Rolls Royce

Rolls-Royce is one of the world's most famous engineering brands. Starting out as an electrical and mechanical business in the late 19th century, it expanded into a prestige vehicle manufacture giant – with expertise in civil aerospace, defence aerospace, power systems, the marine sector and nuclear power.

It is one of the leading global manufacturers of aero engines for corporate jets and large civil aircraft and the second largest global manufacturer of defence aero engines.

Company formation

The story of Rolls-Royce began in 1884, when Henry Royce started his own electrical and mechanical business, FH Royce and Company. He learned his skills working for the Great Northern Railway, the Electric Light and Power Company and a tool-manufacturer in Leeds.

Initially, he manufactured domestic electric fittings and then began making dynamos and electric cranes in around 1894. Royce was interested in motor cars and built his first in 1904. He met Charles Royce, a quality car dealer in London, in May of that year

They made an agreement that Royce would manufacture high-quality cars that would be sold exclusively by CS Rolls & Co, bearing the name Rolls-Royce. The Rolls-Royce company was formed in March 1906, launching the "best car in the world", the legendary Silver Ghost, within a year.

Aerospace

During the 20th and 21st century, Rolls-Royce expanded into the aerospace industry. In the late 1920s, the 'R' engine was developed for Britain's entry into the 1931 seaplane contest, the International Schneider Trophy. It broke the world air speed record, clocking more than 400mph.

This led Rolls-Royce to develop the Merlin, which powered the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane in the Battle of Britain in 1940. Subsequently, the Welland engine also entered service in 1944 in the Gloster Meteor jet fighter.

Rolls-Royce entered civil aviation in 1953 with the Dart engine in the Vickers Viscount, followed by the Conway engine in the Boeing 707 in 1960. In 1990, Rolls-Royce and BMW of Germany formed an aero engines joint venture and the company became Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd and Co KG.

In 2010, a vertical landing version of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter was launched, using Rolls-Royce's ground breaking LiftSystem for the first time. In 2013, Trent XWB engine was used for the first time in France, on an Airbus A380 test aircraft.

Portfolio

Today, in the field of civil aerospace, Rolls-Royce's product portfolio includes powering more than 35 types of commercial aircraft, with more than 13,000 engines in service globally. As the world's second largest manufacturer of defence aero-engines, Rolls-Royce has 16,000 engines serving customers in 103 countries in sectors such as combat, patrol helicopters, transport, training and unmanned aerial vehicles.

When only the best is good enough, clients turn to KAS Shopfittings to supply a wide range of shelving systems that are available for quick delivery at low prices. As testament to the quality of our products and services, Rolls-Royce's aerospace division commissioned KAS Shopfittings to supply them with chrome shelving.

Our commercial grade chrome shelving is exceptionally strong - up to 300kg loading - with a comprehensive choice of sizes and shelves which can be set at any height spacings. Please contact us for further detail.