Smiths Industries has sold its engine-controls business to Lucas Varity, saying that there was not room for both UK players in an increasingly concentrated market.
Smiths signalled that engine controls were no longer a core business when it decided to step back from the BMW Rolls-Royce BR715 programme, despite its position on the BR710.
The unit also makes controls for the Eurojet EJ200, the Rolls-Royce Pegasus and Pratt & Whitney Canada PW305.Smiths says, however, that with only four major turbofan engine manufacturers in the world, and some of those tied to captive controls manufacturers, market opportunities are diminishing.
The business is to be merged with Lucas Aerospace.
Source: Flight International
