A POOLE engineering manufacturer has completed a 2.7million US dollar hot drape forming machine for a major Chinese aerospace manufacturer based in Shanghai.

Autoclave and Industrial Controls, which is based at Allen’s Lane, Hamworthy is part of the AIC Group, which commissioned a new 10,000 sq ft factory to manufacture the massive machine.

It will be used to pre-form the carbon fibre used to make wing spars for the new aircraft. The machine can process components up to 18m long by 1.5m wide at temperatures of 100C. As the machine was assembled, it was laid out as it will be in Shanghai. And most of the commissioning and training of for six operators will be completed before it is shipped in November.

Due to its size, AIC has significantly re-designed the equipment so that it can be split into smaller parts for ease of shipping. However it will still require at least 10 large trucks.

“This is the largest machine we have manufactured to date,” said Tony Toll, chief executive officer of AIC. “It is a tremendous endorsement of British manufacturing and engineering and shows we are at the forefront of the global race.

“Our customers could have chosen to go to a number of different countries around the world. They chose here because of our skills, knowledge and experience.

“Though this is a highly complex high-tech piece of kit, we will deliver the hot drape former on time and on budget. That’s what we do.”