Ejector seat manufacturer Sicamb has benefited from an investment by government arm Sviluppo Italia when former parent company Aermacchi was bought by Finmeccanica. Sviluppo Italia is likely to sell its stake to Sicamb’s other two owners – UK ejector seat manufacturer Martin Baker and the Klinger family, which founded the company in 1975 – “in the next couple of years”, says commercial director Marco Klinger.
Sviluppo Italia’s investment supported Sicamb, based in Latina, south of Rome, through its transition phase, Klinger says. And the company has been successful in diversifying from its core business of ejection seats – while still maintaining its status as a centre of excellence for certain components for Martin Baker ejection seats – into aerostructures.
Its business is split between seats, aerostructures – which each make up around 40% of business – and to a lesser extent, equipment manufacturing. Important contracts include work on the Airbus A380, and the company’s design abilities are a key factor. Klinger says it would be hard to compete with the cheaper, emerging manufacturing regions as a manufacturer alone. To this end, Sicamb invests a significant portion of turnover in research and development.
The company is keen to maintain its geographical diversity, targeting French manufacturer Sogerma for work on Airbus programmes. Klinger agrees that it is important for the company not to be too dependent on Finmeccanica: “We’re trying to find a way to balance, but Finmeccanica will always be of great importance.” Through its equipment division, the company is working with Nordam on thrust reversers for business aircraft.
The company is bullish on its growth potential, with Klinger forecasting turnover of around €42 million, with a “best case scenario” of €45 million in 2005. Sicamb posted a turnover of around €40 million last year.
The company’s involvement with the A380 programme – it makes floor grids for Alenia – will help boost its performance once production rates ramp up, Klinger says.
Source: Flight International
