Hollingbury and the Airbus (Part 2)

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Company names/Corporate image

From the private collection of Peter Groves

Airbus/British Aerospace background

In September 1967 the British, French and German governments signed an agreement to start the development of the 300-seat Airbus A300.  Airbus Industries was a consortium of European aviation firms with the purpose of strengthening European aviation technology and competing with the American giants such as Boeing, McDonnell Douglas and Lockheed.  British Aerospace was formed in 1977 following the nationalisation and merger of a number of large British aircraft manufacturers.  In 1979 British Aerospace joined the Airbus consortium, and shortly afterwards following the British Aerospace Act 1980, the government sold its shares and the company became a plc.  Now part of the Airbus consortium, British Aerospace would invest in new capital equipment to produce the Airbus wings and guarantee the high production levels required to meet an ever-increasing demand.

Well placed to win prestigious order

Kearney & Trecker had a strong background in high technology CNC design and production.  Marwin had a strong history of sales to UK aircraft manufacturers.  This placed KTM in a strong position to win the prestigious order for profiling machines to produce the aluminium wings.