This year marks the 20th anniversary of High Tech Alloys (HTA) and the tenth successive Paris airshow for president Gordon Armitage. He has arrived in Paris upbeat about the current state of US exports and hoping for new orders at the show.
In 1981 he and partner Brian Carter had a metre square booth. This year they have pride of place at the entrance to the Global Solutions Pavilion. Change
"Things have changed a bit for us and the industry in those 20 years," says Armitage. "We've come a long way. Back then it was just the two of us. We now have 18 employees and seven offices."
HTA is a marketing company handling the export sales of metal manufacturers. It is representing four at the show. These include Frith Rixson, the manufacturer of major case rings for engines including the casing for Pratt &Whitney. Also represented is Le Fiell Manufacturing, which is responsible for major sections of the International Space Station. On show are products by Senior Aerospace and titanium product producers Perryman, as well as casings from the Trent 500 and V2500 compressor, of which 120 and 350 will be made respectively next year. "I don't agree with the doomsayers who say US exports are sluggish," says Armitage. "We are seeing strong growth and even if there has been some adjustment in delivery times, there aren't or haven't been cancellations of any note. "Our primary purpose for being at the Show is to raise the profile. It's important for us to be seen at the world's major aerospace event but I'm sure we'll also generate sales."
Source: Flight Daily News
