An apprentice machinist at Castings Technology has taken delivery of the keys to what will become one of the world's largest titanium foundries.

William Oakley, 18, who was shortlisted for apprentice of the year at the recent Made in Sheffield awards, accepted the keys on behalf of the company at the new facility in Sheffield.

The 196,000 sq ft facility has undergone a multi-million pound refurbishment by the landlord ahead of Castings Technology's occupation.

The company is investing £18m in the site at Tinsley Industrial Estate to boost productivity, increase capacity and secure critical elements of its supply chain.

The investments are designed to strengthen Castings Technology’s position as a leading UK and European supplier to global aerospace, energy and defence industries, where demand for titanium castings is growing rapidly due to their exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to corrosion and heat.

A new vacuum arc remelting (VAR) furnace, supplied by a world-leading manufacturer of industrial furnaces, replicates existing capability but introduces an automated bogie loading system, replacing manual and forklift-dependent handling. The upgrade delivers significant health and safety benefits alongside greater efficiency in line with the company's lean manufacturing principles.

A new vacuum heat treatment furnace will be one of the largest in Europe. The step change in capacity means large titanium components that previously had to be subcontracted externally can now be processed on site, reducing lead times and giving Castings Technology greater control over quality at every stage of production.

The facility also includes the latest CNC machining and 3D printing technology.

The £18m investment is creating 20 new jobs at the company and many more in its regional supply chain, with roles spanning production, quality, technical and commercial functions.

Richard Cook, managing director, said: “Congratulations to William for taking delivery of the keys to what will become one of the world’s largest titanium foundries here in South Yorkshire. We’re proud to be investing in talent and technology to meet growing demand from global industries.”