Gardner Aerospace has announced the appointment of Dominic Cartwright as the company’s CEO.
Cartwright joined Gardner Aerospace as vice president business development in July 2018 and in his new role as CEO will look to treble the size of the business through operational excellence, international expansion and the development of new technologies.
Commenting on the role, Cartwright said: “I’m incredibly proud to have been appointed as Gardner Aerospace’s CEO and am relishing the opportunity to oversee the next phase of the company’s development. With the support of our parent company Ligeance Aerospace Technologies (LAT), we are continuing our international expansion and the years ahead promise to be significant.”
To the role, Cratwright brings more than 25 years’ industry experience, having held leadership roles in business development, engineering and operations within aerospace companies of various sizes, including Lucas Industries, Goodrich, Smiths Aerospace, GE and United Technologies.
Elsewhere, the company has revealed a new manufacturing facility in Chengdu, China.
The 45,000-square metre site’s range of capabilities will include long-bed machining, three to five axis machining and sheet metal fabrication including stretch forming; among other facilities.
A dedicated cell for the manufacture of engine components and sub-assemblies is also included in the development plans for the site which will see more than $125m invested in new equipment and capabilities.
Commenting on the investment, Cartwright commented: “We’ll be able to manufacture a very diverse range of components at the new site from both hard and soft metal. The first work packages for the facility will be Airbus wing detailed parts.
“And I’m delighted to say we will soon be training local people in-house at Chengdu to ensure everyone follows our ‘One Gardner’ ethos and we continue to deliver the same exceptional standard of work that we are known for.
“We already employ over 2,200 people across our business and that number keeps growing as we add operations such as Chengdu. We’re excited by how much this facility will help us improve our service and to access the Asia-Pacific aerospace industry.
"This huge operation will allow us to support China’s rapidly developing domestic market for aerospace parts and will also deliver a new option for Western aerospace customers sourcing parts in the region. New and existing customers will enjoy the advantages of our high-quality, low-cost manufacturing with Transfer of Work management still being local to the customer."