New Delhi, February, 2013: Air Works India Engineering Pvt Ltd. (Air Works), today announced that it has acquired Aero Technique Espace (ATE) a French aircraft painting company. This move will help strengthen Air Works’ market position as a leading provider of painting services to the European commercial and military aircraft market.
ATE is a well established paint application company, painting new aircraft for world class OEMs such as Airbus and ATR at its facilities in Chateauroux and Toulouse in the southern part of France. The company, which employs around 150 people, is a recognized brand within its target market and will continue to retain the “ATE” brand name post acquisition.
Julian Duffen, Managing Director of Air Livery (an Air Works group company), commented on the acquisition “Having worked as a partner with ATE for fifteen years the acquisition was the next natural evolution in our relationship. Robert Wasilewski, the previous owner, will remain in an advisory position through the transition phase to help integrate ATE seamlessly into the Air Livery network”
According to Mr. Vivek N Gour, Managing Director, Air Works, “ATE is a strategic acquisition for Air Works. It will provide Air Livery not only access to world class hangar facilities in Europe, but also add green aircraft painting to its portfolio of services. ATE is a qualified vendor for green aircraft painting for Airbus and ATR. We hope to further develop on these relationships and increase our service footprint with both OEMs”
Paul Woods, Sales and Marketing Director Air Works and Air Livery added: “Air Livery and ATE will develop Chateauroux as a strategic location for both green aircraft painting and repainting services. Chateauroux is well placed centrally in France offering many European and North African customers an ideal location reducing ferry costs and downtime.”
Christian Lalane, who has now taken over as the Managing Director, ATE, added: “The recent modernization of the complete Chateauroux site now offers a state-of-the-art, environmentally compliant wide body and narrow body aircraft facility for our customers. Our capabilities include 2 x A330/340 bays, 1 x A320/757, 1 X ATR/Challenger bay at Chateauroux and 2 x A320, 1 X ATR at Toulouse.”
Air Works has funded this acquisition through a mix of internal accruals and equity from existing shareholders.
About Air Works
Established in 1951, Air Works (www.airworks.in) is the leading provider of aviation services qualified to maintain 50 aircraft types, for over 100 customers across 15 maintenance locations in India.
Air Works is India’s only EASA certified MRO with approvals for ATR 42/72, Airbus A320, and Boeing 737 Classic/NG series of Aircraft. With a strong network of OEM relationships, Air Works is an Authorized Service Centre for Agusta Westland, Bell Helicopter, Bombardier, Dassault Falcon, Embraer, Garmin, Gulfstream, Hawker Beechcraft, Honeywell and Rockwell Collins.
Through its Air Livery subsidiary, Air Works is one of Europe’s largest providers of aircraft paint services. Also, ‘SA Air Works India’ Air Works joint venture with Scandinavian Avionics, Denmark, provides complete turnkey avionics solutions to both commercial and military customers in India. Through its strategic investment in Empire Aviation Group, Air Works is a one-stop shop for integrated private aviation services, offering aircraft sales, aircraft management, aircraft charter, and aircraft finance and insurance to customers in India and the Middle East.
