AERO-ENGINE giants Rolls-Royce are riding high, with preliminary results for 1997 showing pre-tax profit up by a massive 17 per cent, to £276 million.

The company - whose twin plants at Barnoldswick design and manufacture key aero-engine components including the distinctive wide chord fan blades - has just released its preliminary results for 1997.

They make impressive reading, showing continued growth built on the foundation of years of product development at Barnoldswick and the company's other plants.

The 1997 figures show an annual turnover of £4,334 million, up 11 per cent on last year, and a recommended final full year dividend of 5.9 pence per share, also up 11 per cent.

Giving confidence for the future is an order book which stands at an incredible £8 billion, up a full billion pounds in the past 12 months. And that figure doesn't include a further £2.1 billion of orders announced but not yet finalised and entered in the order book.

The market for aero engines and spare parts over the next 20 years is estimated at £380 billion, and Rolls-Royce is well positioned to take a major share, reaping the rewards of consistent market strategies and ongoing product development.

Its Trent 700 and 800 engines last year won 80 per cent of the orders for the new generation of wide body twin-engined aircraft, with new orders for 63 aircraft. The Trent 500 was launched as the only engine on the four-engined Airbus Industrie A340-500/600 aircraft, with launch orders for 100 aircraft.

Leading edge Trent techno-logy has also given a fresh lease of life to the RB211 engine family, resulting in new orders from three airlines for the improved RB211 to power Boeing 747-400 aircraft. Last year also saw Rolls-Royce deliver its 1,000th RB211-535 engine.

Commenting on the results, company chairman Sir Ralph Robins said: "These results demonstrate the value of pursuing consistent strategies.

"By building market leading positions in growing markets we have not only further improved our financial performance but also laid strong foundations for future growth.

"In 1997 we achieved our highest ever share of the civil aero-engine market. We are continuing to invest in both product and capability and are committed to our target of double digit earnings growth and creating value for shareholders."

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