Bangalore-based Aequs Aerospace, India’s largest private integrated aerospace components maker, has fully acquired Paris, Texas-based T&K Machine. This is the first international aerospace-related manufacturing buy by an Indian company, Aequs chairman and CEO Aravind Melligeri told AIN.
“This acquisition will give us an entry into Boeing and other customers. The U.S. company will handle low volume runs that include shipsets below four units, primarily for the B777 and 747, as they provide logistic challenges to ship,” said Melligeri. “The U.S. aerospace and defense industry might have slowed down for now, but we do know business will open soon.”
Larger volumes will be manufactured in Aequs’ India facility. “A large inventory provides enough room for cost savings,” he said.
Aequs hopes to absorb through its U.S. facility packages worth $10 million this year. “A local presence in the U.S. will make a big difference to our customers,” Melligeri said. Plans to export to Korea are also in the cards.
T&K Machine supplies machined parts and assemblies to Spirit AeroSystems, UTAS, Boeing, Triumph-Vought Aerostructures and Bell Helicopter. It produces three, four and five-axis detail aerospace components ranging in size from large bases, chords and stringers to small fittings, pins and clevises. Aequs specializes in precision machining, sheet metal fabrication, assembly, forging and special processing for OEMs and Tier 1 customers.