Derby aerospace company, Rotadata, which has worked on the NASA space programme, is celebrating 40 years in business this month.
Rotadata tests and measures pressure, strain and temperature in the most challenging environments for parts which will go into power production in gas turbines and tests and measures for flight application for the aerospace industry.
Clients range include Rolls Royce and General Electric in the UK, USA and Europe. It worked on the USA space programme in the 1980s.
The company’s precision testing measures to microns to ensure accuracy needed by Britain’s aerospace industry.
The company was set up by former Rolls Royce engineer Jack Taylor in 1978 after seeing the need for more specialised instrumentation services in the sector. Today, Rotadata also spends time and money on research and development for the sector as the demands of aerospace move from hardware to software. The company is now run by his son Simon.
Managing Director, Simon Taylor said:” I’m proud of the company, the business and its level of technology. I am honoured to be fourth generation ex-Rolls Royce and the second generation running Rotadata.
“To be a family owned and family run business in this sector for forty years is something to be celebrated. It has been a tremendous journey for us all from working with the EU, Russian and US space exploration through to the huge power stations which provide energy across the world.
“Most of our staff have been with us almost from the beginning. The work is interesting, challenging and bespoke. Every job is different. They get the chance to engineer and innovate. Our aim is to be as relevant to the sector in 40 years time as we are today.”
Simon has since developed the technical knowledge from the aerospace sector to set up a second company Roscom, which provides calibrated test and measurement technology to help mobile phone operators provide 100 per cent accurate bills, fight fraud and comply with regulations in the industry.
Photo courtesy of Derby Telegraph