jbt acquires wales-based amss

100 Pages·2017·9.03 MB·English

EXPLORING GSE, AIRFIELD EQUIPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE | WWW.AIRSIDEINT.COM
AUTUMN 2017 #AIRSIDEINT
TUGS & TRACTORS
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
DRIVEN BY DEMAND
JBT ACQUIRES WALES-BASED AMSS (cid:96) CAPE TOWN AIRPORT INVESTS IN GROWTH
INTRODUCING A NEW
GSE
IN
PERFORMANCE
PAGE offers a complete range of GSE products that are
EXCEPTIONAL and DISTINCTIVE to propel you into the future.
(cid:135) Aircraft Ground Power Cable Assemblies
(cid:135) 400Hz Central System Power Equipment
(cid:135) Pre-Conditioned Air Hoses, Connectors, Reels, and Trolleys
(cid:135) Aircraft Cable Stowage Devices and Crocodile Style 400 Hz Cable Carriers
(cid:135) 400Hz Test Equipment
(cid:135) Air Start, Lavatory and Potable Water Hoses and Fittings
(cid:135) 28VDC , 270VDC Power Supplies and Transformer Rectifiers
(cid:135) 400Hz Solid State and Motor Generator Equipment
(cid:135) Passenger Boarding Bridge Baggage Chutes and Gate Park Systems
(cid:135) Complete Line of In-Ground Pit Assemblies Available in Hatch and Pop-Up Styles
See why PAGE is turning the competition GREEN with envy!
PAGE Industries, Inc.
www.pageindustries.com [email protected]
1-707-469-PAGE (7243)
Your CONDUIT to Performance.
Please come see us at the Inter Airport Europe Show
10th - 13th October 2017 | Stop by Hall A6 - Booth #775
EDITOR’S NOTE | CONTENTS
JAMES SHERIDAN
Chairman
[email protected]
All part of the service 2
PARVEEN RAJA Anticipating demand 8
Publisher
JBT snaps up AMSS 14
[email protected]
Multiple priorities 18
IAN TALBOT Ramping up the power 24
Sales Manager
Abbey International moves for Sovam 29
[email protected]
Getting up close: docking systems and MRO 34
TOM WILLIS South Pier opens for business 40
Journalist Measuring passenger flows to improve efficiency 42
[email protected]
Electric GSE supports move to greener airport environments 46
Buyer’s Assessment (handling at LGW) 48
YASMIN LYDON
Events Coordinator Buyer’s Assessment (snow clearance) 50
[email protected] dnata Singapore opens new GSE maintenance facility 52
Quality and innovation 54
SHOBHANA PATEL
Runway development at Cape Town International 58
Head of Finance
[email protected] TCR strengthens in Italy 62
Looking forward 64
SHELDON PINK
Carbon War Room looks to sustainable fuel future 67
Creative Director
Preparing for inter airport 70
[email protected]
Safran looks to boost ETS development with Chinese MoU 74
SOHAIL AHMAD TIPS-top 78
Conference Sales
Safety training: what the industry needs to know 80
[email protected]
Collection and drainage 82
Carlyle Group to take over at ADB Safegate 84
An industry first 86
Building on success 90
Providing perimeter protection 92
Address changes and subscription A year of celebration 94
orders to: [email protected]
Drone detection: keeping airspace safe 95
ISSN 2054-8958
W
elcome to the Autumn 2017 issue of Airside International, a
PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY bumper issue for the forthcoming inter airport in Munich this
EVA International Media Ltd October. This issue of the magazine covers a range of topics even
Boswell Cottage, 19 South End
wider than normal, with features on subjects as diverse as tugs and
Croydon, London, CR0 1BE, UK
tractors, aircraft de-icing, ground power provision, MRO and on-
Tel: + 44 (0) 20 8253 4000
Fax: + 44 (0) 20 8603 7369 airport fuelling technology.
