Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) has acquired US general aviation engine manufacturer and replacement parts supplier Superior Air Parts (SAP) from investment group RSTW for $10 million. The sale paves the way for Lichtenstein, Germany-based TAE to establish a foothold in the USA and extend its dominance of the certificated jet fuel/diesel engine market with its Centurion range of powerplants.
TAE chief executive Frank Thielert says the acquisition of Coppell, Texas-based SAP will allow TAE to “rigorously expand” its range of products.
He says: “SAP is the ideal acquisition to help us enhance our market position in the Americas and expand our presence there”. TAE recorded a net profit last year of €7 million ($9.3 million), an increase of over 100% on the previous year, while sales rose by over 50% to €36 million during the same period.
SAP, which was founded in 1967, builds replacement parts for Textron Lycoming and Teledyne Continental’s range of piston engines. The company is also a key supplier of replacement engines for the retrofit market, for which it has designed the Vantage piston engine, a clone of Lycoming’s 180hp (135kW) four-cylinder O-360, and a production-certificated version of its 160hp XP-360 experimental-aircraft engine.
KATE SARSFIELD / LONDON
Source: Flight International
