Messier-Bugatti aims to double its repair business to achieve annual sales of Fr1 billion ($165 million)over the next five years. This ambition follows the integration of the Dowty Aerospace landing gear maintenance unit into the French company.
"We intend to become one of the five world leaders in this area," says Messier-Bugatti president Yves Leclère. The addition of Dowty operations in the UK, North America and Singapore "means we can globalise the business", he says.
The sale of the Dowty repair business follows in the wake of the deal struck between Snecma and the TI Group late last year over the future of their Messier-Dowty landing gear joint venture. After Snecma had made it clear that it would not sell its share in the venture, the TI Group instead decided to bow out and added its repair business into the buy-out.
Services for Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft, military and regional aircraft and helicopters will be added to Messier- Bugatti's Airbus portfolio. Leclère does not rule out further "evolution", such as a possible deal with Sogerma, the other major French maintenance competitor. "We're open to all solutions," he says.
The Snecma subsidiary now holds around 30% of the global market for wheels and brakes on commercial aircraft of more than 100 seats, a major success in 1997 being its selection to supply carbon brakes for the Boeing 767-300. "We've been trying to get aboard Boeing for 10 years," says Leclère, adding that the company will now be on the list to tender for brakes on other Boeing types.
The company concluded 31 contracts in the year to equip Airbus aircraft with its Sepcarb III carbon brakes, which with the wheels division, accounted for Fr700 million, or 43%, of overall sales.
Messier-Bugatti saw net income grow by 38% in 1997, to Fr80 million ($13 million), while orders climbed 26%, to Fr1.7 billion, reflecting both the improvement in Airbus sales and the company's increased market share. Sales grew by 12%, to Fr1.6 billion, and debt was reduced to Fr192 million.
Source: Flight International
