Surface Treatment Company from Liverpool Acquired by ASG

Aero Services Global Group (ASG) has acquired one of Liverpool's oldest surface treatment specialists and now wants to maximise its new "one-stop-shop" capability for aerospace customers across the globe. The Manchester-based Group, led by Simon Weston and supported by Amin Amiri from a2e Industries, has purchased King & Fowler in a deal that will preserve all 59 jobs and signal fresh investment momentum in the Liverpool facility and its processes. The transaction will improve the group's operational efficiency, provide access to an expanded blue-chip customer base, and capitalise on a range of synergies that should lift sales for both sides. It also brings a new production discipline to the rapidly expanding North West group and now has access to world-standard anodising, coating, heat treatment and non-destructive testing.

This means ASG can now offer a "one-stop-shop" engineering portfolio from team and process through to assembly and finishing. Simon Weston, Group Managing Director of ASG, said: "We are delighted to welcome King & Fowler into the ASG family and view this acquisition as a strategic fit by adding more capability to our portfolio.

This acquisition strengthens our commitment to customers by delivering end-to-end capabilities for commercial and military aerospace contracts," he added, and continued "It is respected for its reputation in the aerospace sector, Nadcap accreditation and more than 15 active customer approvals. More importantly, it has unrivalled expertise in surface treatment of critical components, and with renewed investment we believe we have the opportunity to increase sales by 30 per cent over the next 12 months. This will include the creation of a number of new roles and order completion opportunities for other member companies, both local and international, within ASG." Mark Huddleston, who continues as director of King & Fowler, added: "Whilst potential buyers have approached us several times, ASG's investment track record and market growth made this the right next step, and we look forward to upgrading our facilities while supporting the Group in achieving its strategic objectives." The Manchester-based Aero Services Global Group manufactures and sub-assembles aircraft fuselage structural equipment and aero engine components in detail for more than 20 leading OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers. The company acquired Phoenix and currently has eight subsidiary companies including the Queens Award-winning Arrowsmith Engineering, B&H Precision Tooling, Datum, Ludolph, TGM and AMF Precision Engineering.