Hinckley-based Sigma Precision Components (www.sigmacomponents.com) has secured investment from the UK Government’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chain Initiative (AMSCI), which is supplying a £0.3 million loan and a £0.7 million grant towards a £1.6 million project to develop composite driveshafts for aerospace applications.

The project, which is supported by the Wolverhampton-based Moog Aircraft Group, will see the companies working in conjunction with engineers at the University of Manchester.

Mike Andreae, director of technology and improvement at Sigma, said: “We’re delighted that AMSCI is supporting this programme, which offers real potential to reduce weight and improve the performance of this key component.

"The programme follows on naturally from our successful CleanSky-funded ComPipe project, which developed new manufacturing techniques to produce composite aero-engine pipes that offer significant weight savings when compared to their traditional metallic counterparts.

"We’re now looking to apply some of that technology to this new drive-shaft project.”

AMSCI funding is available to support R&D, skills training and capital investment to help UK supply chains achieve world-class standards and encourage major new suppliers to locate in the UK.