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Tue 14th Jan 2003 : SOUTH YORKSHIRE COMPANY ‘POWERS’ UP FOR SUCCESS
With assistance from REACT (The Regional Technology Centre), a South Yorkshire firm, Rotherham-based Wren Turbines, has successfully designed and produced the world’s smallest commercially available turbo jet engine, which was used to power the recent maiden flight of a commercially available turbo prop powered model aircraft. Wren Turbines was founded in 1999 when Rodger Parish and three of his fellow model aircraft enthusiasts decided to pool their skills and set up a business together to design and manufacture small gas turbines and turbo shaft engines for use in model aircraft.

Rodger Parish said: “We were all united in our ambition to manufacture a turbo jet engine to sell commercially. However, we quickly realised one of the biggest challenges we faced was making the key components in the quantities required. We made contact with REACT and realised they could provide us with a solution to our problems. We worked closely with their technical experts on the ground breaking precision work required to develop the components and, with the help of their advanced technological facilities, we quickly made progress. Supplying REACT with 2D drawings, they produced, at low cost, 3D prototype models.”

“Without the assistance of REACT, this work would have cost us thousands of pounds. As a relatively new company we simply could not have afforded this investment, and the project would have never got off the ground.”

Wren Turbines is now really taking off, and the company is making plans to expand its product range. With a staff of six and a turnover of £350,000 the company is dedicated to supplying engines, quality parts and plans to homebuilders of model planes – whatever their location. Wren Turbines are in demand around the world, and they now export to nearly 40 countries, including far-flung locations such as Borneo and South America.