NP Aerospace celebrated 100 years of innovation and manufacturing in the city of Coventry on Saturday 27th June with an event for staff, families and local industry representatives to coincide with Armed Forces Day, a key event in the military calendar.
A world-leading armour manufacturer and vehicle integrator, employing 450 plus people, with two large defence and composite manufacturing facilities on Foleshill Road and Courtaulds Way, the firm’s heritage dates back to 1926, when it was established in Coventry as part of the Courtaulds Group, manufacturing spinning boxes for artificial silk production.
Over the past century, NP Aerospace has evolved from a composites materials business moulding parts for automotive and other industries in the 1960s into a global exporter of defence and security solutions. In 1979, the company entered the defence market producing the first composite helmet for the British Army – the GS MK6 variant. During the 1990s, NP Aerospace armoured the Snatch Land Rover, the world’s first fully composite armoured vehicle, and in 2006 armoured and integrated the first Mastiff six-wheel-drive patrol vehicle for the UK Ministry of Defence, for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the following eight years, more than 750 Cougar protected vehicles, including Mastiff, Ridgback, Wolfhound and Buffalo platforms, were delivered.
Today, NP Aerospace continues to expand, globally, driven by a mission to improve and protect the lives of those who protect us. The company has made a long-standing contribution to the local economy, skilled employment, manufacturing excellence and the UK’s defence industry. Some of the highlights have included:
· Winning major contracts with global Ministries of Defence, NATO allies, special forces, law enforcement agencies and leading automotive manufacturers.
· Recording revenues of £187 million in 2009, driven by increased demand for protected mobility and survivability solutions during operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
· Achieving fourfold growth over the past five years with turnover at £80m, headcount over 450 people and exports at over 60% of sales
Throughout its history, NP Aerospace has demonstrated resilience through periods of significant global and economic change, from the Second World War, the oil crises and three-day working week of the 1970s, to economic recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic. Continually adapting to changing customer and market requirements through engineering innovation and advanced manufacturing, the business has achieved numerous UK manufacturing firsts, including becoming the first to spin viscose rayon (artificial silk), pioneering compression moulding techniques, and becoming one of the UK’s first manufacturers of carbon fibre in 1966.
James Kempston, CEO and owner of NP Aerospace said: “Since 1926, through generations of change including wars, economic cycles and technological revolutions, NP Aerospace has remained a place of innovation, craftsmanship, and resilience, thanks to the dedication of its people. Coventry has a proud history of manufacturing, reinvention and resilience and has always been a city that looks forward. We are proud to be part of that story and look forward to continuing to invest in our people, our capabilities and our future here in Coventry.”
Former CEO of NP Aerospace Roger Medwell, who led the company for 30 plus years from the late 1970s commented: “It was an exciting period for me as we fought to survive turbulent times. The GSMK6 Helmet was a programme that we were equipped for in more ways than one, we had the right size presses in abundance and we had the knowledge having produced the composite spinning boxes; then we came up with a patent which reduced the material used per helmet by 40 % – no one could compete with us. We are the only Courtaulds operation in Coventry to survive of the original operating units. I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved and of our contribution to the city of Coventry.”
The centenary celebrations coincide with Armed Forces Week, recognising the dedication and service of the Armed Forces community while reinforcing NP Aerospace’s long-standing commitment to protecting those who serve. As the company marks 100 years in Coventry, it continues to build on its heritage of innovation. The recent announcement of a definitive agreement to acquire U.S.-based defence protection specialist Iten Defense will further strengthen NP Aerospace’s portfolio of survivability and protection technologies, expanding its ability to support defence and security customers around the world.
Visit www.npaerospace.com/history for the full company history timeline