The growing demands of the aerospace industry in the Middle East have led to an investment in the region by Flordia-based Kellstrom. The company comes to the Dubai Air Show ready to expand its reputation for excellence in aftermarket support that has seen it grow from a small business in 1990 into a global force.
CEO Dennis Zalupski is heading the team that has travelled to Dubai, where they will be meeting both commercial and defence delegations. The trip is in support of a newly established representative in the UAE, providing repair and overhaul services to the country’s fleets.
“Our business covers both commercial and defence aerospace with our repair services as well as supplying parts, logistics services, supply chain management and asset management as well as our other core business,” Zalupski says. The company has grown to a point where something like 55% of its revenue is generated outside the US.
Kellstrom provides inventory management from its 250,000ft2 warehouse in Miramar, Florida and has increasingly extended its business into different markets. The company has developed relationships with leading OEMs and so has an inventory of factory new products, as well as repair capabilities.
This is particularly so in the avionics sector when Kellstrom bought High Tech Avionics and Accessories (HTAA) in order to offer component maintenance for commercial and military aircraft.
A recent addition to the 19,000m2 facility is a pnemumatic and hydraulic shop for military aircraft. “This kind of investment is funded from the business and is helping us to grow stronger, says Zalupski.
“The after market is our entire business,” he adds. “OEMs come to us and ask us to distribute their product to the aftermarket. We develop our own IT systems to work with the clients whether they be military or commercial. With more than ten years of transaction history in our system we are able to manage assets more effectively and help our customers predict needs. We have something like 20m documents with certificates of conformity. We know about every part. Then our supply chain management allows us to provide those parts where and when they need them at a fair price. And with a service level that matches their needs.”
Kellstrom supports the four major Western commercial airframe manufactuers and the main engine OEMs too. The company supplies parts for Honeywell, Stork and Smiths and is the exclusive Ametek distributor for the Middle East, Asia,Europe and Africa. While leading the way in commercial and military markets, the company has generally steered clear of the business and general aviation sector. “It’s a very fragmented area,” says Zalupski. “Many companies maintain their own supply chain. It is a tough market to reach.”
Kellstron has worked closely with GAMCO in the Middle East through its capabilities with the C130 programme. In Europe it works alongside Marshall Aerospace. The outreach development has seen Kellstrom be able to maintain a rapid AOG service through its regional and sales representative teams. The company’s close proximity to both Miami International and Fort Lauderdale means that parts are despatched quickly around the world.
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Source: Flight Daily News
