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
CAA licences NATS to deliver UKADS

Aerospace

CAA licences NATS to deliver UKADS

7 May 2026

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made changes to the air traffic services licence held by NATS, with the new regulatory framework enabling NATS to begin delivering the UK Airspace Design Service (UKADS), establishing new responsibilities for NATS in airspace design and coordination, alongside arrangements to support airports in progressing ...

AirAsia orders 150 A220s

Aerospace

AirAsia orders 150 A220s

7 May 2026

Malaysia’s AirAsia has placed an order for 150 latest generation A220-300 aircraft, which is the largest single firm order placed for the A220 and propels the programme beyond the 1,000 firm order milestone.

Voyant appoints James Norwood as CEO

Aerospace Defence Security

Voyant appoints James Norwood as CEO

7 May 2026

Voyant today announced the appointment of James Norwood as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Weald Electronics celebrates 50th Anniversary

Aerospace Defence

Weald Electronics celebrates 50th Anniversary

6 May 2026

Horsham based Weald Electronics Ltd, a major UK manufacturer of electrical connectors and accessories for defence and demanding industrial applications established on 27th April 1976, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Cross Manufacturing expands AS9100 Certification across all its sites

Aerospace Defence

Cross Manufacturing expands AS9100 Certification across all its sites

6 May 2026

Cross Manufacturing has announced that its Devizes North site has successfully achieved AS9100 certification, completing a key stage of the company’s strategic expansion to support customers in the aerospace and defence sectors.

Downtown Skyport welcomes multiple point-to-point eVTOL flights

Aerospace

Downtown Skyport welcomes multiple point-to-point eVTOL flights

6 May 2026

Skyports Infrastructure (Skyports) welcomed multiple point-to-point eVTOL flights to Downtown Skyport - New York’s first - during Joby’s '2026 Electric Skies Tour' New York City Flight Campaign, which took place between 23rd April - 1st May 2026.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB