Aldershot-based company, FT Gearing, supplies the global defence and aerospace sectors with gears, miniature gearboxes and safety critical components for wing surface actuators, engine controls, instrumentation and fuel pumps. A few years ago, the manufacturer tried broaching the bore profiles in steel worm shafts to transmit the drive to thrust reversers, but the length-to-diameter ratios were too high and the tools broke frequently.