Above: Viking Industrial managing director Melanie Bennett with the AS9120 aerospace accreditation certificate.
Courtesy Viking
 
The West Yorkshire tapes, adhesives and sealants specialist has some 50 long-standing customers in the industry to whom it supplies a wide range of products on behalf of global technology giant 3M.

 
Viking’s managing director Melanie Bennett explained: “AS9120 has taken us two years to achieve. It’s all about product traceability and we’ve enhanced our internal systems in order to comply, with ongoing inspections every 12 months.
 
“It is a recognised international standard key to the aerospace sector and we have to demonstrate our ability to consistently provide products that meet both customer and applicable regulatory requirements.”
 
Viking’s growing aerospace customer portfolio, primarily based at northern airports, includes Jet2, Ryanair and EasyJet, which utilise 3M products for both fleet servicing and refurbishment requirements, along with commercial aviation workshop services company Aero Technics, which continues to source a range of 3M flame retardant glass cloth tape for lining cargo bay interiors.
 
Another customer, Leeds-based Aeroservices, a leading solutions provider for the commercial aviation sector globally, sources Viking 3M products for internal aircraft applications.
 
Aeroservices supply chain programme manager Jack Medley commented: “Product traceability is essential and wherever possible we deal with suppliers who have the aerospace accreditation, as this gives us and our customers peace of mind.”
 
Viking continues to cement its Preferred Distributor status partnership with 3M, one of only 10 within the UK and remains its top online partner in this country.