Thursday, 24th January 2013

NP Aerospace – Supplier of the Year 2012

NP Aerospace is proud to have been Selected as the Supplier of the Year 2012 by Varian.

The Company has a long-standing contract to manufacture carbon fibre couches for oncology X-ray and treatment machines. The couches are precision engineered, manufactured under clean room conditions and offer a unique combination of physical properties – high strength and rigidity, X-ray transparency and low weight.

Varian leading supplier of hi-tech medical equipment and industrial scanners. www.varian.com.

NP Aerospace specialises in the design and manufacture of lightweight structural systems using the most advanced materials and techniques.

Friday, 31st August 2012

Peter Luff MP visits NP Aerospace

The Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology, Mr Peter Luff MP visited NP Aerospace in Coventry today. The Company was proud to present him with the millionth combat helmet manufactured at their Advanced Armour Systems facility. It was one of 80,000 Mk 7 combat helmets supplied to the Ministry of Defence for British forces serving in Afghanistan. The helmet offers exceptional protection to soldiers from blast, fragmentation and impact. NP Aerospace has manufactured helmets for the UK MOD for 33 years. This includes the predecessor MK 6 and Mk 6a in addition to a number of specialist helmets. The Company has also supplied military and police customers in Sweden, Italy and Greece.

Mark Robertshaw CEO of Morgan Crucible plc presents the millionth combat helmet manufactured by NP Aerospace to Mr Peter Luff MP, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology in the Mastiff and Ridgback Armoured Vehicle Manufacturing Facility. Photograph courtesy of the Coventry Telegraph.

During the campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, NP Aerospace has integrated, delivered and supported around 750 Mastiff, Ridgeback and Wolfhound protected mobility vehicles in addition to supplying critical survivability systems such as CAMAC® vehicle armour, Osprey Body Armour and the Mk7 Combat Helmet.

A leading UK Defence Company, NP Aerospace operates in two areas:

• Advanced lightweight armour systems to protect personnel, vehicles, aircraft and ships.
• Armoured vehicle systems design, integration and through-life support services.

NP Aerospace has recently won a number of vehicle upgrade contracts and is looking forward to playing a very significant part in the long term support of the Mastiff family of vehicles which have proved a huge success in Afghanistan. The Company also continues to fulfil existing orders for new helmets and integrated body armour plates.

Dave Godfrey, NP Aerospace Production Manager briefs Mr Peter Luff MP, Minister for Defence Equipment, Support and Technology and Major General Carew Wilks, Director Land Equipment, on helmet manufacture. Photograph courtesy of the Coventry Telegraph.

Part of the Engineered Materials division of Morgan Crucible plc, NP Aerospace is at the forefront of ballistic-grade composite and ceramic materials technology and committed to the delivery of battle- winning equipment to soldiers on the frontline.

Commenting during his visit, Minister for Defence, Equipment, Support and Technology, Peter Luff, said: "I am delighted to be here at NP Aerospace in Coventry to accept the one millionth MK7 helmet off the production line. These helmets have proven to be real lifesavers in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. They are highly regarded by our troops on the front line and no other general service helmet in the world provides a better combination of protection and comfort."

Friday, 31st August 2012

NP Aerospace are proud to introduce their work with BASE-IC, to improve the performance of Britain's disabled ski racers.

BASE-IC is a unique consortium of Defence suppliers who have joined together to harness their engineering skills to support high performance adaptive skiers.

Being closely involved with this important project, NP Aerospace have contributed by focusing on the rapid production of high-performance composite seat mouldings for the sit-ski rigs. NP have taken QinetiQ's first generation custom seat design and following feedback from two competitive seasons use, have optimised it for performance, comfort and safety.

Mick Brennan was presented with his new system in March 2012 which included the new seat moulding. A carbon-fibre construction has significantly reduced weight which combined with an enhanced Supacat suspension system, has allowed him to move from side to side more quickly. The seat back has also been extended to protect Mick's spine in the event of a crash.

NP look forward to watching the athletes in action using these innovative technical solutions in competitions leading up to the 2014 Paralympic Games in Sochi.

Friday, 29th June 2012

Godiva Awakes: An inspiring cultural spectacle to celebrate the London 2012 Olympics

On the 28th July 2012, Imagineer Productions' Godiva Awakes will present Lady Godiva as a contemporary symbol of courage, fairness, self-sacrifice and social justice, who will come alive at a spectacular performance involving dancers, actors, aerialists, musicians and pyrotechnicians.

Carnivalists and 220 young people will process through Coventry city centre in celebration at the unveiling of this Godiva for the modern age, and on the 30th July 2012 to the 5th August 2012 Godiva will journey to London to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, powered by 100 cyclists. It promises to be an amazing spectacle!

NP Aerospace has been instrumental alongside Coventry City Council, Arts Council England and other local business partners in the project team that has found solutions to the important technical and artistic challenges associated with bringing a 10-metre tall Godiva to life.

