An international aircraft interiors and distribution specialist is set for major expansion with the opening of a facility in France. Flitetec has stepped up its growth plans with the new offices and distribution centre in the Aerospace Valley region between Bordeaux and Toulouse in the southwest of the country.
The UK-based aerospace and defence company said the move will allow it to meet rising demand, break into new markets and move closer to its supply chain in France and the EU. Flitetec, which was founded in 1985, has invested a six-figure sum in the premises at Mont-de-Marsan, which are set for lift-off in late January.
The expansion comes after major growth in the distribution arm of the business, which was launched during the pandemic and has recorded significant growth over the past three years, the company shared. As well as distribution, Flitetec also designs, manufactures and repairs a wide range of products for global civil, defence aerospace and transportation markets.
“These are exciting times for Flitetec,” said Trevor Lea, managing director. “The business has undergone a major transformation and investment programme over the past five years, including significant growth of our distribution business, to which we pivoted during the pandemic. Expansion into sizeable new premises in France, close to the aviation centres of Bordeaux and Toulouse, represents a milestone in our ambitious, long-term growth plans.”
Commercial director Chris Osborne, who will lead the new operation, said: “We have a strong supply chain in France where we support tier 1 and tier 2 subcontractors to primes in the aerospace market, such as Airbus and Safran.”
“Our new premises represent a vote of confidence in France and Europe as well as our company and its people,” continued Osborne. “It will allow us to get closer to our supply chain, customers and potential new customers. We aim to expand further in France and can’t wait to get started in the new premises.”
The new facility includes offices, meeting rooms and warehousing. The property features a locally well-known landmark bridge.
Flitetec intends to create more employment as its business grows in the country. The new premises will also allow it to guarantee greater service levels for customers worldwide with its full supply chain and end-to-end service, the company said.
The Flitetec team in France and the UK has been assembled from a group of experienced distribution experts with extensive knowledge of the global aerospace supply chain.
Flitetec is headquartered in Amersham, Buckinghamshire, UK, and has a sales office in North America. Much of its customer base is in the UK, France, EU and North America, including airlines, primes and OEM subcontractors.
Flitetec – with its ‘Source Make Integrate’ ethos – is a supply chain services partner for aerospace and defence markets worldwide. It specialises in supplying hard-to-source aviation parts; the design, manufacture, repair and overhaul of plastic and metallic aircraft interiors components; and the assembly and kitting of sourced and in-house manufactured components.
The company has four-week design and manufacture lead times. The many products it designs, manufactures and supplies include meal tray tables, seat backs, overhead bins, cabin dividers, lighting technology and Personal Electronic Device (PED) holders.
The company is also set to attend major airshows this year: Aircraft Interiors Expo in Hamburg, Germany, in May; Farnborough International Air Show in the UK in July; and MRO Europe in Barcelona, Spain, in October.