(cid:109)(cid:123)(cid:120)(cid:137)(cid:127)(cid:138)(cid:123)(cid:80)(cid:0)(cid:141)(cid:141)(cid:141)(cid:68)(cid:123)(cid:140)(cid:119)(cid:127)(cid:132)(cid:138)(cid:68)(cid:121)(cid:133)(cid:131)(cid:0)(cid:169)(cid:0)(cid:57)(cid:119)(cid:127)(cid:136)(cid:137)(cid:127)(cid:122)(cid:123)(cid:127)(cid:132)(cid:138) Interviews with GSE suppliers, GSE operators in the form of ground
handling agents, airport authorities and various other airport service
PRINTED BY
providers add to the mix, while we also include two Buyer’s Assessments
The MANSON Group Limited
looking at the value of particular manufacturers’ GSE to their users.
St Albans, Hertfordshire AL3 6PZ
DISTRIBUTED BY: Air Business
We hope you enjoy the issue, and see you in Munich
in October.
EVA INTERNATIONAL MEDIA LTD
PUBLISHERS & EVENTS SPECIALISTS
Issue 39 © 2017 | www.airsideint.com
Content may not be reproduced in any format without
MIKE BRYANT | EDITOR
written permission from EVA International Media Ltd
Cover image: Frank Peters/Shutterstock [email protected]
AUTUMN 2017 | AIRSIDEINT.COM 1
FEATURE | AIRCRAFT DE-ICING
All part of the service
Eff ective aircraft de-icing is just one of the range of procedures that must be carried
out as part of an airport’s winter operations set-up. It’s a major eff ort at many
gateways, but one that must be made at any airport that can suff er even fairly
moderate winter weather if aircraft are to keep fl ying safely and to schedule
F
or the carriers using those airports that can be affected Luton), but also elsewhere in Europe, such as at Budapest and
by harsh winter weather, it’s all about getting their Krakow, on the construction and testing of de-icing pads.
aircraft away on schedule as far as is possible and thus And that trend is pronounced: six years ago, just five of the
avoiding costly cancellations or delays – with all the European airports to which easyJet flew had remote de-icing
attendant passenger disgruntlement (and demands pads; now 22 of its European stations have them. Belgrade,
for their money back), not to mention aircraft and crews Sofia and Pristina were added to the list of airports employing
improperly positioned as the result of a disrupted schedule. de-icing pads over the last winter season.
For one airline – one of the world’s biggest low-cost Looking back, Carter recalls the events that led to a change
carriers (LCCs) – the choice between de-icing on-stand in policy at easyJet. In 2011, following a particularly harsh
and on a remote pad is an easy one. Ernie Carter, winter winter in the UK, the carrier decided to improve its winter
operations manager for London Luton-headquartered easyJet, operational performance. With this objective in mind, a
says that it is really a “no-brainer” when it comes to that winter operations manager – Carter – was employed by
particular choice. Remote de-icing pads can be the difference easyJet to focus on operational performance.
between airports closing or remaining open to flying in The winter operations manager was given a key objective,
challenging icing conditions, he says. and that was to move the UK’s de-icing industry into the 21st
Carter, who is responsible for the airline’s winter Century. Three related initiatives were put in place, which
operations at a total of 94 gateways, has plenty of experience were as follows:
on which to base his judgement. easyJet has played a major (cid:116)(cid:1) (cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:281)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:79)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:78)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:14)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:81)(cid:66)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:10)
role in working with various airports, particularly in the UK (cid:116)(cid:1) (cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:66)(cid:71)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:81)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:90)(cid:1)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:71)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:14)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:77)(cid:86)(cid:74)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:9)(cid:34)(cid:37)(cid:39)(cid:10)
(at London Stansted, Liverpool and Edinburgh as well as at (cid:116)(cid:1) (cid:53)(cid:80)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:78)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:90)(cid:68)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:34)(cid:37)(cid:39)
De-icing at Memphis Airport
2 AIRSIDE INTERNATIONAL | AUTUMN 2017
AIRCRAFT DE-ICING | FEATURE
Memphis invests in de-icing pad
It’s not only in Europe that airports initial construction of supporting
are investing in specialised de-icing infrastructure – including a bridge
pads. At the Tennessee, US gateway that must be built over a public road.
