Sheffield Forgemasters secures US defence contract

Contract win comes after 12 months of negotiations

Sheffield Forgemasters International has won a $6.2 million contract to supply castings for service in the US Navy submarine fleet.

The company will deliver 84 castings to General Dynamics Electric Boat Corporation, who is responsible for the design, construction and lifecycle support of submarines for the US Navy.

Sheffield Forgemasters has been certified by the US Navy to produce these high integrity castings, having undergone a qualification programme involving both Electric Boat and the US Navy.

Work to create the castings started with the process of establishing specific material characteristics, which goes to the company’s melt shop. The first casting is expected to be poured in September 2014.

Dr Graham Honeyman, chief executive at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: “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.

“The order 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."

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