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    1. Aircraft
    2. Rotorcraft

    Leonardo Approves RHH Franks as a Digital Subcontract Manufacturing Partner

    Aug. 10, 2021
    Leonardo, an aerospace, defense and security firm, has named UK firm RHH Franks as one of its approved digital subcontract manufacturing partners for its helicopter division.
    Related To: Leonardo Company
    Leonardo
    Christopher Thomson, supplier development manager for Leonardo Helicopters (UK) division, poses for a photo with RHH Franks managing director Elsa Hogan.
    Christopher Thomson, supplier development manager for Leonardo Helicopters (UK) division, poses for a photo with RHH Franks managing director Elsa Hogan.

    Leonardo, an aerospace, defense and security firm, has named UK firm RHH Franks as one of its approved digital subcontract manufacturing partners for its helicopter division.

    According to a Leonardo news release, the approval helps further improvements made from the collaborative diagnostics on the SC21 program, for which RHH Franks first achieved a bronze award in 2019.

    RHH Franks, a global component manufacturer based in New Milton, Hampshire, has been working with the aerospace engineering solutions provider since the 1990s, manufacturing components for legacy aircraft, including the Lynx and Sea King.

    Following significant investment in a factory expansion, specialist resources and the CATIA V5 system, RHH Franks is now able to receive digital 3D product designs and manufacture any component required for the Leonardo fleet, including the Wildcat helicopter.

    That led to the official approval of RHH Franks as a digital subcontract manufacturer by Leonardo and enhances the company’s manufacturing capability for other clients worldwide across multiple sectors.

    Christopher Thomson, supplier development manager UK for Leonardo Helicopters (UK) Division, said: “We’ve always experienced the highest level of service and quality since working with RHH Franks and are delighted to be able to add them to our approved digital partner list.

    “RHH Franks’ values and commitment to excellence are very much aligned with Leonardo’s and its investment in CATIA V5 will only enhance the way in which we collaborate.”

    Utilizing the powerful and functional CATIA V5 software, RHH Franks can take any product concept from 3D design to support large batch original equipment manufacturers, medium batch legacy replenishment or small prototype production.

    Elsa Hogan, RHH Franks managing director, said: “Leonardo is an innovative company manufacturing one of the most wide-ranging and versatile aircraft fleet in the world, and for that alone we are proud to have been working with them for almost 30 years.

    “We are therefore thankful, that with its support, we were able to take the next step in our growth plan and develop our manufacturing capacity and capability with CATIA V5.

    “The software has already had a considerable positive impact on output, and we hope to increase this further by working more with Leonardo in the future.”