Inside Beldam Crossley’s Cordseal® Manufacturing Team
As the industry marks International Women’s Day, Beldam Crossley is celebrating a remarkable team whose work quietly supports some of the world’s most advanced aerospace platforms.
At the company’s UK manufacturing facility, the Cordseal® braided sealing range is produced entirely by a highly skilled, all-female production team. Their work supports demanding aerospace environments where precision, reliability and traceability are non-negotiable.
Cordseal® braided seals are used in critical aircraft systems where flexible sealing solutions are required to withstand extreme operating conditions. These braided components are typically specified within engine sealing systems, thermal protection assemblies, avionics housings and environmental control systems, helping to manage airflow, pressure, vibration and heat in some of the most demanding areas of modern aircraft.
The product range supports applications across global aerospace supply chains, including equipment used on aircraft platforms from Airbus and Boeing, as well as propulsion systems developed by leading engine manufacturers such as GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and CFM International. These engines power many of today’s most advanced commercial aircraft, including those fitted with the CFM LEAP engine family and next-generation wide-body aircraft powered by GE Aerospace’s GE9X engine.
Today, the CFM LEAP engine family powers thousands of aircraft operating worldwide and has become one of the fastest-selling jet engine programmes in aviation history, with tens of thousands of engines ordered and thousands already in service globally.
Designed to perform reliably in environments exposed to high temperatures, aggressive media, vibration and mechanical movement, Cordseal® products provide a robust yet flexible sealing solution where rigid components are not suitable. Their braided construction allows them to accommodate movement and irregular surfaces while maintaining sealing integrity — a critical requirement in aerospace engineering.
Manufactured using high-performance materials including PTFE and advanced fibre blends, the Cordseal® range is trusted by aerospace OEMs and equipment manufacturers where consistent performance and long-term reliability are essential.
Leading the team behind this specialist product is Fiona, whose experience and steady leadership guide a group with decades of combined manufacturing expertise. Every braid, inspection and finished spool reflects the discipline required to meet strict aerospace traceability standards.
In recent weeks the Cordseal® team has been operating at full capacity, supporting demanding delivery schedules for global aerospace customers. Extended production runs and tight timelines are part of the job, yet the team approaches every order with calm professionalism and an unwavering focus on quality.
What makes the Cordseal® team particularly special, however, is the culture they have created on the production floor.
The department is known across the factory for its close-knit, supportive atmosphere. Birthdays are rarely missed and are often celebrated with cakes and treats brought in to share — small moments that bring everyone together before the braiding machines return to their steady rhythm.
Another much-loved hallmark of the department is the immaculate production environment maintained by team member Gail, whose commitment to keeping the production floor spotless has become something of a treasured tradition within the team.
Visitors often remark that the Cordseal® floor is so clean “you could eat your dinner off it.” It is a standard the team proudly maintains — and one that reflects the same care and pride that goes into every metre of aerospace braid produced.
Beyond the warmth and camaraderie, the Cordseal® operation is built on rigorous quality standards. The range is manufactured in the UK and produced to AS9100 aerospace quality requirements, supporting high-performance sealing applications across global aerospace platforms.
Summary
Beldam Crossley is celebrating the all-female production team behind its Cordseal® aerospace sealing range as part of International Women’s Day. Manufactured in the UK to AS9100 standards, Cordseal® braided seals are used in critical aircraft systems including engine sealing assemblies, avionics housings and environmental control systems. The product supports aerospace platforms supplied by major manufacturers including Airbus, Boeing, GE Aerospace, Rolls-Royce and CFM International.
