United Technologies' Hamilton Sundstrand subsidiary is to acquire the Claverham Group in a move which will allow the US company to offer a full range of actuation products for flight control systems, enhancing its ability to provide full systems packages.
Bristol-based Claverham, which employs 400 people, specialises in primary hydraulic actuation systems to control horizontal elevators, rudders and ailerons. Its range complements Hamilton's line of secondary mechanical actuation systems for control surfaces. The value of the deal, which should close this month pending approvals, has not been disclosed. Claverham had sales of £41.6 million ($60 million) in 1999.
Hamilton Sundstrand president Ron McKenna says the take-over will allow the Windsor Locks, Connecticut-based company "to provide a more complete flight control actuation package", expanding its capabilities "to provide more systems-oriented solutions". The purchase also expands Hamilton's product offerings for European military aircraft, and takes it into missile flight controls.
Claverham was only formed in January 1998 following a management buy-out of Fairey Hydraulics backed by Candover Investments. It has three divisions, FHL (missile fin actuation, aircraft flight control actuators, landing gear and hydraulic systems), Support Chain Management (logistics) and Industrial Actuation (ammunition handling, submarine steering and rail switch actuation).
Claverham joins Hamilton's European aerospace stable of HS Marston in the UK, Ratier-Figeac in France, Microtecnica in Italy, Nord-Micro in Germany and HS-Nauka in Russia.
Source: Flight International