of Memphis International, the airport According to the airport’s vice president
operator has secured a US$22.5 of operations, Terry Blue, who spoke to
million grant from the US Department Airside International this summer, the
of Transportation for the construction facility is expected to be completed by
of a 345,000 square metre de-icing 2021.
pad. The twin de-icing pad area will take
The announcement was made by a in 12 bays large enough for aircraft as
local congressman at the end of May big as a B747 or one of the many B777
this year. The grant forms part of the freighters operated by what is by far the
US Federal Aviation Administration’s airport’s biggest cargo carrier customer,
Airport Improvement Program (AIP), express services provider FedEx. It will
which provides grants to public be equipped with both a glycol supply
agencies — and, in some cases, to and a glycol collection system.
private owners and entities — for the The facility will allow the
planning and development of public- centralisation of de-icing processes
use airports. The $22.5 million will go Terry Blue that are currently carried out either
some way to financing a major project on stand (for passenger aircraft) or
that is currently budgeted at $126 in two remote locations. It is to be
million (the balance of funds may come from sources such as conveniently located between the gateway’s central and west
further grants, debt in the form of airport revenue bonds and runways, typically used in times of inclement weather.
normal operating revenue streams such as landing fees).
The twin-pad facility will “help us to improve on what we
The project to build what is officially called the already do well”, says Blue, who points to the benefits lying
‘Consolidated De-icing Facility’ will be executed in a number in the three main areas of safety, speed and efficiency, and
of phases, the first of which will see a tender go out for environmental stewardship. (cid:81)
THE
PROFESSIONAL
EQUIPMENT IN
AIRPORT SNOW
CLEARING
TV 1000
… Performance Line
RS 400 RSC 250
www.overaasen.no
Futuristic Norwegian Snow How
Tomorrow’s solutions – built on experience
ØVERAASEN AS I Roald Amundsens veg 1 I NO-2816 Gjøvik I Tel [phone]
AUTUMN 2017 | AIRSIDEINT.COM 3
FEATURE | AIRCRAFT DE-ICING
HuntsmanClariant merger
(ATC) authorities and de-icing service providers the pad de-
icing infrastructure and systems at Gatwick.
said to be ‘on track’
The procedures associated with pads must be easy to stand
up and stand down as the weather dictates, Carter explains,
and they mustn’t be overly expensive to set up. Preferably,
At the end of July, a statement from Clariant – a chemicals
manufacturing giant, one of whose many business branches they will be of the ‘drive-through’ variety, speeding up the de-
relates to aircraft and runway de-icing – announced that its icing process and – it goes without saying – they must ensure
merger with Huntsman Corporation – fi rst announced in May
100% safety; speed is important, but the safety of the aircraft
– was “on track”. Clariant said that it has “high confi dence” in
making large synergy-related earnings as well as combined cost remains the paramount consideration.
savings from this “merger of equals”. With regard to the efforts to use less de-icing fluid, US-
Then, in August, another statement confirmed progress
(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:66)(cid:69)(cid:82)(cid:86)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:42)(cid:37)(cid:52)(cid:1)(cid:111)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:84)(cid:81)(cid:70)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:66)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:84)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:71)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:70)(cid:69)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:14)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)
had been made “towards satisfying the regulatory approval
condition to closing its merger of equals with Huntsman – introduced the technology at both Luton and Geneva
Corporation”. The progress the statement referred to was airports. “This new technology significantly improved the
the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) delivering a second
de-icing process, using far less fluid,” Carter notes. Since its
request for information to the parties relating to just two
products, with Clariant declaring itself confident that the introduction four years ago, other major de-icing suppliers
parties will “be able to satisfy any FTC concerns on a timeline
have now also introduced forced air technology. Airline
consistent with the merger, which we continue to expect to
close around year-end”. Services at Gatwick purchased six forced air rigs for the
The two enterprises have agreed a “joint strategic introduction of the remote de-icing pads, he informs.
