United Kingdom: Castings Technology, the UK’s only commercial specialist in titanium castings, has once again partnered with Retech, a company within the SECO/WARWICK Group, for the installation of a new Vacuum Arc Remelting Consumable Caster (VAR-CC) furnace. The advanced system will be deployed at the company’s new 18,000 sq. m. manufacturing facility, significantly enhancing its titanium casting capabilities and reducing lead times for finished components.
The latest investment comes amid growing global demand for titanium components, particularly from the aerospace industry, where production backlogs have surpassed pre-pandemic levels. The new VAR-CC furnace will enable Castings Technology to increase production capacity for near-net-shape titanium castings, a technology that offers mechanical properties comparable to forged or wrought materials while delivering improved fatigue resistance.
This marks the second such installation for Castings Technology, which has been using Retech equipment since procuring a similar Vacuum Consumable Caster furnace in 2014. The long-standing technical collaboration and familiarity with the equipment laid the foundation for the renewed partnership.
“This is the second such machine specified by the team at Castings Technology, whose technicians have worked for years on our equipment, including a similar Vacuum Consumable Caster furnace procured in 2014. This familiarity and previous technical cooperation have created a solid foundation for a formal partnership,” said Earl Good, Managing Director of Retech and Vice President of the Vacuum Metallurgy segment at SECO/WARWICK Group.
Titanium continues to gain prominence across industries due to its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance. The material offers strength comparable to steel while weighing approximately 45% less, making it particularly attractive for aerospace applications, as well as motorsport, medical prosthetics, restorative dentistry and high-duty rotating equipment.
“Our innovative VAR-CC furnace will enhance production capacity and further complement their considerable experience in a demanding and reactive alloy. Near-net-shape titanium casting technology provides mechanical properties comparable to forged or wrought material while increasing fatigue resistance,” said Sławomir Tomaszewski, Head of the Vacuum Melting Furnace Team at SECO/WARWICK. “We are pleased that our Group can support Castings Technology’s rapid growth and that solutions from the Retech and SECO/WARWICK brands will form the backbone of their newly established facility.”
Castings Technology is currently relocating to a larger manufacturing site to accommodate its expanding operations and increasing customer demand. The company plans to maintain parallel operations at both facilities throughout 2026 to ensure uninterrupted service to its customers.
“The delivery of the new VAR furnace will help us fulfil the growing needs of our exacting client base,” said Richard Cook, Managing Director of Castings Technology. “The relocation is on plan, with a period of parallel operation continuing throughout 2026 to fully mitigate any risk to our clients’ programs. Full transition is expected prior to year-end, after the installation of all equipment, including Retech’s technologically advanced VAR furnace from the SECO/WARWICK Group.”
The latest order further strengthens the long-term relationship between Castings Technology and SECO/WARWICK Group, while reinforcing the growing importance of advanced vacuum metallurgy technologies in meeting the aerospace sector’s increasing demand for lightweight, high-performance titanium components.
