Sheffield Forgemasters wins key US defence contract

Sheffield Forgemasters has won a landmark 6.2m USD contract to supply crucial castings for service in the US Navy submarine fleet.

The contract will see Sheffield Forgemasters deliver 84 castings, to General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation, the company responsible for the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the U.S. Navy.

Sheffield Forgemasters won the order based on its strong working relationship with Electric Boat Corporation and its unparalleled history of supplying high specification steel castings for both the US and the UK Navy submarine programmes.

Sheffield Forgemasters are only one, of a handful of companies around the globe qualified by the US Navy to produce these high integrity casting, having undergone an extensive qualification program involving both Electric Boat and the US Navy.

Dr Graham Honeyman, Chief Executive at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “This is a landmark order for Sheffield Forgemasters and for the UK and it cements our long-standing working partnership with Electric Boat Corporation.

“The specifics of the components are classified, but we can confirm that the order is valued at 6.2 million US Dollars and is a significant body of work for our foundry, which will be required to deliver a series of complex castings over a period of 10 months.”

Work to create the castings starts with the process of establishing specific material characteristics and goes to Sheffield Forgemasters’ Melt Shop under the new directorship of world leading metallurgist, Dr Martin Novak. The first casting is expected to be poured in September 2014.

Sheffield Forgemasters has been a supplier to Electric Boat Corporation for 6 years and has also been a key components supplier to the UK Navy’s submarine defence programme for more than 30 years.

Dr Honeyman added: “We have been in negotiations with Electric Boat Corporation on specifics of this contract for 12 months now and confirmation of the order comes at a very important time for us as we continue to fight the effects of a global recession and late-cycle orders."