direction for near- and long-term value creation”, based on As for the final objective, ‘to reclaim and recycle spent
focusing on higher growth and higher margin businesses, the
aircraft de-icing fluid’, a marked development has concerned
expansion of the existing strong downstream footprint and
reaping the benefits of complementary product portfolios and the UK Glycol Recovery Group. The Group has now been
breadth of reach.
in operation for more than two years and meets to discuss
Complementary R&D and technological expertise, as
possible options relating to fluid reclamation and recycling.
well as shared knowledge bases, are also expected to add
synergies that can be exploited. Industry leaders are invited to the group meetings, where new
Back in May, the CEO of Clariant, Hariolf Kottmann, technologies are discussed and evaluated. Th is project is still a
commented: “This is the perfect deal at the right time. “work in progress”, Carter says, but “hopefully in the not-too-
Clariant and Huntsman are joining forces to gain much
broader global reach, create more sustained innovation distant future a low-cost, effi cient process will be developed
power and achieve new growth opportunities. and introduced at one of the major airports. Th e technology is
Peter Huntsman, the president and CEO of Huntsman, already there – it just needs to be pulled together.”
added: “Together, we will create a global leader in specialty
Carter concludes positively: “The de-icing industry has
chemicals with a combined balance sheet providing
substantial financial strength and flexibility.” (cid:81) started to move into the 21st Century and the future looks
brighter, with the introduction of new technologies linked to
With respect to that first initiative, one airport authority more efficient and effective safer processes.”
with which easyJet worked particularly closely on the creation
of a remote de-icing operation was London Gatwick. The PUTTING EVERYTHING IN PLACE
airport authority at the gateway worked with its stakeholders As the industry gears up for the Christmas period, the pressure
on the development of a double-pad, looking to learn the is on for all involved in on-airport de-icing. Airports have
lessons of a couple of snowy winters in the UK, particularly to ensure they have the right equipment in place, and that
that of 2010-11. easyJet played an important role in pad de- is where de-icing vehicle manufacturers come into their
icing trials at the airport, first involving aircraft with their own. Th us, they too are under a bit of pressure this time of
engines shut down and then with their engines running. year. Indeed, “Th is is always one of the busiest periods at
(cid:263)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:70)(cid:268)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:66)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:77)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:85)(cid:13)(cid:1)(cid:36)(cid:66)(cid:83)(cid:85)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:67)(cid:70)(cid:77)(cid:74)(cid:70)(cid:87)(cid:70)(cid:84)(cid:15)(cid:1)(cid:56)(cid:73)(cid:74)(cid:77)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:281)(cid:1)(cid:1) Vestergaard,” confi rms the company’s sales manager Lars
de-icing is still carried out on-stand as well as on the remote pads Barsoe. “We will deliver a large number of trucks prior to the
to maximise departure fl ows, the new set-up represents signifi cant coming season, so production is at full speed and then some.”
progress and clearly doesn’t just benefi t easyJet. “It is for the Improvements are being made to Vestergaard’s various
benefi t of the whole airport community,” he says. Since the remote offerings. For example, “We are continuing the development
double-pad has gone into operation, there have been a few delays of our semi-automatic features on the Elephant BETA de-
caused by bad weather, but absolutely no cancellations to easyJet icer,” Barsoe notes. “Our Precise Positioning System (PPS)
fl ights through the airport, Carter reports. can now handle three dimensions and follow both wing
He is more than happy to share the LCC’s Gatwick edges and fuselage.” PPS is a tool that makes use of proximity
experience with other airport authorities, encouraging them sensors at the end of a telescope to ensure the correct,
to go down the same road of remote de-icing. In fact, as well optimal distance between nozzle and aircraft during de-icing.
