eCube Solutions aims to become a European market leader in providing end-of-life solutions for aircraft

eCube Solutions – which aims to become a European market leader in providing end-of-life solutions for aircraft – is setting up business at St Athan with support from the Welsh Government.

The company – one of the first to benefit from the Wales Economic Growth Fund – has taken a ten-year lease on a c: 50,000 sq ft airside hangar on the Welsh Government’s Aerospace Business Park.

Business Minister Edwina Hart has welcomed the news and said the economic levers within the Welsh Government’s remit are playing a proactive role in helping to stimulate the economy.

“The Aerospace Business Park at St Athan is designed to create jobs and utilise both the airfield and the skills base in the area and is within the new Enterprise Zone designated for this sector. This investment follows hard on the heels of Hunter Flying which is moving to St Athan and shows companies recognise the business opportunities we are creating.

“In addition I am also pleased to announce that eCube is benefiting from the Welsh Government’s Economic Growth Fund, a short term, fast track grant providing immediate access to capital funding for investments that will create and retain jobs.”

eCube Solutions, a new venture established by a management team with considerable experience of the aerospace sector, plans to create eighteen skilled, well-paid jobs by December 2012.

It is to provide an environmentally friendly and cost effective management service to owners and operators of aircraft.

Their facility will offer a full aircraft end-of-life package and provide the following services:
· Aircraft storage
· Maintenance of aircraft
· Dis-assembly of parts
· Storage of parts

eCube Commercial Director, Mike Corne, explained it is a rapidly expanding market as airline operators are updating their fleet with the latest fuel-efficient aircraft to reduce operating costs, causing the owners of older aircraft to consider their options for maximising the returns from the assets during the latter stages of their lives.

Over the last three years 1,400 aircraft have been retired worldwide and, over that period, the average retirement age for passenger aircraft has fallen by 4 years.

Tim Schmidt, Managing Director, said: “Providing end of life solutions for owners of mature aircraft is a market which we believe will benefit from the introduction of lean processes, allowing us to accelerate the delivery and accuracy of services for our customers.”

He added that the facilities at St Athan, coupled with Welsh Government support and a suitably skilled workforce, made Wales a very attractive offering.

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