French group targets equipment and engine manufacturers as it looks to diversify
France’s Aeroconseil is bidding to expand its customer base outside Airbus in an effort to sustain beyond this year surging revenue growth driven by the European manufacturer’s success in surpassing Boeing as the world’s largest producer of airliners.
Toulouse-based aerospace group Aeroconseil currently relies on Airbus’s programmes and operators of its aircraft for 83% of its business – down from 95% two years ago – and the group plans to continue diversifying its customer base, targeting equipment makers and engine manufacturers as well as smaller aircraft manufacturers.
The group has three divisions: maintenance, modification and consultancy services provider ATS International and its recently acquired training school unit, Esma; technical information management subsidiary Aimtech; and design and engineering unit Seditec.
Aeroconseil recorded a 38% increase in turnover to 69 million ($82.6 million) in 2004 and forecasts this will rise to as much as 89 million in 2005. The group’s net profit for 2004 was 1.5 million.
President and chief executive Dominique Berger stresses that Aeroconseil will continue to consolidate its position as a supplier of Airbus despite its diversification strategy. “We have no intention of losing ground with Airbus – we are a faithful supplier of Airbus.”
The company is also “at the conversation stage” with manufacturers of smaller aircraft about the possibility of design and engineering collaboration, says Ferdinando Trella, chief executive of subsidiary ATS. “We have started the identification of new European markets outside France.”
Aeroconseil’s German subsidiary is up and running and the company is setting up Aeroconseil Iberica in Spain to target EADS Casa and Airbus Espana, particularly in the design and engineering field through its Seditec arm.
Aeroconseil has a subsidiary in Tahiti and another in Hong Kong. “We are looking at other possibilities for subsidiaries in that area,” says Berger.
Training school Esma, which Aeroconseil acquired last year following the bankruptcy of parent company Air Littoral, also plans overseas development. Esma, which already has activities in Vietnam, is planning to open two new centres in China providing training for airline pilots, cabin crew, technicians, mechanics and ground staff.
Helen Massy-Beresford / Toulouse
Source: Flight International
