Rowan Precision: From stability to strategic surge

In safety-critical markets such as aerospace and defence, where precision, reliability and speed are non-negotiable, Rowan Precision is quietly emerging as a progressive example of quality British manufacturing. Now in its first year under OSYS Rowan Limited, the Birmingham-based CNC specialist is undergoing a strategic transformation, one that fuses its 40-year heritage with the ambition and momentum of a new leadership era. Under CFO Glenn Aston and CCO Jaz Khunkun, Rowan is redefining what a modern UK machining business can achieve.

For decades, Rowan Precision has built its reputation in the delivery of high-tolerance components machined using advanced CNC sliding-head turn-mill machines, fixed-head turning centres and five-axis machining centres. Its AS9100, ISO9001 and ISO13485 certifications reinforce the trust placed in the company by aerospace, medical, defence and industrial customers. But over the past 12 months, Rowan has moved beyond incremental improvement. The business is deliberately repositioning itself from a reliable component supplier to a strategic production partner.

“The first year has been about strengthening Rowan at its foundations,” explains Glenn Aston. “We’ve always had the core ingredients: capability, craftsmanship and trust. Our focus has been on strengthening the systems, the people and the strategic direction so those strengths can scale with customer demand.”

It’s meant investing in machinery capable of complete-in-one machining, modernising metrology with Keyence and Aberlink systems, and embedding digital quality controls. These upgrades allow Rowan to deliver tighter tolerances, faster turnarounds and greater repeatability. The result is a production environment that is more agile, data-driven and aligned with the demands of aerospace and high-performance manufacturing programmes.

Yet technology alone does not define Rowan’s trajectory. Customers increasingly seek more than precision parts; they want technical partnership.

“We’re helping customers solve problems, reduce risk, and accelerate programmes,” says Jaz.

This ethos is reflected in Rowan’s expanding assembly capabilities, design-for-manufacture support, and adoption of advanced quality planning tools such as FMEA, SPC and PPAP. The company is bridging complex design intent and scalable production, a role it says few UK machining companies can match.

People remain central to Rowan’s plans. Faced with an ageing workforce and tight labour market, the business invests in apprenticeships, internal development and a culture built on precision and pride. Apprentices rotate across machining, quality, assembly and continuous improvement, gaining experience that mirrors the needs of a modern manufacturing operation.

“We’re building a business that will outlast all of us,” Aston says, highlighting long-serving team members such as Head of Operations Karen Harrison and Technical Sales Manager Neil Williams, alongside new talent including Khadijah Zaman, Sheriyar Hussain, and William Robinson.

Sustainability has also been a focus, with investments in machine monitoring, LED lighting, and solar panels demonstrating a commitment to decarbonising the sector.

Looking ahead, Rowan is evolving into a business defined by technical depth, digital capability, and operational excellence. Plans for further automation, expanded assembly operations, data-driven quality systems, and deeper customer supply chain integration point to a company ready to compete at a higher tier. “Our vision is to build one of the UK’s most dependable precision partners, a business customers can scale with, plan with, and trust with their most demanding components,” Glenn affirms.

Rowan Precision’s story is not one of dramatic reinvention, but deliberate elevation, transforming a respected engineering company into a modern, globally relevant manufacturing partner. After 40 years of excellence, Rowan is not just entering a new chapter, it’s stepping into a new gear.