as airport authorities, he has also shown air traffic control “Plus, our In-Truck Manufacturing is gaining traction, as are
4 AIRSIDE INTERNATIONAL | AUTUMN 2017
Visit www.vestergaardcompany.com
FEATURE | AIRCRAFT DE-ICING
our birds-eye 360 degree cameras,” he adds. Minimising cost and improving efficiency,
Vestergaard’s In-Truck Manufacturing (ITM) plus environmental considerations, are all
technology allows for the manufacturing of Type issues to be considered by those involved in
I de-icing fluid on-board the de-icing truck. aircraft de-icing. “In many ways the three are
Some of the improvements introduced by linked,” says Barsoe. “Cost is a main driver
Vestergaard have been inspired by the desire in this low-margin industry, but airline
to minimise the environmental impact of customers demand efficiency and on-time
aircraft de-icing. “The push to save glycol performance, so speed is very crucial.
and the environment is still at the forefront,” “Meanwhile, airport authorities and local
Barsoe says. “Our In-Truck Manufacturing, councils are demanding that the environment
which has the potential to save customers is taken seriously, so there is a lot of
20-30% in glycol expenses, is continuing to reporting to be done, and often bills to be
develop and gain foothold. PPS is popular paid. So, all in all, the three go hand-in-hand.
with customers where there are less frequent If you can save glycol and time, you can
snow and ice events; it helps to keep the handle more aircraft with less equipment,
spray-nozzle close to the aircraft surfaces and you can save on the litres of glycol and fuel
thus to save fluid and time.” spent to heat it up, and environmentalist
(cid:48)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:79)(cid:69)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:281)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:14)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:88)(cid:80)(cid:86)(cid:77)(cid:69)(cid:1) considerations will be satisfied.”
point to include – as we have seen with easyJet Vestergaard plans to introduce a new
– a greater propensity amongst industry players version of one of its de-icers at inter airport
for more remote de-icing, as well as one-man in Munich in October.” It could revolutionise
de-icing vehicle operations that are taking a the market in some countries,” Barsoe A Safeaero 220 at work
larger market share. declares.
6 AIRSIDE INTERNATIONAL | AUTUMN 2017
AIRCRAFT DE-ICING | FEATURE
7
01
2
2
1
We set aircraft in motion
WHILE EVERYTHING ELSE
IS FROZEN
CLARIANT AVIATION MAKES AIR TRANSPORT
RELIABLE, EFFICIENT AND SAFE.
The air transport industry deals with water as clouds and rain,
or snow and ice. To keep your planes in the air, Clariant
provides sustainable deicers you can trust. Safewing® for
aircraft and Safeway® for runways result from more than
45 years of experience in frost protection.
CLARIANT.COM/AVIATION
KEEPING BUSY
(cid:34)(cid:79)(cid:80)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:85)(cid:73)(cid:70)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:75)(cid:80)(cid:83)(cid:1)(cid:78)(cid:66)(cid:79)(cid:86)(cid:71)(cid:66)(cid:68)(cid:85)(cid:86)(cid:83)(cid:70)(cid:83)(cid:84)(cid:1)(cid:80)(cid:71)(cid:1)(cid:66)(cid:74)(cid:83)(cid:68)(cid:83)(cid:66)(cid:281)(cid:1)(cid:1)(cid:69)(cid:70)(cid:14)(cid:74)(cid:68)(cid:74)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:1)
units is busy now, and has been all year. Sweden’s Safeaero
has successfully been integrated within Textron Specialized
Vehicles (Textron Inc acquired, through its Swedish affi liate,
Textron Sweden AB, the assets of Safeaero in October 2016).
Also of note over these past 12 months, recalls Textron
Sweden sales manager Michal Hak, was a successful joint
exhibition in Las Vegas last year, where the Safeaero 220
was on show for all to see. “Since than, we have generated a
lot of additional interest for the Safeaero 220 in the North
American market,” Hak informs.
