Hartzell Engine Technologies LLC today announced the company’s acquisition of the Sky-Tec brand of high performance aircraft starters and solenoids.
“We are ecstatic to have successfully completed the acquisition of one of the aviation industry’s most respected brands which significantly enhances our starter product line and adds solenoids as well,” Mike Disbrow, president of Hartzell Engine Technologies (HET) said. “Working with the entrepreneurial team behind Sky-Tec starters during our acquisition of Plane-Power alternators made it clear that our companies shared an uncommon mutual commitment to general aviation and our shared customers.”
“Hartzell Engine Technologies will be the ideal home for the care and growth of the Sky-Tec brand,” said Rich Chiappe, Partner of Sky-Tec Partners. “My partners and I needed to be assured the brand would be cared for with the same honor and commitment we poured into it for over a quarter century allowing us to focus our attention entirely on bringing new products to market such as the SureFly electronic ignition for certified aircraft. Hartzell’s leadership clearly appreciates the value of the Sky-Tec brand and will be the brand’s best caretakers for the next quarter century and beyond. Hartzell will continue to provide Sky-Tec customers with exceptional quality and first rate support moving forward.”
“Sky-Tec’s current starter and solenoid products are the perfect complement to the Hartzell line,” Disbrow said. “Sky-Tec has a strong position on Lycoming engines and HET’s strength is in Continental engine starters. Customers will further benefit when the best products of both businesses are together under one roof.”
Disbrow stated that HET will continue to produce the Sky-Tec starter and solenoid products under the Sky-Tec brand and manufacturing will continue in the current factory in Granbury, Texas though the end of 2016.
“Once all of the FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) documentation can be put in place, Sky-Tec starter & solenoid production will be transferred to HET’s Montgomery, Alabama facility so Sky-Tec can transition their employees to SureFly and their other new ventures in Granbury,” he said. “Right now Hartzell anticipates adding five new jobs in Montgomery and Sky-Tec plans to keep all of its employees in place in Granbury. Those numbers may increase as production plans are further finalized for both companies.”
“The purchase of the Sky-Tec brand is consistent with our strategy of growing our core product lines organically and through acquisition,” Disbrow stated. “Sky-Tec not only brings us a leadership position on Lycoming engines, it also adds new applications such as four-cylinder Continental and Rotax engines, Franklin engines and other developing aircraft powerplant technologies to our product portfolio.”
