Surface Transforms strikes rocket deal

ROCKET component manufacturer Surface Transforms has won a two-year contract with a French firm specialising in rocket propulsion.

The Ellesmere Port company said the £210,000 deal with Microturbo – part of the multi-national Safran Group – will see it deliver its ceramic materials and components for use in the uncooled engine turbines of missiles.

Surface Transforms has been developing carbon fibre reinforced ceramic composite materials which it sells into two markets – the rocket industry and the auto sector where its parts are used in high performance brakes.

The deal with Microturbo follows a three-year agreement with MBDA, Europe’s largest missile manufacturer.

Chief executive Kevin Johnson said: “The contract with Microturbo is an important recognition and extension of our current work with MBDA over the past three years and continues to show that our carbon-ceramic is now a strategic material which gives significant performance advantages over carbon-carbon and huge weight savings over advanced metal alloys.

“We can deliver distinct cost benefits with improved performance using our proprietary technology. Working with Microturbo significantly strengthens our position in the defence industry.”