Hartzell Engine Technologies has acquired the Sky-Tec brand of starters and solenoids. The purchase grew from a previous transaction, Hartzell Engine Technologies President Mike Disbrow 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,” he said.
Rich Chiappe, partner of Sky-Tec Partners, said Sky-Tec will now turn its attention to developing new products. “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.”
Disbrow said Sky-Tec products complement the Hartzell line. “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.”
Sky-Tec starter and solenoid products will continue to be manufactured in the current factory at Granbury, Texas, through the end of 2016.
“Once all of the FAA Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) documentation can be put in place, Sky-Tec starter and 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 said. “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.”
