Moving Forward...

Advanced Composite Structures, manufacturer of the extremely durable AeroBox ULD cargo container, is moving our operations to a new state-of-the-art facility to accelerate our growth in the Air Cargo market.

As part of our Strategic Plan, ACS is expanding our emphasis in this market with several new products to be introduced in 2010. At the same time, we are moving away from other markets and some manufacturing operations that are inconsistent with our core goal of providing our Air Cargo Customers with superior products and service. Our new facility is better suited to the manufacture of the high performance composite materials that will now make up the bulk of our product offerings. A new layout also gives us the opportunity to set up our facility to optimize Lean Manufacturing Techniques – absolutely necessary to effectively compete in the global market that we find ourselves.

Expect the following actions from ACS in the next year:

• Introduction of several new products in the ULD, Pallet, and Cargo Handling markets.
• Dedicated sales and support for Pacific Rim and Asia Markets
• 100% focus on the air cargo markets – both dedicated and commercial carriers
• Expanded lab capabilities for mechanical, durability and long-term environmental testing
• Completion of our ISO9001:2008 quality certification.
• Expansion of spare parts consignment program and establishment of global parts depots.

ACS is starting the move on 01 July and plan to be fully operational by 15 July. To prevent any supply disruptions in either parts or finished containers, we have built up a substantial inventory of all current items.

Effective July 15th, our new address will be 540 Silver Creek Road NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121. Our phone and fax numbers will remain the same.

All of our dedicated employees look forward to welcoming you to visit us once we are settled into our new facility.

If you have any questions, please contact Tom Pherson, President, tpherson@acsinvents.com or Mike Anuszkiewicz, Global Sales Manager, manuszkiewicz@acsinvents.com for more details.

ACS Aerobox Container chosen again! Unit pictured above is over 2 years old and still looks factory new!

The Week That Was A380 

FROM AIRCARGO NEWS

There’s no doubt about it: the week of the A380 began last week in Berlin as Emirates stunned the global airline business by ordering 32 more A380s, bringing the EK fleet up to 90 planes by 2017 (pending no more orders from the Dubai powerhouse in the next 7 years).

 A380, which has been struggling for orders, looks to finally get off the shneid with total sales now at 234.

We assume people must be reporting superior comfort for long haul and reliability—presenting the big Airbus as the global lifter that EADS hoped it would be.

European aerospace need not look too far to figure out which carrier put the proud bird over the top.

While there is talk that perhaps ANA will join the delivery line soon, A380 still needs to land a U.S. customer.

Elsewhere, at ILA last week we noted how body language and the behavior of people with one another are very good at telling a story.

Very rarely does the public get an inside view of the elite and powerful simply interacting together.

Note German Chancellor Angela Merkel, here on a video we first ran last week, onboard a just delivered Emirates A380.

The scene occurred just before Emirates CEO, HH Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, delivered prepared remarks announcing the mega order to the world.

Chancellor Merkel is aboard an Emirates A380 aircraft with Swiss President Doris Leuthard, and HH Prince Maktoum is explaining the A380 as the dignitaries move down the aisle.

While speaking, HH Prince Maktoum defers to the Chancellor with sunglasses in hand while discreetly moving back in the cabin to allow Chancellor Merkel forward on the airplane.

Understanding the moment perfectly, the Chancellor defers right back to the esteemed Prince and his courteous manner, and is even pictured sitting down in a coach seat, accepting and acknowledging her host’s hospitality.

Talk about non-verbal communication. All of this happens in a couple of seconds, but is fascinating nevertheless.

Politics and business aside, the movement here is like a dance and serves as an example of total class between two people of great power and importance in the world.

Was there anything else going on? We suppose that an awareness of everything being on the record is always in the forefront of everyone’s mind.

Emirates would certainly like more European gateway access while buying airplanes on the continent… just like politicians can sure use more jobs.

Later, just to keep things balanced, Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa, was photographed with Chancellor Angela Merkel, left, and Swiss President Doris Leuthard in front of the Airbus A380 'Frankfurt am Main.’

The A380 then took off to do what it was tasked for 350 million dollars ago, as the big DLH bird commenced non-stop service from FRA to NRT.

But before loading the very first air cargo container aboard the A380’s inaugural cargo and passenger revenue flight, a container adorned with personal greetings and well wishes from the best cargo airline in Europe was passed onto the plane.

Not all days and weeks can be this gemütlichkeit, but we take these moments where we can find them and celebrate the good feelings on all the main decks, and occasionally below deck on the cans.

Geoffrey/Flossie