Fine Tubes and Superior Tube Expand Far East Operations
Both have signed Fusoh Aviation as their distributor in Japan for the aerospace and space sectors.
Posted: March 13, 2015
Two leading manufacturers and global suppliers of precision tubes for critical applications, Fine Tubes Ltd. (Plymouth, UK) and Superior Tube Company (Collegeville, PA) have signed a two-year contract with Fusoh Aviation Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) to act as their distribution partner in Japan for the aerospace and space sectors.
Both manufacturers see significant growth potential in the Japanese aerospace and space markets and, having worked successfully with Fusoh on an ad-hoc basis in recent years, were keen to establish a formal partnership. Fusoh Aviation’s client base features a number of global aerospace manufacturers, including IHI Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Fuji Heavy Industries and also the Japan MOD and Coast Guard.
Both Fine Tubes and Superior Tube have a long record of manufacturing high performance titanium, stainless steel and nickel alloy tubes for some of the world’s most advanced civil and military aerospace projects. Designed for airframes, engines and flight surface actuation, the tubing supplied by the two companies is capable of withstanding some of the most critical conditions, including high pressures and high temperatures.
Fine Tubes is one of the few suppliers qualified to produce the high pressure titanium tubes used in the hydraulic systems of the Airbus A380 aircraft and has provided tubing for the heat exchanger of the revolutionary propulsion unit for the space plane, Skylon. Superior Tube, a qualified supplier to Boeing for both commercial and military aircraft, has previously developed precision tubing for NASA’s Apollo, Space Shuttle and Mars Exploration programs.
Whilst the initial agreement is limited to aerospace and space applications, it could be extended to cover other markets, including Nuclear, in the future. Paul Mallett, the aerospace product manager for Fine Tubes, commented, “We’re delighted to have concluded this agreement with Fusoh. Our immediate focus is on growing our aerospace client base in Japan but we believe the potential is there for further co-operation to help us expand our business in the country across other markets.”
Akira Tanabe, the senior vice president of Fusoh Aviation Co., Ltd. added, “Fusoh Aviation Co., Ltd. is very excited to have made an agreement with Fine Tubes and Superior Tube and is looking forward to assisting both companies in expanding their business into the Japanese markets.”
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