Aerospace Firm Flies Past First Base

An aerospace firm is flying high this week with news from the Invest Northern Ireland Chief Executive Alastair Hamilton that Base Group, the Belfast company, has won significant business in Germany for high-tech work on a major Airbus programme.

Mr Hamilton said the company had secured contracts worth over £1 million with the Peters Group of Ottobrun, near Munich, for stress analysis and project management work on a multi-national Airbus project.

The work is being carried out by a joint team in Belfast and in Munich.

Base is carrying out the certification stress analysis for the aircraft’s rear fuselage and establishing the project management protocols for many of the main structural features.

In parallel with this, Base is supporting the manufacture of the aircraft in preparation for delivery to the first customers. The work is expected to continue into 2012.

Mr Hamilton said: "The new contract and the relationship with the Peters Group, one of Germany's leading engineering businesses, establish Base as a significant supplier of expert services to Airbus and will help to raise the profile of the Northern Ireland aerospace industry within one of the world's largest plane makers.

"Aerospace is a strategically important manufacturing sector for Northern Ireland.

"We recognise the sector's immense potential and are keen to assist its continued growth. Indeed, one of the key activities at the recent investment conference in Washington was a 'meet the buyer' event which we facilitated between a group of Northern Ireland aerospace companies and major US manufacturers," he said.

"Base is a Northern Ireland-owned and managed company which is now at the leading edge of advanced development work on major international aircraft programmes. It has achieved this standing through its investment in technology and, above all, the quality and skills of its people."

The company has set up new offices at the Northern Ireland Science Park and uses the latest technology that will enable it to realise the ambitious growth targets that management has set.

David Raymond, Base Group Chairman, said: "We are delighted to be working with Peters Group and taking a major part in these new programmes. The Peters contract is our most significant piece of work to date on Airbus products.

"The new contract is a tremendous boost for the company and will enhance the already close relationship that we enjoy with tier one Airbus suppliers.

"Underpinning our business strategy is a commitment to provide customers with expert engineering services that are flexible, versatile and rapid.

"We'll also be able to benefit from the advanced telecommunications network at the Northern Ireland Science Park, particularly its high volume data capability for sending complex design information to all of our European and worldwide customers," he concluded.

(BMcC/KMcA)