Roger Medwell, Chairman and former Chief Executive Officer of NP Aerospace said:

"Working on this project has been a fantastic challenge for our engineers. I hope the project will prove an inspiration, not only for the next generation of arts and cultural students but for engineering students demonstrating that engineering is behind some of the most innovative designs."

It truly is an ambitious project to support and develop the skills of a new generation of makers, performers and event producers, and will celebrate the history and ingenuity of the West Midlands region for all to see.

You can find out more about the progress of the Godiva Awakes project as the 28th July at Imagineer Productions website.

There is also a comprehensive article on Wikipedia on the history and legend of Lady Godiva.

Wednesday, 21st December 2011

NP Aerospace forklift driver and artist Steve Edwards presents a portrait to Roger Medwell on his retirement from NP Aerospace following his 51 years of service with the company and 32 years of leading the team.

Wednesday, 21st December 2011

NP Aerospace Part-Sponsors UK4U Christmas Boxes for serving soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen

The Christmas boxes are presented to troops who are away from their families on UK operations overseas at Christmas time. Roger Medwell is seen on the photograph with Lorraine Kelly, Santa and various service personnel.

Thursday, 31st March 2011

The BBC reports on soldiers visiting NP Aerospace

BBC News today featured a news story on a group of serving UK soldiers who recently visited our Coventry factory to thank staff for making the body armour that saved their lives in the line of duty.

For the full story including a video report on the visit, please visist the BBC News website.

Thursday, 31st March 2011

John Evans retires after 47 years of service at NP Aerospace

Monday, 10th January 2011

'Bullet magnet' praises body armour for twice saving his life in Afghanistan

A young soldier, who is on his third tour of Afghanistan's Helmand province, is really putting the life-saving qualities of the new British body armour to the test, and has earned the nickname 'bullet magnet'.

In two separate instances Gunner Jordan received gunshots to the body, once to his front and once to his side - but on both occasions he walked away unscathed as his armour did the job for which it was designed and prevented the rounds from causing him harm.

The first incident occurred while Gunner Jordan was manning the defensive sangars (observation posts) protecting his patrol base. While monitoring an ongoing fire fight, Gunner Jordan felt a kick to his front as part of his body armour was ripped off.

He remembers using his radio to tell the operations room, where the co-ordination of a battle takes place, "I think I've been shot", but after being checked out by the medic and having his damaged body armour replaced he was passed fit and carried on the rest of his shift in his sangar.

The second occurrence happened whilst Gunner Jordan, a member of 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, was deployed on the ground in support of the opening of a new police station. On noticing that atmospherics had changed, and observing a build up of suspicious figures in the distance, Gunner Jordan moved away from his support vehicle in order to take a bearing and send a report back to the ops room.

It was at this point that a large gun battle began, with the enemy firing at Gunner Jordan and his colleagues from a number of different positions with a variety of weapon types. In the ensuing battle, Gunner Jordan felt a kick to his side, which he took to be his driver trying to get his attention. The Coyote vehicle in which Gunner Jordan was travelling was riddled with bullet holes but Gunner Jordan, despite having taken a bullet, remained unscathed.

Gunner Jordan commented:

"On returning to the patrol base I discovered the gunshot damage to the side plate of my body armour. The situation on the ground meant that there was no time to think about what had happened. I had a quick cigarette, even though I have actually given up, changed my side plates and deployed back out onto the ground again.

"I felt we needed to get back out there to show presence to the locals and insurgents alike - to show that we were not defeated and not fazed - and I wanted to be part of that."

In the UK, Gunner Jordan is based in the army garrison town of Colchester. Whilst deployed in Afghanistan he works as part of a Fire Support Team with The Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, Battle Group in the Lashkar Gah region of southern Helmand.

Wednesday 29th December, 2010

Pensioners Christmas Lunch Takes Place

The Pensioners Christmas Lunch took place earlier this month. It is an annual event held at NP Aerospace to mark the contributions of previous employees who have since retired. This year's lunch was particularly well attended, and a good time was had by all.

Supacat & NP Aerospace Form Strategic Alliance to Deliver LPPV

Supacat is an innovative engineering and design house that is geared to producing and supporting high-mobility, all terrain vehicles. Proud of their agility and speed, they are able to provide and fully support high performance solutions in exceedingly short timescales. The UK Ministry of Defence's recent procurement of Jackal and Coyote demonstrates the high regard in which their capabilities and products are held.

NP Aerospace is a composite technical moulding and vehicle integration business that develops, manufactures and markets ballistic protective and other composite products in the defence and civil sectors. NP Aerospace has a high degree of experience in armour systems for military vehicle protection and has been responsible for integrating a significant number of vehicle systems, including Mastiff, Ridgback and Wolfhound, used by the British Army. In addition, NP Aerospace enjoys unique areas of application know-how in products such as personal body armour, military helmets, explosive ordnance suits and protective kits for a wide range of vehicles.

Tuesday 16th June, 2009

DVD 2009: 24th-25th June

NP Aerospace is exhibiting at the 2009 DVD at Millbrook, Bedfordshire. On display will be the Mastiff 2 and Ridgback Protected Patrol Vehicles and the new Wolfhound Tactical Support Vehicle. We are on Stands S9-S11 and welcome any of our Customers to come visit us.

