for Wall Colmonoy Limited,” says Dr Chris Weirman, technical director. “It will enable us to meet the Ministry of Defence’s critical needs while advancing the UK’s defence and aerospace capabilities.”
Preparations for the VPIC are underway. Once operational, Wall Colmonoy will produce complex vacuum castings using nickel based superalloys, critical for most engine programmes. A key innovation will be the implementation of microstructural refinement technology, improving mechanical performance, allowing for more design flexibility with the goal of achieving thinner aerofoil sections and improved fuel efficiency.
Over the next twelve months, Wall Colmonoy and Rolls-Royce team members will address challenges and push the boundaries of innovation. Together, they aim to deliver engine ready components, laying the foundation for a decade long collaboration in advanced casting technology.