Welsh expertise in the aerospace maintenance, repair and overhaul sector took centre stage at MRO Europe this week when a number of highly specialist SMEs exhibited under the Welsh Government banner.
The three day exhibition and conference at London’s ExCel centre (13th-15th October) was one of the key events for the sector and expected to attract 5000+ delegates from more than 80 countries. At last year’s MRO event in Madrid Welsh companies won contracts worth £3.9m.
Aerospace is a key economic sector for Wales which has 160 Aerospace and Defence companies employing 20,000 people with a combined turn over of more than £5 billion. Wales has 20% of the UK Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) market.
Economy Minister Edwina Hart said: “Aerospace is a hugely important priority sector for Wales in terms of the economy and employment and I am pleased the Welsh Government is supporting and promoting a number of our highly successful specialist companies at this event. The majority are SMEs and provide an invaluable service to the MRO sector and make a significant contribution to the Welsh economy.
“Attendance at events like these open up a range of business and networking opportunities and also highlights the range of capabilities we have in Wales.
“We are also promoting Wales as a first class location for aerospace companies and focusing on the benefits and support Wales can offer these businesses. We have two enterprise zones dedicated to companies operating in this sector and I am pleased to see several businesses participating at MRO Europe are trading successfully from those zones.”
Companies and organisations that exhibited on the Welsh Government stand, alongside the Wales Aerospace Forum, included: AMSS (Bridgend), Cardiff Aviation (Cardiff Airport and St Athan Enterprise Zone), Cottam & Brookes Engineering (Caerphilly), eCube Solutions (Cardiff Airport and St Athan Enterprise Zone), PPA Limited (Deeside Enterprise Zone), Spectrum Technologies (Bridgend) and TWI Technology Centre Wales, Port Talbot.