£2m investment enhances production for Liverpool aerospace specialist

A Liverpool-based aerospace surface treatment specialist has completed a £2m investment which will improve production efficiency, increase capacity and align with upcoming regulatory changes in the aerospace sector.

King and Fowler, which dates back to 1887, was acquired by Manchester-based ASG in late 2020.

The investment by ASG has seen the installation of a Tartaric Sulphuric Anodising (TSA) line and new paint booths.

The TSA line will further enhance the scope of ASG King and Fowler’s capability, giving the ability to process aluminium parts up to 5.6m in length. The fully automated control leaves King and Fowler with a huge step in capacity for both large components and high volume small parts.

The line is now in the final stages of operational trials.

Stephen Dean, managing director of ASG King and Fowler, said: “The commissioning of our new TSA line and paint booths is a transformational step for our business.

“It future-proofs our operations against incoming regulatory changes, and it also enhances our efficiency and throughput.

“This investment demonstrates our continued commitment to innovation and sustainability, ensuring we continue to deliver the highest standards for our customers.”

The investment is the latest part of ASG Group’s wider strategy to reinforce its position as a leading provider of aerospace surface treatments after it acquired King and Fowler. Since then it has made strategic investments in new technologies, including a £140,000 trivalent passivation line to support Airbus requirements.

Group managing director, Simon Weston said: “ASG Group has implemented an exciting programme of continued investment across our sites which reflect our vision for the future, one of resilience, where collaboration, technology, and smart decision making drive progress in UK aerospace manufacturing.

“As we push forward, we’re committed to setting new standards for excellence, efficiency, and innovation in the industry and this new TSA line investment at ASG King and Fowler enhances our sustainable credentials and aligns ourselves to our ambitious world class customer’s needs.”

Source: 'The Business Desk'  Stephen Dean