Liverpool-based aerospace surface treatment specialist
ASG King & Fowler has received formal Airbus approval for its newly installed, fully automated tartaric sulphuric anodising (TSA) line — a landmark achievement following the successful completion of the major £2 million investment programme. This approval confirms the new TSA line’s compliance with Airbus’s rigorous specifications and positions King & Fowler as a strategic supplier for next-generation aerospace components requiring REACH-compliant anodising processes.
The ‘state of the art’ TSA line, commissioned in the summer, is a huge investment in plant and offers a sustainable, fully automated alternative to traditional chromic anodising. With the capacity to process aluminium parts up to 5.6m in length, the line is tailored for both large structural components and high-volume production work — significantly expanding ASG King & Fowler’s capabilities.
Managing director Stephen Dean said: “This Airbus approval is a transformational moment for ASG King & Fowler. It demonstrates our progressive ability to meet the most stringent quality standards in the industry, and it validates our investment in future-proofing our business. This new fully automated TSA line improves our throughput and environmental performance — as well as positions us to win and retain key aerospace work for years to come.”
Sustainability credentials strengthenedThe move comes amid wider regulatory changes within the aerospace sector, including the planned phasing out of hexavalent chrome under REACH legislation. The TSA process, already recognised by major OEMs as the preferred alternative, strengthens ASG King & Fowler’s sustainability credentials while supporting customer compliance requirements.
The new TSA capability forms part of a broader transformation programme backed by ASG Group, which acquired King & Fowler in 2020. Alongside the anodising line, the Liverpool site has also commissioned advanced paint booths and previously installed a £140,000 trivalent passivation line — also in line with Airbus specifications.
Simon Weston, Group managing director, said: “This is a significant moment for King & Fowler and for ASG Aerospace as a whole. It reflects our vision to build a resilient, innovation-led surface treatment group that sets the standard in quality and sustainability. Airbus approval for our new TSA line, one of the largest in the UK, is a powerful endorsement of our progressive direction — and a signal to customers across the aerospace industry that we are ready to meet their needs.”
Founded in 1887, ASG King & Fowler has grown into one of the UK’s most trusted aerospace surface treatment specialists. With this latest investment and formal Airbus approval now secured, the company is poised to support the next generation of aircraft production, working in partnership with global aerospace customers from its Liverpool base.