Mettis Aerospace will today announce at Farnborough that it has won contracts worth nearly £20 million to supply high-precision engine components to Rolls-Royce.

The Midlands-based company will supply engine sector stator vanes for the new Trent 900, launch engine for the A380 Airbus, and annulus fillers for a range of engines including the Trent, BRR and RB211.

Both are used to control air flow into the engine.

The three-year contract for T rent 900 is to supply precision-forged and

machined vanes to the Rolls-Royce engine plant in Barnoldswick, Lancashire.

The Trent 900 has a fan diameter of nearly 10ft, physically the largest engine built by Rolls-Royce. It is also the world's cleanest large turbofan engine, measured by emissions per pound of thrust.

The aircraft, which can carry more than 500 passengers, is scheduled to enter commercial service later this year with Singapore Airlines. There are now firm orders for 159 aircraft and purchase options for a further 100 A380s.

But A380, which will be taking part in flying displays at Farnborough, has been hugely delayed and was largely responsible for the crisis which saw Noel Forgard, co-chief executive of parent EADS, lose his job.

Mettis, which has a 26-acre site in Redditch, also supplies aero-structural components directly to Airbus.

Karl Bishop, sales and marketing director of Mettis Aerospace, said: "We are delighted about this award as it provides us with a platform for continued investment in new skills and technology.

"Our strategy is to provide single-stop supply solutions to major aerospace manufacturers. This award involves precision forging and complex five-axis machining of titanium airfoil sections. This is a highly-specialised area and the fact that Mettis has proven its capability in this field is to be celebrated."

To support the contract, Mettis will invest almost £1 million in new technology i ncluding two five-axis machine tools, built by Mazak a nd commissioned next month.

The contract to supply annulus fillers to Rolls-Royce is also part of a three-year agreement.

It encompasses forging, machining, processing and the kitting of a range of aluminium components.

Mr Bishop added: "We are delighted to have secured these contracts with RollsRoyce. We are particularly p leased that they have confidence in our ability to supply high-precision components.

"We have a capability that allows us to forge, machine, process, paint, assemble and kit within our Redditch plant.

"This gives us a major competitive advantage and provides us with a capability that helps our customers achieve their goals of working with a smaller number of more capable suppliers."

Mettis employs 550 people. According to weekend reports, BAE Systems is set to pick up £3 billion of orders at the air show to supply the Ministry of Defence with Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft and advanced Hawk trainers. But the sales battle between European plane-maker Airbus and its American rival Boeing will dominate Farnborough.

Airbus, whose aircraft wings are made in the UK, has been in disarray of late, having seen a slump in orders.

There are doubts about the launch of the company's new A350.

In contrast, Seattle-based Boeing has enjoyed a good year for orders and will be trumpeting the success of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Lasting until next Sunday, the Farnborough show will feature not far short of 1,500 exhibitors - comfortably exceeding the 2004 total of 1,360.