More than £1m worth of new business has been secured by the Welsh
delegation to the Paris Air Show in June with over £3.6m in
further opportunities also identified, Economy Minister has revealed today.
The Paris Air Show is the largest aerospace event in the world,
attracting over 2,400 exhibitors from 49 countries and 139,000
trade visitors from 185 countries.
Wales is a centre of excellence for aerospace manufacturing and
MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) related activities, with
more than 160 companies employing more than 23,000 people across
the country, accounting for 10% of the UK’s aerospace industry.
At this year’s show, Economy Minister led a delegation of 7
Wales- based companies and universities, Cardiff Airport and
Aerospace Wales.
The Welsh Government pavilion at the Paris Air Show helped
companies exhibit their products and services to prospective
buyers – helping to promote Wales’ aerospace and space
capabilities to a global audience.
One company to secure a deal at the show is Metrology Engineering
Services (MES). Set up in April 2023 with support from the Welsh
Government, the Bro Tathan-based company is a leading service
provider in reverse engineering, 3D laser scanning, damage
assessment, and quality inspection.
During the Paris Air Show, the company signed deals worth around
£450,000. The new contacts the business made at the show is
helping lay the ground for future deals. MES had already secured
a number of export deals before Paris, and these latest deals
will help grow the business further.
MES currently has 8 employees and, as it continues to grow, is
looking to double its headcount by the end of the year.
Steve Beasley, CEO of MES said:
“The support I’ve received from the Welsh Government has been
instrumental in getting my business started. By supporting me to
attend trade shows like the Paris Air Show, I have been able to
meet new business partners both in the UK and from overseas.
These contacts will ensure that I can keep growing my business.
“Trade shows, both in the UK and overseas are a great way to
explore the market, meet new contacts and to promote my business.
Exhibiting as part of a group on the Wales stands provided me
with the opportunity to network with like-minded companies and
help promote Wales.”
During the show, TRIUMPH Group, a global leader in uplocks and
actuation products with a focus on landing gear solutions,
announced a MOU with Stirling Dynamics – with a focus on joint
development of Electro-Mechanical Actuation solutions. TRIUMPH
also met with several potential new business partners, with the
company identifying many new business opportunities.
, Business Development
Director from TRIUMPH said:
“Being included in the Wales stand at the Paris Air Show provided
us with a great opportunity to meet with existing and new
business contacts and to reiterate that TRIUMPH is a key
contributor in the Wales’ aerospace sector.
“We are looking forward to participating in the next trade show
and securing more business for our operations in Wales.”
Economy Minister, said:
“The Welsh Government is committed to helping Welsh companies
grow and thrive, supporting them to create new jobs in the
industries of the future.
“The Paris Air Show was a great opportunity to promote Wales’
capabilities in the aerospace sector and as a key location for
inward investment, innovation and trade. I’m delighted the
businesses that took part in the Welsh Government trade mission
are already benefiting significantly from their presence at the
show.
“This is a prime example of the positive work the Welsh
Government is undertaking to promote Wales to the world.”
