Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Hardide Coatings appoints Rob Holmes as VP Aerospace

Aerospace Defence

Hardide Coatings appoints Rob Holmes as VP Aerospace

Advanced surface coating technology company, Bicester based Hardide Coatings, has appointed Rob Holmes as VP Aerospace as the company targets strategic growth in the aerospace and defence sectors.

Above: Rob Holmes, VP Aerospace, Hardide Coatings Ltd.
Courtesy Hardide Coatings

Rob joins from Nasmyth Group where he spent 10 years in senior business development positions in the global aerospace industry. Most recently he was Aerospace Development Executive responsible for the long-term development of global aerospace markets, specialising in the UK, EU and Asia Pacific. Rob has 25 years of engineering industry experience, of which 17 years is in aerospace. His career has encompassed engineering, project management and senior sales and commercial roles.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Rob will be responsible for developing business opportunities in the aerospace and defence sectors for Hardide Coatings’ range of nanostructured tungsten carbide/tungsten metal matrix composite coatings. Aerospace and defence customers currently include Airbus, BAE Systems, Leonardo Helicopters, Lockheed Martin and Triumph Group.

Rob said: “I am pleased to be joining a company with such a strong reputation for technical excellence. The Hardide coating technology allows the aerospace primes to be fully compliant with global and ethical environmental factors while also optimising the performance of parts and reducing operational costs. There are many opportunities in the vast aerospace and associated industries’ supply chain for the coating technology and I am looking forward to supporting its commercial development.”

Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide plc commented: “The aerospace and defence sectors are strategic growth areas for the company and Rob’s extensive international experience, knowledge and contacts in our target areas will be a real asset to the company.”

Hardide Coatings is a Hardide plc company. It develops, manufactures and applies advanced technology tungsten/tungsten carbide metal matrix coatings to a wide range of high wear/high value engineering components. Its patented technology is unique in combining, in one material, a mix of toughness and resistance to abrasion, erosion and corrosion; together with the ability to coat accurately interior surfaces and complex geometries. 

The material is proven to offer dramatic improvements in component life, particularly when applied to components that operate in very aggressive environments. This results in cost savings through reduced downtime and increased operational efficiency.  Customers include leading companies operating in oil and gas exploration and the production, valve and pump manufacturing, precision engineering and aerospace industries.

Advertisement
ODU RT

 

 

Advertisement
FIA2026 animated banner
Red Hat to enhance EUROCONTROL air traffic management system

Aerospace

Red Hat to enhance EUROCONTROL air traffic management system

11 May 2026

Red Hat today announced it is helping EUROCONTROL deliver a unified digital platform to enhance organisational resilience and accelerate innovation in air traffic management, replacing 25-year-old legacy systems using Red Hat OpenShift.

Intralink to drive Amprius drone battery tech into South Korea

Aerospace Defence Security

Intralink to drive Amprius drone battery tech into South Korea

11 May 2026

Business development consultancy Intralink, has been appointed by Silicon Valley battery specialist Amprius Technologies, to deepen its presence in South Korea, one of Asia’s most active markets for drones, robotics and advanced mobility.

Manchester Airport Skills partnership wins Educate North Award

Aerospace Events

Manchester Airport Skills partnership wins Educate North Award

11 May 2026

Trafford & Stockport College Group and Manchester Airports Group (MAG) are celebrating after winning a prestigious Educate North Award (ENA), recognising the success of the Manchester Airport Skills Hub partnership.

Airports across the UK taking part in health and safety week

Aerospace Events

Airports across the UK taking part in health and safety week

11 May 2026

Airports Health and Safety Week was launched today at Luton Airport and will be taking place at sites up and down the country until Friday 15th May.

Advertisement
ODU RT
NMITE graduates find jobs in local aerospace and defence

Aerospace Defence Events

NMITE graduates find jobs in local aerospace and defence

11 May 2026

The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE)  celebrated the achievements of its second cohort of 20 students at Hereford Cathedral on 9th May, who graduated with either a BEng (Hons) or MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering degree, with companies such as Airbus and BAE Systems among those now hiring NMITE ...

Heathrow sustains strong demand in April

Aerospace

Heathrow sustains strong demand in April

11 May 2026

April passenger numbers decreased by 5% year on year to 6.7 million, reflecting the ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict on some markets and short-term adjustments to travel plans, yet underlying demand remained resilient, with strong transfer passenger demand continuing into April with a 10% increase year on year.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
Hexagon leaderboard