AI and EV boom sparks 300% sales surge in CDT Diamond Rotary Dressers
Justin Hughes (left), Product Manager at Continental Diamond Tool in Wales, with Holly Carr-Brannon (right), Diamond Setter.
Growing global demand for power-generation technology is driving a 300% increase in orders for Diamond Rotary Dressers manufactured by our team at Continental Diamond Tool Ltd. in the United Kingdom.
The increase reflects broader changes in energy usage tied to technologies such as artificial intelligence and electric vehicles. As more data centres are built and EV charging networks expand, manufacturers are seeing greater demand for reliable power-generation systems and the precision tools that support them.
Precision Tools for Manufacturing Turbines
At our North Wales facility, we manufacture custom precision tooling used in the production of critical turbine components.
Our Diamond Rotary Dressers are used by customers to profile conventional grinding wheels. Those wheels then grind precise features on turbine blades used in land-based power-generation systems.
These applications require a high level of accuracy, consistency and repeatability, making the dressing process an important part of turbine component manufacturing.
Several trends are contributing to increased activity in this market:
Continued investment in AI data centres
Expansion of EV and hybrid vehicle charging networks
Refurbishment and repurposing of turbine systems
Upgrades to support reliable power generation during periods of peak demand
Justin Hughes, Production Manager, said:
“There has been a significant increase in orders for larger turbines, partly driven by the number of data centres being built around the world. For CDT, it’s about making sure we keep advancing the tooling solutions our customers will need in the years ahead.”
New Technologies Are Increasing Power Demand
Artificial intelligence and electric vehicles may seem far removed from precision grinding, but their growth is affecting manufacturing supply chains in ways that are not always obvious.
AI data centres require substantial electricity, while expanding EV charging networks add another layer of demand on the grid. Together, these trends are contributing to a spike of investment in primary, supplemental, and backup power-generation systems.
Justin explained:
“The emergence of artificial intelligence is contributing to one of the most significant periods of technological and industrial change in generations. At the same time, the charging infrastructure for electric and hybrid cars requires more power – the network needs to deliver more electricity, particularly at peak times.”
That increased demand works its way back through the manufacturing supply chain. As turbine systems are built, upgraded and maintained, manufacturers need the precision grinding and dressing tools required to produce critical components accurately and consistently.
“As a result, we’re seeing much more business for products used in the manufacturing stream for power-generation systems. We’re living in a changing world, and developments such as AI and electric vehicles are influencing industries and manufacturing supply chains in ways that are not always obvious.”
We expect power-generation applications to remain an important area for CDT Diamond Rotary Dressers as the world continues adapting to changing energy requirements.
Aerospace and Power Generation Share Common Technology
Power generation also has a close connection to another market we have served for many years: aerospace.
Many land-based turbine systems share technology and manufacturing requirements with aircraft engines. That creates crossover in areas such as component geometry, grinding processes, and precision tooling.
We are seeing activity across both markets: demand for new turbine components as well as the refurbishment and reuse of existing turbine technology.
Justin noted:
“That’s partly due to the number of new planes being ordered – there have been some massive orders of late. But there’s also a crossover between aerospace and power generation because some of the turbines used to generate electricity started out as aircraft-engine technology.”
In some cases, older aircraft engines are refurbished and adapted to drive generators, giving them a new use in supplemental or backup power applications.
Justin continued:
“Our Diamond Rotary Dressers are used in the manufacture of new turbine components and also have a role when those parts are refurbished. So, the same technology and know-how that support aerospace feed into the power-generation market as well.”
That overlap allows us to apply experience from one demanding industry to another. It also helps us respond quickly as the industry’s manufacturing needs change.
Automotive Demand Remains Strong
Alongside growth in power generation and aerospace, we continue to see strong activity in automotive manufacturing.
Our work with one automotive customer shows how ongoing engineering and process improvements can deliver meaningful gains over time.
According to Justin:
“With this longstanding customer, it used to be considered good to get around 400,000 parts out of one tool. Now, some are lasting for more than one million parts.”
In some customer applications, we have more than doubled tool life through incremental improvements to product design and performance. We regularly help customers reduce tooling costs, improve consistency, and get more value from each tool.
Justin said:
“We like to think the increase in orders reflects the way we look after our customers and consistently deliver products of the highest quality. The tools have to be absolutely spot on.”
Diamond Rotary Dressers are wearing tools, so durability and consistency are important parts of their value. Our engineering and production teams continue to look for ways to improve performance as applications and customer requirements evolve.
Justin added:
“Over time we have made significant improvements to the durability of our diamond rolls. That has extended their lifespan and provided even better value for money. Those improvements have been made incrementally because we’re constantly looking for ways to make the product perform even better.”
Growth Follows a Well-Timed Expansion
The increase in demand comes after our move last year into a purpose-built manufacturing facility in Kinmel Bay that is three times the size of our previous location on the Tir Llwyd Industrial Estate. The expansion was supported by a £4 million investment from Continental Diamond Tool Corporation in Indiana, which acquired the North Wales operation in 2018.
The larger facility gives our team more room to support growth across power generation, aerospace, automotive and other precision manufacturing markets.
Justin commented:
“The increase in orders is helping us invest in the business, creating new jobs, and pumping money into the local economy here in North Wales.”
That growth also highlights the importance of the skilled people behind our products.
Justin concluded:
“Underpinning all our success is our highly skilled and motivated workforce, who deliver high-quality products time after time. That, in turn, brings in more work because our industry still relies heavily on physical skills and manual dexterity at a very high level. Everybody understands what they need to do and the level of precision required for a tool to be acceptable.
“The customers coming to us are part of fast-growing, global industries, and that growth is creating exciting opportunities here in Kinmel Bay.”
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Diamond Rotary Dressers profile and condition conventional grinding wheels used to manufacture critical turbine components. In turbine applications, those grinding wheels produce precise features on turbine blades, including sections that help anchor the blades securely within the turbine. The dressing process maintains the wheel geometry, consistency, and repeatability required for high-precision grinding. If you need support with a turbine grinding application, call CDT or complete our website contact form to connect with our team.
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Aerospace and land-based turbine components often share similar materials, geometries, and precision-grinding requirements. Diamond Rotary Dressers are engineered for grinding processes used to manufacture new turbine components or refurbish existing components. CDT works with customers to develop dresser designs around the specific grinding wheel, machine, part geometry, and process requirements. Reach out to discuss your aerospace or power-generation grinding process with our sales and application support team.
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Yes. CDT customizes Diamond Rotary Dressers for the specific requirements of each grinding application. Wheel profile, part geometry, grinding machine, abrasive wheel, tolerances, and production goals all factor into the dresser design. This application-specific approach gives customers a dressing tool matched to their manufacturing process. If you have a specific component or wheel profile in mind, complete our website contact form to reach our sales and service team.
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A properly engineered Diamond Rotary Dresser maintains the form and condition of the grinding wheel over repeated dressing cycles. Consistent dressing supports stable part quality, predictable wheel performance, and reliable production. CDT also works with customers to improve dresser durability and extend tool life through ongoing engineering and process improvements. If you are looking to improve dresser life, consistency, or grinding performance, call CDT or send us your application details through our website contact form.
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Manufacturers should choose a supplier with proven application experience, strong engineering support, precise manufacturing capabilities, and rigorous quality control. CDT combines these capabilities with an experienced sales and application support team serving the aerospace, automotive, and power-generation markets. We work directly with customers to develop and improve Diamond Rotary Dressers for long-term performance in demanding precision grinding applications. To discuss your Diamond Rotary Dresser needs, get in touch with our sales and application support team.
