A shake-up in the market for aircraft ground support equipment is long overdue, according to the recently-appointed Business Development Manager of Cartwright GSE.
New ways of working and up-to-date technologies are required to meet the demands from operators for more carbon-friendly and operationally efficient vehicles, claims Matt Hill.
The ex-Royal Air Force Engineering Manager, who has also had decade of experience in the aircraft GSE market, said electrification and automation are hot topics in the sector.
“Operators are keen to reduce the carbon footprint of their vehicle fleets because they are under pressure to make their operations more environmentally-friendly,”
said Matt Hill.
“The sector is ripe for some innovation and disruption because it has traditionally been slow-moving, with changes in design often governed by regulatory requirements and the reluctance to disrupt a working but often inefficient system of work.
“Yet there is scope for cost-savings, greater efficiencies and better fuel economy with innovative designs and new technologies such as utilising lightweight materials.
“It is an exciting time to be joining Cartwright GSE because it is well-placed to bring innovations to the market that will meet operators’ needs and aspirations.
“Not only does its parent company have a deserved reputation for engineering excellence and ingenious bespoke designs, but also its sister company is adept at designing efficient interiors for workshop and maintenance vehicles. As our logo says Innovation is in our DNA”
Cartwright GSE was formed two years ago by the award-winning Cartwright Group, one of the UK’s leading commercial vehicle body and trailer manufacturers, after it acquired aircraft GSE manufacturer Emtek Services Ltd.
Production was subsequently moved to Cartwright’s 39-acre site at Altrincham, Cheshire, where the focus is on producing ambulift, catering, cleaning and maintenance trucks for the GSE sector.
The Cartwright Group has a successful history of reducing the carbon footprint of commercial vehicle fleets and is renowned for developing bespoke solutions to overcome clients’ challenges.
Matt Hill comes to Cartwright GSE with an impressive track record that combines a successful engineering, project management and leadership career in the RAF with a strategic sales and marketing career in civilian life.
Having started as an aircraft apprentice with the RAF, Matt spent 18 years in the services, leading four operational tours of duty, including one in the Falkland Islands, rising to become an Engineering Manager responsible for Tornado F3s.
After spending time in the Defence Equipment & Support Agency (DE&S), he developed a successful career in civilian life in strategic sales and project management securing multi-million-pound contracts. He has spent the past ten years the aircraft GSE sector and joins from TLD Europe.
Matt Hill added:
“Cartwright GSE has the right pedigree to bring new solutions to the marketplace, especially with its agile approach of designing and building new models from scratch. “There is huge potential to streamline the manufacturing process and produce innovative solutions to customers’ requirements.”
Among the first orders for Cartwright GSE are two scissor lift vehicles to take passengers with restricted mobility (PRM) onto aircraft. One is destined for Leeds Bradford Airport and the other for CCS at Manchester Airport.