July 09--GlobalParts Group, based in Augusta, has bought the assets of Tulakes Aero in Bethany, Okla., and incorporated them into a new division called Global Parts Aero Structures.
It's the company's latest step to diversify and expand its business and add capabilities and expertise, officials said.
Tulakes was founded as Jet Service Enterprises in 1975, offering manufacturing, engineering and quality inspection services to commercial, military and corporate operators, service centers, fixed base operators and charter companies.
It repairs, overhauls and sells jet parts for commercial, military and corporate aircraft, and it builds wing, tail, fuselage and nacelle components and baggage and cargo doors.
"We are excited about the direction this takes our company into," said Malissa Nesmith, GlobalParts Group senior vice president and chief operating officer.
GlobalParts will retain the operations in Bethany, near Oklahoma City, and has hired 10 of its 12 employees, Nesmith said. It currently is located in 30,000 square feet of space.
At one time, Jet Service employed 150 before it began to downsize, Nesmith said.
"It's something we can continue to grow," she said.
The company is considering adding a 60,000-square-foot building across from the existing operations.
Tulakes was a vendor of GlobalParts for many years, and used the company as a supplier and supply station since 2003.
Earlier this year, GlobalParts bought the type certificate, intellectual property, tooling and assets of the Meyers Aircraft Model 200 type design and formed a subsidiary, Interceptor Aviation.
It plans to supply parts and customer support to Meyers Aircraft owners.
"Our core business has always been distribution and support of general aviation," Nesmith said.
GlobalParts was founded as an aviation spare parts distributor and has since added a Federal Aviation Administration certified repair station and an in-house build-to-print manufacturing operation.
Reach Molly McMillin at 316-269-6708 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter: @mmcmillin.
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