James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace
NP Aerospace, formerly part of Morgan Advanced Materials, is set to strengthen its leading position in the Global Defence and Security Market under new ownership.
The company is a world leader in the design and manufacture of advanced armour technology for personal protection and military vehicle platforms. It has been jointly acquired by the PFN Group of Companies* and former NP Aerospace Executive, James Kempston, who is now CEO.
NP Aerospace products protect the lives of servicemen and women across the world, enhancing national security and resilience in the highest threat environments. The company is a major exporter of ballistic helmets and shields, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) suits, body armour plates and composite vehicle armour systems, developed using ultra-lightweight, high performance materials.
NP Aerospace has integrated and supported over 2,000 military vehicles, including more than 700 of the UK MoD’s Cougar fleet of vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has also supplied over 1 million combat helmets to UK, Canada, Italy and NATO allies and 200,000 body armour plates to the British and Canadian Armed Forces.
James Kempston, CEO, NP Aerospace comments: “The Security and Defence markets are seeing increased demand in terms of exports, innovation and technology. NP Aerospace is ideally placed to introduce ballistic armour innovation that ensures the highest level of protection and mobility for military and law enforcement personnel whilst maintaining cost efficiency.
“We have a long history in the materials manufacturing industry having started life as part of the Courtaulds Group in 1926. We entered the defence market in 1979 after winning the contract to supply the UK Armed Forces with combat helmets and have since then expanded our presence, improving armour technology and threat protection levels.
“Our new ownership structure enhances our overall business agility and will strengthen our global export position as we continue to invest in R&D. I am personally very excited to be driving the next phase of our business growth.”
NP Aerospace employs 100 people across three facilities in the UK and Canada. Its UK facilities are fully ISO certified including an ISO 17025 UKAS accredited on-site ballistics range for armour testing and validation. The company also engineers and manufactures composite materials for a range of industries including medical platforms and antenna systems. High profile projects have included manufacturing the first moulded composite bikes for the Olympics, Sit skis for the Paralympics and the Bloodhound supersonic car.
*PFN Group of Companies Limited Partnership is fully owned by its General Partner, PFN Group of Companies Inc. PFN is 100% owned by Pasqua First Nation in Canada.