DVD 2009 is a pivotal event in the defence equipment calendar for industry and the defence community to discuss and experience at first-hand the equipment and support vital to the success of the UK's Armed Forces.

For more information on the event, visit www.theevent.co.uk

Monday 8th June, 2009

NP Aerospace CAVCAT at Iveco Drive Day, Millbrook

Thursday 29th January, 2009

NP Aerospace Build Holocaust Memorial Day Sculpture

NP Aerospace has been asked to make a sculpture out of hundreds of pairs of donated shoes, to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Coventry City Council said that the work would reflect the thousands of shoes left behind by concentration camp victims.

The Council said it had received about 1,000 pairs of shoes for the artwork, including footwear donated by the Olympic gold medal-winning athlete Christine Ohuruogu, Strictly Come Dancing stars Rachel Stevens and Jodie Kidd, and former footballer and Coventry City manager and pundit Jimmy Hill.

The sculpture is to be displayed close to Coventry's Belgrade Theatre, and the shoes will be donated to Oxfam after the exhibition ends.

Holocaust Memorial Day is on the 25th January, 2009.

Friday 26th October, 2007

Nigel Gets Advantage Thanks To Carbon-Fibre Bike

NP Aerospace employee Nigel Arlidge continues to make rapid progress up the Rowathlon ranking. Part sponsored by NP Aerospace, Nigel has made rapid progress on his new carbon fibre event bike.

Good luck in your next race, Nigel.

Wednesday 1st August, 2007

NP Aerospace in £71 Million Trade Buy-Out

NP Aerospace (NPA), one of Europe’s largest thermoset moulding companies, has undergone a £71 million trade buy-out (TBO) backed by one of its major suppliers, Morgan Crucible plc.

The deal signals the start of a new expansion phase for the company and gives the management team the support required while Morgan Crucible acquires a significant minority stake. It also provides an exit for The Carlyle Group, the global private equity house which bought the company for £30 million from Reinhold Industries in 2005 and has supported the NPA team in achieving their long term goal of becoming an independent company. Barclays Bank is providing funding for the management team.

Target Corporate Finance advised NP Aerospace on the deal, which is one of the first genuine trade buy-outs seen in the Midlands.

NP Aerospace supplies composite moulded products to the aerospace, medical imaging, automotive and defence industries. The company’s products, which are based on a range of advanced composite materials and proprietary production technologies, include ballistic resistant helmets and body armour, low x-ray absorbent medical structures and light-armoured vehicle structures.

NPA’s armoured vehicles have been used by the MoD, Police and various news teams together with its body armour and helmets for over 20 years. A key aspect in the NPA success story is their speed and ability in bringing innovative products to the market whether it be a new explosive ordinance suit (EOD) for the army or a new composite couch top for the medical industry, their products always become a significant competitor in their sector.

Founded in 1926, NP Aerospace was originally part of Courtaulds and is based in Coventry, England and Amman, Jordan and has over 200 employees. It will continue to operate as a standalone firm with a UK board led by chief executive Roger Medwell, who has run the business since 1978 when he was appointed as general manager.

Morgan Crucible is headquartered in the UK in Windsor and operates across 90 manufacturing sites throughout the world. Its materials, technical and insulating ceramics and carbon products are fundamental components of many of today’s sophisticated products, and are used in industries ranging from medical equipment, aerospace, defence and power generation to satellite communications.

NP Aerospace’s chief executive Roger Medwell said: “NP Aerospace is known for being at the forefront of technology and there are numerous opportunities to develop our offering still further. We have plans for major expansion and the buy-out will put in place the conditions we need to fulfil these. The partnership with Morgan Crucible will help us to access new technologies and markets and give us the support we need to flourish and grow.  The Midlands has a highly skilled and available workforce due to the unfortunate closure of some key manufacturers in the region and we will be looking to recruit to pursue our expansion plans.”

The Target Corporate Finance team included Matt Eves and Jim Shaw.  Senior corporate finance manager, Matt Eves added: “There are significant synergies between the two companies and commercial advantage to be had in bringing them together in this way. The structure of the deal allows NP Aerospace to benefit from a strong partnership while at the same time gives the management team the resource to develop the business further.”

Tuesday 10th April, 2007

NP Launches Discreet Armoured Cars Range

NP Aerospace successfully launched their new range of Discreet Armoured Cars at the HOSDB (Home Office Scientific Development Branch) 2007 Show on March 21st-22nd 2007.

The Armoured Jeep Grand Cherokee, which formed the centerpiece of the stand, attracted a lot of attention from various organisations around the world and NP is very confident of receiving many orders as a result of the show.

Sunday 11th March, 2007

Osprey Body Armour Saves Royal Marine

News of The World, the popular UK newspaper recently reported the incredible story of a Royal Marine who survived a firefight against the Taliban in Afganistan despite being hit 3 times with enemy gunfire.

Thankfully the Marine was wearing Osprey body armour at the time, which undoubtedly saved his life.