Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide

Aerospace

SiG helps drive growth of SWMF

South West Metal Finishing (SWMF) announced today that its sales had increased by 15% in 2016 and that it was on track to grow by 57% to £11 million by 2020, thanks in part to support from the Sharing in Growth (SiG) scheme.


Courtesy SWMF / iStock
 
Exeter-based SWMF, which was the first surface treatment company to be part of SiG, values the scheme as a £1.2 million investment in skills and training.
 
The purpose of the SIG scheme is to protect 10,000 jobs within the UK aerospace market. Over 60 companies are involved.

Advertisement
ODU RT

SWMF has capability across all surface treatments, including; electroplating, electroless plating, anodising, conversion coatings, paint and non-destructive testing. It can work with any metal and has developed specific expertise in: nickel, zinc, copper, cadmium, silver, chromium, alloy, anodising, phosphate and aluminium conversion coatings.


Courtesy SWMF / iStock
 
The company holds a wide range of approvals working with major companies including Airbus, Leonardo, Eaton Aerospace, Honeywell and Rolls Royce.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle

All four of SWMF sites are AS9100 and NADCAP accredited and it operates a collection and delivery service throughout the UK and Europe.

Jackie Jacobs from South West Metal Finishing said: “The start to 2017 has been fantastic for the company, with growth across all areas and, thanks partly to Sharing in Growth, a rapidly developing workforce whose skills are increasing every day.

“We are looking forward to continuing this progression and achieve our target of £11million sales by 2020. These are very exciting times for our industry.”

SWMF is an industry leading supplier of unrivalled quality and performance in surface finishing, serving aerospace, defence, oil & gas, power generation & nuclear, medical, automotive and marine.
 

Advertisement
ECS leaderboard banner
IFS completes acquisition of Softeon

Aerospace Defence Security Space

IFS completes acquisition of Softeon

10 March 2026

IFS today announced the completion of its acquisition of Softeon, providing enterprises across manufacturing, logistics and retail, with access to a new category of supply chain technology.

Acron Aviation extends B737NG training with Arik Air to 2029

Aerospace

Acron Aviation extends B737NG training with Arik Air to 2029

10 March 2026

Acron Aviation has secured a multiyear contract extension with Arik Air, reinforcing a long-standing partnership and confirming Acron Aviation as Arik Air’s exclusive provider of B737NG Full Flight Simulator (FFS) training.

NPAS shares innovation insights at CAA Future of Flight Day

Aerospace Security Events

NPAS shares innovation insights at CAA Future of Flight Day

9 March 2026

At the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s Future of Flight Day, David Walters, Head of Futures and Innovation, National Police Air Service (NPAS), shared the latest progress in NPAS’s Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) development programme and showcased a recent multiagency search and rescue demonstration.

Aurrigo to build 25 AGVs for Ultra Global

Aerospace

Aurrigo to build 25 AGVs for Ultra Global

9 March 2026

Aurrigo International plc has signed the largest vehicle manufacturing order in its history to manufacture an initial 25-strong fleet of autonomous guided vehicles (AGVs) for a leading rapid transit system specialist.

Advertisement
PTC rectangle
Isembard raises $50m to open 25 AI-powered factories

Aerospace Defence

Isembard raises $50m to open 25 AI-powered factories

9 March 2026

UK manufacturing startup Isembard - which manufactures components for aerospace, defence and robotics in factories powered by its proprietary agentic AI platform MasonOS - today announced it has closed $50 million in Series A funding, less than 12 months after its Seed round.

Air Charter Scotland ups Aberdeen-Wick PSO route capacity with Jetstream J32

Aerospace

Air Charter Scotland ups Aberdeen-Wick PSO route capacity with Jetstream J32

6 March 2026

Air Charter Scotland has added 10 more seats daily (Monday to Friday and Sunday) on the Wick-Aberdeen-Wick Public Service Obligation route, with the start of Jetstream J32 services this week.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
Advertisement
Security & Policing 2026