For more than four decades, Howco has built a reputation for world class, worldwide service by supplying high-performance alloys and highly-engineered components to some of the world’s most demanding industries. Known primarily for our work in oil and gas, chemical processing and energy sectors, we’re delighted to begin a new chapter in aerospace.
A Natural Evolution For Howco
This is not a sudden pivot. In February 2024, Howco Additive Manufacturing’s metal components travelled to the moon as part of the Intuitive Machines IM-1 mission, Nova-C class lunar lander. Today we’re once again reaching for the skies.
Howco’s expansion into aerospace has been more than a year in the making, shaped by detailed internal planning, investment in our people and infrastructure, and a clear understanding of what the sector requires from its supply chain partners. Aerospace is, by nature, a high-trust environment where the smallest failure can have disastrous consequences.
Quality, traceability and consistency are not optional; they are fundamental. For Howco, those expectations mirror the standards we have upheld for decades.
One of the most critical milestones in this journey has been achieving AS9100D accreditation at our Sheffield facility. Recognised as the global quality management standard for the aerospace industry, AS9100D confirms that our systems, processes and controls meet the stringent requirements demanded by OEMs and Tier suppliers.
Jane Savage, European Commercial Director, will oversee the aerospace business for Howco, and notes, “Alongside quality systems, Howco has invested heavily in people, with dedicated Business Development Managers as well as training and development programmes for our new recruits. My previous work history includes aerospace, and I’m looking forward to using my experience to work closely with this wider team as we transition into the sector.”
Scott Bulmer, newly appointed Business Development Manager, explains how this move into aerospace is a natural evolution after more than four decades in business.
“Aerospace demands reliability and adherence to the highest standards, and those principles are already embedded in how Howco operates”, he said. “This expansion builds on Howco’s expertise, allowing us to apply our experience, people and global capabilities to a sector that is so in line with our values and long-term ambitions. I am immensely excited for what the years ahead hold, both for us and for the aerospace industry as a whole.”
From a materials perspective, Howco’s strong offering includes nickel alloys such as Alloy 625 and Alloy 718 which are well established in the aerospace supply chain – thanks to their strength, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature performance. These materials are also very familiar territory for Howco, which has supplied similar grades into extreme operating environments for many years.
Why Now?
Aerospace is entering a period of sustained growth, but it’s not without pressure. Aircraft production is ramping up to address a backlog of aircraft estimated to be more than 18,000 at the end of 2024. Over the next 20 years, industry forecasts point to demand for around 43,000 new passenger and freighter aircraft. At the same time, manufacturers are being asked to deliver cleaner, more sustainable solutions while navigating supply chain disruption, skills shortages and global trade uncertainty.
Howco’s global footprint, combined with our proven ability to manufacture, process and distribute materials across multiple regions, provides customers with flexibility and continuity of supply. Backed by Sumitomo Corporation, one of the world’s largest trading companies, Howco also has the financial strength to invest for the long term.
Visibility and collaboration are central to operations. We have joined both the Midlands Aerospace Alliance (MAA) and the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA), embedding our people and processes within the UK’s thriving aerospace community. Later this year, our team will exhibit at the Farnborough International Airshow to engage directly with OEMs, Tier suppliers and industry partners.
With aerospace as the focus of this phase of diversification, Howco aims to support critical industries by providing certainty, technical excellence and dependable delivery, even in unpredictable market conditions. This is no blind leap forward: it is an ambitious move grounded in experience and shaped by a clear understanding of what the aerospace supply chain truly needs.
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