ASG King & Fowler, a Liverpool-based aerospace surface treatment specialist, has received formal approval from Airbus for its newly installed, fully automated tartaric sulphuric anodising (TSA) line. This marks a significant milestone following the successful completion of a major £2 million investment programme.
The approval signifies compliance with Airbus’s stringent specifications, positioning King & Fowler as a strategic supplier for next-generation aerospace components requiring REACH-compliant anodising processes. The state-of-the-art TSA line, commissioned earlier this summer, provides a sustainable and automated alternative to traditional chromic anodising. It can process aluminium parts up to 5.6 metres in length, tailored for both large structural components and high-volume production work, thereby significantly expanding the company’s capabilities.
Managing Director Stephen Dean stated, “This Airbus approval is a transformational moment for ASG King & Fowler. It demonstrates our progressive ability to meet the most stringent quality standards in the industry and validates our investment in future-proofing our business. This new fully automated TSA line improves our throughput and environmental performance — as well as positions us to win and retain key aerospace work for years to come.”
This development occurs amid wider regulatory changes in the aerospace sector, including the planned phasing out of hexavalent chrome under REACH legislation. The TSA process is already recognised by major OEMs as the preferred alternative, bolstering ASG King & Fowler’s sustainability credentials while supporting customer compliance requirements.
The new TSA capability is part of a broader transformation programme backed by ASG Group, which acquired King & Fowler in 2020. Alongside the anodising line, the Liverpool site has also commissioned advanced paint booths and previously installed a £140,000 trivalent passivation line, all in line with Airbus specifications.
Simon Weston, Group Managing Director, remarked, “This is a significant moment for King & Fowler and for ASG Aerospace as a whole. It reflects our vision to build a resilient, innovation-led surface treatment group that sets the standard in quality and sustainability. Airbus approval for our new TSA line, one of the largest in the UK, is a powerful endorsement of our progressive direction — and a signal to customers across the aerospace industry that we are ready to meet their needs.”
Founded in 1887, ASG King & Fowler has grown into one of the UK’s most trusted aerospace surface treatment specialists. With this latest investment and formal Airbus approval secured, the company is poised to support the next generation of aircraft production, working in partnership with global aerospace customers from its Liverpool base.