“Because we are now part of Textron GSE, doors are opening
all over.” Hak is in fact now promoting Safeaero products from
the Textron Sweden AB plant right across the Far East, Russia,
Europe and North America.
Like Vestergaard, Textron too is looking forward to inter
airport later this year and displaying its latest off erings. “We
will introduce at the Munich show a new preventive de/
anti-icing system which provides hot (40°C) anti-icing fl uid
instantly at the nozzle,” Hak forecasts. “No need to fl ush piping
anymore before hot anti-ice fl uid reaches the nozzle. Th is saves
fl uid and time and is better for the environment. Th is system
can be also retrofi tted on older units.”
In other developments: “We have introduced the new hot@
nozzle and mix@nozzle for the Typhoon de-icer. This system
allows for instant hot fluid and correct mix at nozzle without
the need of flushing the piping system. Also, this system saves
fluid and time and is better for the environment.”
And, on the sales front, the company recently delivered
an additional two Safeaero washer/maintenance platforms
to Oman Air. This unit features a basket working height of
22.5m and basket capacity of 350kg. (cid:81)
AUTUMN 2017 | AIRSIDEINT.COM 7
FEATURE | TUGS & TRACTORS
JBT offers a range of pushback tractors
Anticipating demand
Th ere are several trends in the tug and tractor market today, some driven by customer
demands, some by regulatory requirements – and others by innovative manufacturers seeking
to be one step ahead of the competition. Megan Ramsay assesses recent developments
M
ark Finch, vice president – technical the common operator interface across the
services at handler Menzies Aviation, company’s product range that enables users to
outlines: “Our existing fleet of move between equipment easily. In addition:
pushback tugs consists of a variety of “We are redesigning our pushbacks to make
models from a list of OEMs [original them more user-friendly (in terms of controls,
equipment manufacturers] including TLD, sight lines, mirrors and ensuring serviceability/
TREPEL and Schopf, equipping us to handle all routine maintenance can be done from the
aircraft types. Mark Finch ground without the need for full protection).
“We both own and lease equipment across CE compliance helps set the standard; the rest is
our global network; the decision on which approach to use based on customer feedback.”
from region to region is made after assessing which will be Textron is also keen to bring manufacturing closer to the
most operationally efficient in the local context.” customer; so, for example, it has been working to fit out a
The expansion of the Menzies fleet also hinges on the manufacturing facility in Wuxi, China. Chaffin remarks:
requirements of the handler’s individual customers in “Textron has always had a presence in Wuxi and we’re taking
different locations, Finch explains; but the overall objective advantage of that. Customers want a local presence to provide
is to standardise that fleet across the network. “Therefore we service and parts; now we are offering local manufacturing
intend to engage only with those OEMs who are capable of too. We’ll start with kitted products and then advance. In
delivering an optimised solution that meets the needs of our terms of sourcing, that will be decided on the basis of quality,
entire international operation,” he says. reliability and timeliness. This is all part of our strategy of
Among the equipment manufacturers responding to regionalisation.”
this requirement from the handling community is Compton believes this approach gives customers more
US-headquartered Textron, whose economical options when purchasing equipment.
Textron Specialized Vehicles group The company certainly appears to be anticipating
includes Douglas Equipment and TUG customer demands on a number of fronts. Earlier
Technologies. this year, for instance, Textron purchased TKVGPS,
While maintaining brand loyalty, a provider of GPS-based fleet
Textron is combining its US and management solutions and GPS
European models to create worldwide technologies aimed at the golfing
designs, says Brad Compton, vice market that now operates as part
president global sales. of Textron Specialized Vehicles’
Matt Chaffin, vice president Golf business. Chaffin believes
and general manager, highlights Textron’s M7 tug that Textron’s aircraft tug and
8 AIRSIDE INTERNATIONAL | AUTUMN 2017