6 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, August 17th, 1PS9


ciitheroe 22324. (Editorial), 22323 (Advertising). Burnley 22331 (Classified)


A FRENCH connection which saved hundreds of jobs is already paying off with more jobs about to be created and a real feeling of optimism among the workforce.


..will continue to


support HUREL DUBOIS and wish them every success in the future.


Gould Alloys Limited


Unit 6. CarmoodRoad Chesterfield Trading Estate Chesterfield S41 9QB


Tel. 0246 260000 ■ Telex 547033 Fax 0246 260999


Not all that long ago, 670 jobs were at


risk when Lucas Aero­ space decided to close its Bancroft Road


factory. But now, with a new


look, a new name and a new feeling of confidence


FACTORY WELCOMES THE FRENCH


Advertising feature by Ian Pilkington


name for Lucas Aero­ space, Aerostructures. The French group bought the division in a multi-mil- lion pound deal and has certainly wasted little time in making its mark with a


the new concern is really taking off.- Hurel Dubois is the new


major new order worth more than £100m. up to the year 2000.


originally part of Lucas Aerospace Fabrications Division, operating in


Aerostructures was •


Burnley for almost 50 years.


blow with the cancellation of Tristar (Lockheed) and a reduction in demand for RB211 engines. That resulted in many cutbacks and eyen redundancies.


But it was hit a crushing


Fabrications Division was reorganised into separate groups which manufac­ tured thrust reversers and nacelle fabrications con­ centrated on the two sites, B a n c ro f t Road and Hargher Clough.


Two years ago, the


money, and because it was not part of Lucas Aero­ space’s "core” business, Lucas decided to look for a buyer. None was found and the annoucement about closure was made to the workforce in May last year.


The business was losing


mer of hope that any of the business could be saved. Discussions were held with 15 different com­ panies, with little success, but in June, Hurel Dubois


that all the employees would be made redundant. There was only a glim­


It then looked certain


expressed a willingness to take the talks further. By the autumn of 1988 both sides were beginning to believe that there was a chance’ to achieve a


rescue. It became clear that the


French company, was only interested in the thrust reverser business and they


nationalised concern Hi- spano-Suiza was given overall responsibility for assembly of the reverser.


site. This meant that Lucas had to finish or transfer a number of con­ tracts, move the majority of its plant and equipment and at the same time, con­ tinue to deliver to its customers.


proposed th a t Lucas should bring all the work on to the Bancroft Road


was organised and carried out with no serious prob­ lems and no disruption to customers. It depended for its success on co-opera- tion from the whole workforce.


This major upheaval


worked with Lucas since 1984 on th e th r u s t reverser for the A320 Air- bus. This was a new design patented by Hurel Dubois, but another French company, the


Hurel Dubois, had


Rolls-Royce in v ited proposals from major sup­ pliers for a new thurst reverser for their new very large engine which has now been named the


In the’ autumn of 1987,


Trent. Lucas Aerospace met


.began. Discussions continued


Hurel Dubois to talk about offering jointly to Rolls- Royce a new design based on the Dubois patent, and preliminary design work


through 1988 and in March,, before the closure announcement, Lucas spoke to Hurel Dubois reg a rd in g a possible purchase. ■


than anticipated, but in parallel, work continued on the Trent reverser. Rolls-Royce were very interested in the design, and eventually the choice lay between the Lucas and Hurel Dubois proposal and a design submitted by Rohr, a major American supplier.


Talks took far longer


LONG-SERVING emplotjees, from left to right, John McGuinness (27 years), Jim Magnall (39 years), Peter Johnson (37 years), John Smith (29 years) and Terry ' Lee (31 years)


dent enough in the future to award the contract for the new reverser to Hurel Dubois in May, exactly one year after the Burnley closure was announced.


Rolls-Royce were confi­


chase of the business by Hurel Dubois was reached on June 8th this year, the first day of the Paris air-


show with the actual tak eo v e r ag re ed for August 1st.


BURNLEY 33249 Mobile Phone 0836 631 679


Callender (Lancashire) Aeropart Ltd Manufacturers of Aerospace Engine Components and Precision Equipment


Willow Mill. Barnes Street. Clayton-le-Moors. Accrington, Lancashire. BB5 5SW


Tel: (0254) 398811 Fax: (0254) 35361 Telex: 63201 G/CAL


Best wishes to HUREL - DUBOIS


Aerofoil and Form Polishing lU K D C Z D Specialist Manufacturers of Turbine Blades and Equipment DIVISIONS O F CALLENDER (LANCS) AEROPART LTD


APPRENTICE of the year 20-year-old Carol Osborne who now works as a cell engineer


Best w is h e s to


HUREL-DUBOIS UK LTD from


WESTLAND AEROSPACE


Congratulations on the birth of a new company.


