ROLLS-ROYCE engineers used their skills to build the engines that powered the nation's planes to victory in the Battle of Britain in the early days of the Second World War.

Now a new generation of worker is helping to power the world's most sophisticated planes and warships.

More than 1200 craftsmen produce over one million engine parts every year at the company's manufacturing plant at Inchinnan, near Renfrew. ADOLF Hitler is the reason why Derby-based Rolls-Royce came to Scotland. After Nazi Germany invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia, the Air Ministry decided in 1938 to create giant engineering workshops on land next to what is now Hillington Industrial Estate. They persuaded R-R bosses to manage the sprawling site. Around 15,000 engineers worked out of 14 factory blocks to mass produce Merlin engines to power the Spitfire fighter planes. The workforce was drawn from across the country. Hundreds needed somewhere to stay, so 1000 homes were built nearby and later became known as the Penilee estate. Production hit a peak in 1943, with a workforce of 25,000 building 400 Merlin engines a week. When the war ended in 1945, the Air Ministry handed ownership of the site to Rolls-Royce. The workforce was cut to 4000 engineers, spread across six factory blocks. Another 7000 staff were hired at the start of the Korean War in 1950. Restructuring in 1965 resulted in the Hillington facility becoming a compressor component manufacturer. Engineering skills built up over six decades was the prime reason why Rolls-Royce decided to invest £85million in a new replacement site at neighbouring Inchinnan. When Inchinnan opened on October 26, 2004, it was the most advanced of its kind in the world.

It is all a long way from the previous factory, which was set up in the late 1930s as the Second World War loomed, on land now known as Hillington Industrial Estate. The workers mass produced Merlin engines to power Spitfires, the iconic fighter planes.

When you go into today's factory, you can forget thick odours of oil and deafening metal bashing thuds - this is the most hi-tech facility of its kind in the world.

The heat in the factory forge could just about fry an egg - but conditions are clinical.

It is the overalls that give visitors the first real indication this is a major manufacturing hub.

The site lies in the shadow of Glasgow Airport and in recent years has secured engine orders worth tens of millions of pounds for fleets of giant Airbus passenger planes.

It produces engine parts including internal blades and turbine seals for the Trent engines that power Airbus planes.

Due to this, British Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Flyglobespan and Gulf airline Emirates have all placed huge orders that have helped to keep Inchinnan in full production.

But the site is more than a major aero-engine manufacturer.

It also produces components for propulsion systems that will drive the world's most advanced warships - the Royal Navy's six-strong fleet of Type 45 destroyers, which are being built at the BAE Scotstoun and Govan shipyards.

Engine parts to help power giant industrial pumps used offshore in oil and gas fields are also manufactured at the plant.

The company announced in June it had attracted potential orders worth more than £253million for its Trent 60 power-generating gas turbine engines, which are used to produce electricity.

Energy firms from across the globe, including America, Russia, Australia and Belgium, are expected to place firm orders within the next few weeks.

George Adams is the operations executive in charge of more than 1200 highly skilled engineers.

He said: "We produce 1.6million parts every year and 80% is for the civil aviation sector.

"Rolls-Royce requires 4m parts annually and this factory supplies more than a quarter. The challenge for us is to remain competitive. We are very good at delivery and quality.

"Cost is the biggest challenge and we have to constantly look at becoming more competitive.

"We hope the more successful we are will mean more growth."

Long gone are the days when the words "Rolls-Royce" referred only to one of the world's most luxurious and expensive cars.

While the vehicles are now made by German firm BMW after the car division was sold off in the 70s, the same interlocking trademark RR monogram is used.

The logo is one of the most recognisable in the world, not just because of the famous luxury cars but because the firm is a leading provider of engines for civil and defence aerospace as well as the marine and energy markets.

The engineering group has a presence in 50 countries with headquarters in Britain, America, Canada, Germany and China.

It employs 40,000 staff. That's enough to fill Glasgow's Cineworld - the world's tallest cinema - almost 10 times over. The Rolls-Royce factory at Inchinnan is now a major player in producing engine parts for aircraft The factory is one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world with state-of-the-art technology There's still a vital role to be played by skilled workers, such as that provided by press operator Derek McIntyre

Rolls-Royce customers include 600 airlines, 4000 corporate and utility aircraft and helicopter operators, 160 armies, 70 navies and energy firms in 120 countries.

Last year it declared annual sales of £7.4billion, of which more than half came from after-sale services. The order book for 2007 was £45.9bn, of which more than £13bn was for servicing work supplies by facilities such as R-R repair and maintenance factory in East Kilbride.