Despite doubling 2007 revenues, Eaton Aerospace looking to buy

Irvine, California-based Eaton Aerospace (Hall 3, Stand D5) admits to still being on the acquisition trail despite having doubled its revenues to $1.6 billion (2007 estimated) since its last visit to Le Bourget.

Its global growth ambitions have seen it purchasing Cobham’s HiTemp arm, Stanley Aviation and then, earlier this year, Argo-Tech’s aerospace business–all driven by Cleveland, Ohio-based parent Eaton Corp.’s goal to grow from a $12 billion diversified conglomerate to an $18 billion one over the next few years. Its aerospace division is now almost as large as chief competitor Parker Aerospace, said Eric Alden, director strategic planning and new business development.

Alden told Aviation International News, “Our focus is on component excellence across projects such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 787, Eurofighter and VLJs such as the Eclipse 500 and Embraer Phenom 100. We are the tenth largest supplier for the A380, for example.”

He continued: “We now have 28 sites around the world, including one near Paris…and have been moving to low-cost economies to reduce life-cycle costs and free up more specialized facilities, for example in Los Angeles.” The company has 100 engineers working around the clock at a facility in India and has a low-cost activities in Indonesia and Mexico.