We look forward to a long business association with


Hurel Dubois UK Ltd.


WESTLAND AEROSPACE


Westland Aerostructures Limited East Cowes, Isle of Wight Telephone (0983) 294101 Telex 86761 WADG Fax (0983) 291006


WESTLAND AEROSPACE IS A WESTLAND GROUP COMPANY


YEWLANDS ENGINEERING


SPECIALISTS IN PRECISION ENGINEERING. )


FOWLER ROAD


H AIN AULT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, ESSEX. Telephone: 01 •500*1933


Telex: 897465 Fax: 01 *500*9553


YEWLANDS ENGINEERING


is a major contractor to the


Aerospace, Marine, Defence. and Energy Industries,


1 specialising in long term fully managed contracts.


APPROVED TO NATO STANDARD A.Q.A.P.-1 Hargher Clough Works R, I Vt;


Aero & Industrial Technology Ltd


Wish every success to all their old colleagues in their new company


HUREL DUBOIS UK LTD and look forward to


A M em b e r of industries plo


continuing a long and successful relationship.


KEIRBY Best


HUREL-D we look forw\


■ prosperous bu^


Keirby Walk, Bumle>| Tel:Burnle|


ENDLE AEROFORM


Hargher Clough Tel: 0282 416466


• Burnley • BB11 4BD\ Suppliers to the Aerospace industry of Airframe Fabrications.


Specialists in • Stretchfoaming - Pressing • Heat^ - ., . . Treatment • Surface Grinding.


wiiw Best wishes to HUREL DUBOIS UK LTD.


SHARPLES Haulage Contractor


• COMPETITIVE PRICES • 24 HOUR SERVICE • PROMPT DELIVERY


We are pleased to be associated with


HUREL DUBOIS


and wish them every success for the future.


The deal means that the business will operate as an independent subsidiary, with Mr Tom Hughes as Managing Director.


’ and, he said: “I am very pleased to join the French


Mr Hughes has been with Lucas for 29 years


ess! Agreement on the pur­


Clitheroe 22324 (Editoria


ness with very similar pro­ ducts and capabilities.


Lucas management team has stayed to run the busi­ ness,and additional staff will be recruited to cope with the growth that is expected within the next few years.”


“The majority of the


to learn from each other and Mr Hughes said: “We now employ 460 people who are delighted to be staying with tne company, particualarly as not so long ago they were faced with the strong possibility of losing their jobs.”


The two concerns hope


rently working on thrust reversers for the Rolls- Royce RB211 engines for Boeing 747 and 767 air­ craft; reversers for Gulf- stream Aerospace in America for the Gill busi­ ness jet; and major sub-as­ semblies for Hispano Suiza for the .CFM56-5 engine’s thrust reverser for the Airbus A320.


The company is cur­


contracts with at least five years on the two major programmes for Rolls- Royce and Hispano Suiza.


All are long-running


will be shared equally between Burnley and the French factories and because of the extent of the contract, more engi­ neers and other staff are being recruited to work on the major programme.


The new Trent order Mr Hughes said deli­


veries will commence in 1991 and should, he added, also create demand for more jobs for skilled workers.


will come into the business — new plant and equip­ ment, additional office


He said: “Investment


space to accommodate engineering and market­ ing people currently in rented offices at Hargher Clough. “It is the best thing that


company which is a suc- c tul and growing busi- are reaHy going places.”


H U R E L


ID U B O IS U.K.


A NEW NAME FOR LANCASHIRE


• Long established business


• Formerly the Aerostructures Division of Lucas Aerospace


• International reputation in Aerospace technology


• Specialising in engine thrust reverses and racelles


• Advanced ’ composite- materials capability.


Manufacture the thrust reverser for the new Trent Engine.


Royce to design and Selected by Rolls


BANCROFT ROAD, BURNLEY, LANCS. BB10 2TQ


Tel: (0282) 414400


Aenei Inter!


We W( Hurel


every\ new com


Head 0ff| Bridgewater


Tel: (O’ R


MANAGING DlRECl (right) and Walter ( | with Lucas \


| < ^ J


ik'ji;


\ l :


has happened to the busi­ ness in many years,” said Mr Hughes. “I believe we


Yukon fcw. DeP<


'■A Best ’ ( ■ Hurel-Di]


QUEENS MILL, EL


' LANCS Telephqnl


■ F 1


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