Six companies from Wales attended the recent MRO Europe conference in Amsterdam — the largest event of its kind outside North America — to showcase some of the best that the Welsh aerospace industry has to offer. Some 20% of the UK’s maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business takes place in Wales.

As a direct result of participating in the event in 2015, the Welsh businesses that attended won contracts worth £2.8 million. Last year, the event was attended by the likes of Airbus, Boeing, BA and Bombardier; it attracted more than 6,400 visitors.

Mike Corne, commercial director of E-Cube Solutions and part of the Welsh delegation, said: “MRO Europe has been the ‘must do’ event for us since our operations commenced in 2012. It brings together virtually all the sector’s customers and suppliers in a single location. E-Cube was launched in South Wales after we reviewed all potential options throughout the UK and Ireland.

“We concluded that the high-quality infrastructure and local aerospace resources, combined with excellent operating economics at St Athan, added up to an unbeatable reason for starting our business.”

Steve Edmunds, managing director of Cottam and Brooks Engineering, said: “MRO organisations are very important
to Wales. We’ve had tremendous support and assistance from the Welsh Government team, and we wouldn’t be going to MRO Europe if it wasn’t for them. The stand has gradually got larger over the last couple of years, making a massive impact and showing how committed the Welsh Government is to Aerospace Wales.”

The other Welsh companies that attended were Wall Colmonoy, Spectrum Technologies, PPA Ltd and Air Covers.