Air Covers Ltd of Wrexham which manufactures sophisticated protective covers for aircraft has won a £160,000 contract from the United Arab Emirates.
The news was announced by Economy Minister Edwina Hart during a recent visit to their facility on Wrexham Industrial Estate. The Minister helped get the order underway by pressing the start button on a new £100,000 state-of-the-art CNC textile cutting machine
The contract to supply covers for 34 helicopters – their largest to date – was clinched after Air Covers received support from the Welsh Government to visit clients in the Middle East.
MD John Pattinson who founded the business in 2006 said: “The support was perfectly timed. We had been trialling products with users in the region for 18 months but this allowed us to meet with the key decision makers. We were up against contractors who supply the US Department of Defence –the world’s largest helicopter fleet- so everyone here is delighted”.
The covers, made from sophisticated technical textiles, are manufactured to their own exacting designs for use in the most extreme environments across the world, where spectral camouflage, thermal protection and heat repellent properties are essential. They ensure aircraft can be fully operational within minutes whether operating in tropical or artic conditions.
“Helicopters are highly susceptible to damage from sand, ice, heat, UV and humidity. Our job is to ensure aircraft availability and reduce maintenance costs. We use laser scanners, 3D modelling and some of the most complex industrial sewing techniques to make this happen,” Mr Pattinson said.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said “Air Covers has built a reputation as a world leading textile engineering company and is a very welcome addition to our advanced materials and manufacturing sector. I am delighted it has chosen to move to Wales to expand its operations and that it has benefited from our international trade programme.”
The company which employs eleven people relocated to Bryn Business Centre on the Wrexham Industrial Estate last year attracted by the skilled labour force and the availability of larger premises with capacity to expand.
John Pattinson said: “We initially moved to Wrexham because of the access to skilled labour and suppliers but the support of the Welsh Government has been great. Their proactive approach to supporting small business should be a model for other regions of the UK.”