DTEP funds vacuum investment casting capability at Wall Colmonoy

Wall Colmonoy Ltd (UK) has secured funding from the Defence Technology Exploitation Programme (DTEP) to support its latest initiative: Project EVaCC (Experimental Vacuum Investment Casting Capability). Project EVaCC aims to develop a cutting-edge vacuum precision investment casting (VPIC) facility that will strengthen the UK’s sovereign capabilities and ensuring a robust supply chain for the Ministry of Defence (MoD).

The DTEP grant will help fund the nearly £2 million EVaCC project. DTEP is sponsored by the MoD’s Directorate of Industrial Strategy and Exports (DISE), and delivered through the Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) and Innovate UK. Adding VPIC casting technology will greatly enhance Wall Colmonoy’s capabilities, enabling the production of next-generation aerospace components. Notably, Wall Colmonoy and Rolls-Royce Bristol will partner on retrofitting the technology, leveraging over 100 years of combined metallurgical expertise.

“This investment represents a significant milestone for Wall Colmonoy,” states Dr Chris Weirman, Technical Director. “It will enable us to meet the MoD’s critical needs while advancing the UK’s defence and aerospace capabilities.”

Adds Michael Shreeve, Business Unit Manager – Precision Components at Wall Colmonoy: “We are committed to the future of UK manufacturing and developing supply chain resilience to protect sovereign capabilities for a wide range of industrial applications on the global stage. Building upon our core competencies of producing specialist alloys, we have a unique value proposition to offer our customers.”

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 for the improvement of mechanical performance. This innovation allows for more design flexibility with the goal of achieving thinner aerofoil sections and improved fuel efficiency.

Over the next 12 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.