Aerospace firm Moog set for busy year ahead

Moog Aircraft Group — 10/01/2018

The team at Moog's aerospace factory in Wolverhampton are gearing up for a busy year working on a string of major aviation projects.

Top of the list is the ramp-up of the Joint Strike Fighter programme - the world's biggest defence contract with the new generation of F-35 Lightning jets going into service.

Moog's engineers in Wolverhampton designed and built the crucial lift system primary actuation for the special F-35B short take-off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant that will equip the Royal Navy's aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales.

And, as the Queen Elizabeth undergoes sea trials, F-35B aircraft will make their first take-off and landings from the carrier's deck later this year.

As the newly reformed 617 Squadron the old Dambusters unit the jets will transfer from their current base in the US to RAF Marham and should be operational as a land-based unit by the end of this year before taking up their aircraft carrier role from 2020.

The carrier flights this year will be a crucial test for Moog's Wolverhampton-developed technology, which controls how the aircraft's Rolls-Royce LiftSystem shifts the jet from normal flight to hover. Work on the project dates back before Moog moved to its state-of-the-art factory on the i54 estate, where a special extension houses work on the system.

Stuart McLachlan, group vice president and general manager for Moog's aircraft components sector, said: "The ramping up of production and operations for the JSF is probably the biggest project we will be handling this year.

"But at the same time we are continuing to work on a number of civil aviation programmes and bidding for other work this year as well."

The Moog site at Wolverhampton, which employs around 420 of the US-based company's 1,000 strong UK workforce, is responsible for the design and production of a string of major high-lift and flight control systems for passenger aircraft such as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner and the new Airbus A350.

It is also working on the high-lift system for the C919, the first Chinese-developed passenger jet, which is continuing with its flight tests this year.

It also works on a number of helicopter programmes for Bell and Augusta-Westland as well as defence aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, in use with the RAF and air forces across Europe and the Middle East.

The Wolverhampton factory has historic roots, starting out as Boulton Paul during the Second World War at its former premises across the Wobaston Road. Stuart has worked for the company for a quarter of a century, as its ownership changed from Dowty to Smiths, then GE and then Moog in 2009. After serving an apprenticeship and graduating from the University of Wolverhampton, he has held various senior management roles.

His current job sees him overseeing operations at Wolverhampton, Moog's site at Tewkesbury as well as in the Philippines and in the US.

Plans for Moog’s £40m Centre of Excellence facility as developer looks for funds

Moog Aircraft Group — 24/09/2020

Moog has received a pre-let deal with Barberry Industrial for a 184,000sq ft centre of excellence facility for their aircraft controls operation. However, the developer is looking for £35m forward funding to complete the project. Work on site is due to start in January 2021 following the appointment of a contractor.

The centre of excellence facility is set to be built in Tewkesbury, West Midlands and will cost around £40m to complete. Moog has been located in Tewkesbury for almost 40 years and is one of the largest employers in the area.

The facility will be located at junction 9 of the M5 motorway and Moog has signed an agreement for a new RPI-linked 35-year lease without break.

Cushman & Wakefield is acting on behalf of Barberry Industrial to appoint a funding partner and is seeking offers in excess of £35.61m.

Jon Robinson, development director and shareholder of Barberry Industrial, said: “The UK Logistics and Industrial market has remained resilient to the challenges of 2020. The pre-let to Moog Controls is one of a number of occupiers we have transacted with during 2020 across our UK wide industrial/warehouse pipeline of circa 3.3m sq ft. We are delighted to be presenting this long income opportunity to the market working closely with Cushman & Wakefield to secure a forward funding partner for this high specification, state-of-the-art industrial building, designed to be carbon neutral and built to a BREEAM Excellent standard and let to the undoubted covenant of Moog on an RPI linked 35-year lease.”

Ned Jones, partner in Cushman & Wakefield Capital Markets team, added: “This is a rare opportunity to acquire the freehold interest in a state-of-the-art headquarters. The building has excellent design and sustainability credentials which will provide a high-quality industrial facility. There are very few opportunities of this calibre in the market and with the RPI linked long lease to a strong covenant we fully expect it will be of interest to a broad range of investors.”

The new high tech facility will span over 184,034 sq ft with extra land available for expansion. The future extension will see a warehouse take the facility up to 207,000 sq ft.

Moog’s Tewkesbury Aircraft Controls Segment operation is the global centre of excellence for the design of servo valves and has a large engineering division within its facility. This will help foster further growth in Moog’s Engine and Flight Control products for new and existing military and commercial aerospace programmes.

(Source: Business Desk)