Manufacturing Today Issue - 234 Mar 2025 | Page 44

Cover Story _______________________________________________________________________________________________________
organization called Courtaulds. Over the years, Courtaulds expanded into composites and plastics, prompting it to acquire the British company National Plastics in the 1950s, from which the initials of our company name originated. By the late 1980s, there was a shift in focus towards defense products like ballistic helmets and body armor. In the 1990s, the business was purchased by an American ground defense and aerospace company, which, subsequently, rebranded its aerospace division as NP Aerospace. From there, NP Aerospace grew in both the aerospace and defense sectors but was sold a couple more times, eventually focusing primarily on ground-based defense as well. During the mid-2000s and 2010s, NP Aerospace mainly specialized in body armor, Explosive Ordnance Disposal suits, vehicles, and vehicle armor. The company was publicly traded until 2018 when, I led a buyout with Canadian investment and transitioned it into the private business it is today. Since then, NP Aerospace has experienced both organic and inorganic growth and expansion through strategic acquisitions and now turns over upwards of £ 60m, putting us in the mid-tier company category rather than SME,” he informs.
One of these acquisitions occurred recently, when NP Aerospace bought the assets of a company named Jankel Armouring Limited in the UK( JAL).“ We acquired the assets in the middle of 2024. Like us, JAL manufactured protected vehicles, armor, and seating systems for vehicles, and offered vehicle integration and upgrades akin to our VSSS business. Despite these similarities, JAL complements our business effectively, and its acquisition has brought several benefits. In terms of survivability, while our focus leans more towards composite armor, JAL specialized in metallic armor and full survivability systems. By integrating these capabilities into our CAS business, we have established a robust
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