AEROSPACE industry on the Fylde coast could be used as a blueprint for other firms across the world.
Martin Wright (inset right), chief executive of the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), will lead a delegation to the Paris Air Show today in a bid to get more deals in place for the Fylde coast.
And his keynote speech, Aerospace Supply Chains o
f the Future, will see Mr Wright explain how the North West aerospace sector will transform itself to meet the changing shape of international supply.
Several Fylde coast companies supply goods to the international market, including Warton's BAE Systems.
Mr Wright said: "The North West is truly leading the way in cluster development in the UK, and this is largely thanks to the efforts put in by the supply chain in this region, working with the NWAA and the primes such as BAE Systems, Airbus and Rolls Royce."
One of the companies from the Fylde hoping for some lucrative deals as a result of the Paris Air Show is Kilgour Industries in Thornton – a precision engineering firm which provides components to a number of defence businesses.
In previous years, companies visiting Paris with the NWAA have
secured major contracts and helped establish their profile and reputations on the air show's global playing field.
It is hoped the 2009 event – also the centenary year of the Paris show – will be equally as successful.
Mr Wright said: "During the NWAA's event I will be setting out our vision for the future, and how we aim to develop the North West supply chain to meet the future shape of the global industry.
"Paris is the flagship industry event of the year, and the best platform in the world to showcase the terrific work being done in the North West of England. It is vital for our region to have a major presence.
"The NWAA is delighted to be joined by some of the key companies involved in the aerospace sector, such as Kilgour Industries, and we're pleased that so many areas of the North West are represented – including Blackpool and the Fylde."
