Hampson Aerospace Tooling Solutions to Showcase Capabilities at Aviation Expo / China

Award-Winning Group Has Shipped Over 250 Tools to China


BRIERLEY HILL, UNITED KINGDOM--(Marketwire - Sep 15, 2011) - Hampson Aerospace Tooling Solutions (Hampson), a division of Hampson Aerospace, will be highlighting its industry leading tooling capabilities at the upcoming Aviation Expo / China Stand, Q-1 in Beijing, China, September 21-24, 2011. The Group has shipped more than 250 tools to China for the Boeing 787, B747-8, and Airbus A320 programs over the past few years.

"We are excited to participate in the growth of the aerospace industry in China," stated Paul Walsh, Hampson Aerospace Tooling Solutions Divisional Chief Executive. "Hampson's Tooling businesses have designed, built and installed the most technically advanced molds, mandrels and assembly jigs for all of the major aircraft manufacturers in the world and we currently have a team installing tooling in China today. We believe we can help our Chinese aerospace customers with our experience and technical skill and look forward to developing additional partnerships and alliances in China."

Hampson has the most technically sophisticated group of tooling companies, with more than 720 skilled employees and 85,000 square meters of manufacturing space. As the largest independent aerospace tooling manufacturer in the world, Hampson's Tooling Solutions Division has the tool design and manufacturing experience to handle small to large jobs with challenging schedules. A particular specialty is Invar molds and mandrels.

Hampson Aerospace Tooling Solutions is comprised of the following companies:

  • Coast Composites - Based in Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A., Coast is the world's largest, most experienced and trusted producer of Invar molds used to make composite aerostructures. Coast has designed and built the most technically challenging Invar tools for wing, fuselage, center-wing box, stringers, and nacelles among other aerostructures for the world's major aircraft programs. Coast has most recently begun manufacture of large light-weight tools using composite materials for automated fiber placement systems.

  • Global Tooling Systems - Based in Michigan, U.S.A., Global Tooling is the world leader in the design, manufacture and installation of tight tolerance aircraft assembly jigs and fixtures. These range from small individual drill jigs to full fuselage join fixtures and wing assembly fixtures. Global has designed and built complex jigs and fixtures for all of the major aircraft and helicopter programs and currently has a team in China performing an assembly tool install.

  • Odyssey - Based in Michigan, U.S.A., Odyssey specializes in fast response on detail and assembly tooling, creating jigs and fixtures for lay-up, bond, drill, trim and a wide variety of other applications of any size or shape. With an unsurpassed capacity in both engineering and manufacturing disciplines, Odyssey brings tools and complex tooling solutions to market with unrivalled speed and efficiency.

Hampson Tooling Solutions has, or is currently supplying, tooling to the world's largest aviation development programs including Boeing 787, 777, 747-8, 737; Airbus A380, A350, A320; Bombardier CSeries; Gulfstream G650; Cessna Citation; HondaJet; Lockheed Martin F-35; Boeing F-18; and Sikorsky CH53.

Among its many industry awards are: Lockheed Martin Lightning II supplier excellence award; Boeing 747-8 performance award; Gulfstream 650 outstanding supplier service; Boeing supplier excellence award; Goodrich award of excellence; KHI Boeing 787 program performance award; Spirit Aerosystems outstanding supplier award; and Northrop Grumman Tool Supplier of the Year award.

About Hampson Industries PLC
Hampson Industries PLC is the world leader in the design and manufacture of close-tolerance tooling and assembly systems, as well as holding leading positions for composite and metallic components and aero structures. The Group's end-to-end solution for its customers from engineering and project management through manufacturing and logistics has lead to numerous customer awards. With global operations it serves the commercial and military aerospace markets from 12 facilities in the US, UK, and India.

Hampson Industries PLC is listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange (LSE: HAMP). For more information, visit: www.hampsongroup.com.

All products/services and trademarks mentioned in this release are the properties of their respective companies.
© 2011 Hampson Industries PLC. All rights reserved.