Diehl Aerosystems' newly finalised acquisition of interiors specialist Dasell means it is well on the way to achieving an objective of becoming "the number one cabin integration partner" for Airbus and Boeing, claims company president Rainer Ott.
Announced during March, the deal was completed on the opening day of the show.
"We want to become a preferred supplier, from the cockpit to offering the whole cabin," says Ott. "By acquiring Dasell we've moved a step closer to meeting that goal."
Ott says Diehl is delighted with Emirates' show order for an additional 32 A380s, as the company expecting to secure business worth between $8 million and $10 million per aircraft. However, he says, "it will be a challenge for Airbus and its suppliers, as they want quick deliveries". Diehl has already felt the pressure caused by delays to the A380 and Airbus Military's A400M projects, he adds.
Meanwhile, Diehl BGT Defence president Claus Günther has commented on a high-profile spat caused by a decision by German defence minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg to stay away from ILA. The minister added to his non-appearance by announcing plans to make major spending cuts.
"I haven't seen such a show in another country where the ministry of defence didn't come," says Günther, who describes the action as "a warning to the defence industry". However, he adds: "I'm not saying that it was a discriminatory act. We want to enter into a positive dialogue."
Günther also responded to media criticism of the nation's defence industry which emerged following the minister's no-show. "There are hundreds of companies who supply good equipment for German soldiers, but in this country we are completely forgetting this," he says. Arguing that "a good and co-operative home base" is vital if German industry is to secure future export sales, he says the defence ministry "must know the effects if they buy abroad when there is cost or time pressure".
Source: Flight Daily News
