A £3.5 million investment has started earning its keep!

The first component has been produced on a new cutting facility installed at British Aerospace, Samlesbury for work on the Eurofighter Typhoon.

The Swiss made machine will produce parts including wing attachment brackets.

Each bracket is made up of 12 titanium components and the machine is able to cut slots in them within 45 minutes compared with the previous method which took 20 hours.

"This new facility will enable both major cost and time savings and is one of a number of key initiatives which will help ensure that the Eurofighter Typhoon can be produced within 18 months," said Tony Halliday, project manager.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.