Industria de Turbo Propulsores (ITP)is reaping the benefits of several years of heavy investment in research and development (R&D) with a 37%increase in profits for 1999, to Ptas2.5 million ($15 million).
Sales for the year were up 32% compared with 1998, to Ptas35.4 million, and the Spanish engine manufacturer - 46.9%-owned by the UK's Rolls-Royce - says this figure should rise to more than Ptas40 million this year. Civil aerospace contributed 49% of the 1998 sales total, with the military and maintenance sectors accounting for 23% and 28% respectively.
The company says it will continue to allocate a quarter of annual turnover to research and development work. Current key technology programmes include development of a thrust-vectoring nozzle for Eurofighter's Eurojet EJ200 engine, and a low-emission, low-pressure turbine module for civil engines.
The company is also working on technology to reduce design, manufacturing and maintenance costs of engine accessories or "dressings" through the use of virtual reality techniques during development.
Source: Flight International
