Héroux-Devtek
Héroux-Devtek Inc. specializes in the design, development, manufacturing and repair of aerospace and industrial products. The Company’s head office is located in Longueuil, Québec.
For the Aerospace segment, Héroux-Devtek supplies both the commercial and military sectors with landing gear (including spare parts and overhaul services), airframe structural components including kits, and aircraft engine components. In the commercial sector, the Company is active in business jet, regional jet and large commercial jet markets. On the military side, the Company provides also parts and services for major military aircraft in the United States.
The Industrial segment is comprised of the large components for the power generation and other industrial products.
Héroux-Devtek operates under three divisions: Landing Gear, Aerostructure and Gas Turbine Components. All three divisions are active in the aerospace market segment while the Gas Turbine Components Division is also active in the Industrial segment.
The three divisions of Héroux-Devtek’s operate 8 manufacturing facilities servicing the needs of a variety of world class clients. The Company has over 60 years of experience delivering top quality products to a wide range of major aerospace, industrial and military/government customers.
The Landing Gear Division specializes in the manufactures and repair & overhaul of small to medium size landing gears. Approximately 750 highly skilled technicians work in four facilities located in Québec and Ontario. The Landing Gear Division designs and manufactures landing gears, hydraulic actuators and flight critical components to a customer base that extends from the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) to the Operators, in both commercial and military markets.
The Aerostructure Division operates three manufacturing sites. Two are directly dedicated to airframe structural components. The first airframe structural plant is located in Dorval, Québec and the second, Progressive Inc., is based in Arlington, Texas. These facilities are dedicated to the manufacture of components and sub-assemblies for the aerospace market. A third site, Magtron, specializes in the production of hi-tech enclosures and cabinets for the protection of sensitive aeronautical equipment as well as being part of the division. It also manufactures and assembles different mechanical products for the space and defense industry.
The Gas Turbine Components Division specializes in the manufacture of components for aircraft engines and power generation systems, involving technologies such as precision machining, welding, fabrication and assembly. Located in Cincinnati, Ohio, it operates out of two facilities totaling more than 117,000 square feet.
HISTORY: MAJOR MILESTONES OF THE COMPANY
| 1942 | Company established as Héroux Machine Parts Limited in Longueuil, Québec specializing in machine tooling of aircraft components. | |
| 1960 | Héroux begins design and manufacturing of landing gear components. | |
| 1969 | Héroux manufactures landing gear for the Apollo Lunar Module. | |
| 1986 | After an initial public offering (IPO), Héroux’s share became publicly traded in Canada. | |
| 1987 | Company purchases McSwain Manufacturing Corporation. | |
| 1999 | Company purchases Métro Machining Corporation and Les Industries C.A.T. inc and creates its Aerostructure Division. | |
| 2000 | Acquisition of Devtek Corporation. Change of corporate name to Héroux-Devtek Inc. |
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| 2004 | Acquisition of Progressive Inc. | |
HISTORY
The Company commenced operations in 1942 in a small plant in the Montréal suburb of Longueuil where it manufactured machined parts for a variety of military purposes. Over the years, the Company availed itself of various government programs to develop its business. It began to specialize in the aeronautical industry in the 50’s. During the 1960’s, the Company designed, developed and manufactured servomechanisms and the landing gear for the CL-215 water bomber built by Canadair Limited and for the DHC-6 Twin Otter built by De Havilland (both now divisions of Bombardier Inc.). During this period, the Company was awarded the contract to manufacture the landing gear for the Apollo Lunar Module designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
In June 1985, all of the Company’s outstanding shares held since 1973 by Bombardier Inc., were acquired by Mr. Sarto Richer and Mr. Gilles Labbé, both senior executives of the Company.
In December 1986, the Company made its initial public offering of common shares to finance among other things the modernization of its facilities. As a result, the Company became a public entity whose common shares were listed on the Montréal Exchange.
The Company recognized a need to reduce its reliance on the military market. It therefore established the objective of diversifying its operations to include the commercial and industrial sectors and sought to establish U.S. operations. In November 1987, Héroux expanded into the United States through the acquisition of McSwain Manufacturing Corporation in order to diversify its operations and to be closer to its main American customers. McSwain Manufacturing Corporation, with facilities located in Cincinnati, Ohio, specializes in the manufacture and sale of high-precision machined parts for the power generation, heavy machinery and aerospace industries.
On June 3, 1999, the Company acquired Métro Machining Corporation and Les Industries C.A.T. inc., specializing in aircraft structural components. These two acquisitions became the foundation of the Aerostructure Division.
In June 2000, Héroux announced the successful completion of its take-over bid for all of the shares of Devtek Corporation. In September of that year, Héroux Inc. changed its name to Héroux-Devtek Inc.
On April 1, 2004 the Company announced the closing of the acquisition of Progressive Inc., a Texas-based manufacturer of large components to military aircraft OEM. The acquisition strengthened Héroux-Devtek’s Aerostructure Division by providing access to the important military aerospace sector and its aircraft platform.
Canada Business Directory @ January 17, 2009