2 min read - 19 Mar, 2026
UK’s only structural titanium foundry secures defence contracts worth £9m
Castings Technology, the UK’s only structural titanium foundry – and Europe’s largest, has secured defence contracts worth more than £9m from a leading UK manufacturer, as the nation reshores critical production.
The orders include both repeat business and new components for defence systems supporting Ukraine. Castings Technology were awarded the contracts as it is the only foundry in Europe capable of producing such large structural titanium castings. The components were previously manufactured in the United States.
The components — some exceeding two metres in length and requiring both thin-wall and thick-wall investment casting techniques — are among the highest-integrity titanium castings produced anywhere in the world.
The company’s large furnace at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham / Picture: Castings Technology
Shaun Smith, chief commercial officer, said: “These contracts reflect both the strength of our technical capability and a significant shift in how manufacturers across the UK and Europe are thinking about their supply chains. Geopolitical pressures are driving the reshoring of critical production and spurring investment in sovereign capabilities, and demand for what we do is growing.”
The contracts come as Castings Technology prepares to open a new 200,000 sq ft facility in Sheffield in late 2026, representing an £18m investment in advanced manufacturing capacity. The expansion will create 20 new jobs and significantly increase the company’s ability to meet growing demand from defence and aerospace customers.
Shaun added: “This investment is about building long-term capability for both defence and aerospace. Next-generation European aerospace programmes could unlock significant new global markets for UK industry, and we are investing now to be ready.”
Currently based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham, the company manufactures high-integrity components in titanium, steel and other alloys for global aerospace, defence, oil and gas and power generation customers.
Titanium is lightweight with a high strength-to-weight ratio, corrosion resistance, and resistance to thermal deformation, making it essential for mission-critical applications.
