Towbarless & Conventional Towing Tractors & Runway Friction Measuring Equipment

Company Douglas Equipment
Date 20.05.2013

Leading supplier of aviation ground support vehicles

Douglas Equipment’s focus on the importance of marketing and sales in the growth and development of their business has led them to join the Corporate Affiliate Scheme and launch their own Marketing Academy, supported by the Chartered Institute of Marketing.

Douglas Equipment which employs 120 people, manufactures tow tractors and handlers for the aircraft and defence industry globally. Following its takeover by Curtiss-Wright Flow Control, a year ago, the previously run family business has been going through a transition period and its marketing has been one of many disciplines to be reviewed.

Douglas Equipment has received many business accolades in the past including two Queens Awards for ‘Enterprise Innovation’ and ‘Enterprise International Trade’ in 2010. Following the take-over in April 2011 there have been many changes as the business continues to bed-in with Curtis-Wright Flow Control’s business model. The management emphasis at the Cheltenham and Poyle, Heathrow plants has been to try and make the transition as seamless and painless as possible.

Steve Taylor, business development manager at Douglas Equipment comments: “The world is changing at a pace and our customers are changing. Douglas Equipment needs to be completely customer focused and we need to ensure we have the resources to develop our skills. My CIM membership is a positive endorsement and will give me greater confidence in fulfilling my role and enable me to enhance my skill set.”

The CIM is the leading international professional body for marketing and business development providing marketing qualifications, training and professional services for all marketers.

Christine Boswell-Munday regional director for the CIM in the South West explains: “Our corporate affiliate scheme means that a company can register a number of employees as affiliate members which provides them with access to a range of benefits including; a continuous personal development programme, information resources, mentoring and coaching. Through our mentoring and coaching programme we are able to assess and identify individual skill gaps, recommend solutions to address these and support the organisation in developing its marketing or sales team.”

Ron Cowley, managing director at Douglas Equipment and himself a Fellow of the Institute explains: “The CIM is a professional body which boasts international recognition.  They offer us a structured programme which assists individuals and will allow our sales team to achieve professional qualifications and this, in turn will benefit our customers.”

Mr Cowley adds: “I believe the affiliate programme will enhance our team working and develop a common language which will enable us to improve our strategic and operational decision making, leading to improved sales and help us to develop new markets. Many influences will shape the future for Douglas Equipment and growth is essential.  The marketing academy will provide a structure to enable us to facilitate change whilst highlighting new opportunities through the enhanced talents of our sales teams.”

 

Douglas Equipment Personnel

Left to right: Keith Barlow, regional director for CIM; Douglas Equipment personnel – Chris Frank, spare parts co-ordinator; Ron Cowley, managing director and Steve Taylor, business development manager. Christine Boswell-Munday, regional director CIM South West Region and Douglas Equipment personnel; Claire Bond, sales administrator; Derek Ingles, technical sales manager.

About Douglas Equipment
Founded in 1947, Douglas Equipment has become one of the world's leading suppliers of aviation towing tractors, ground support vehicles, port tractors, distribution and yard shunting tractors. In 1989 it introduced its Douglas-Kalmar range of new technology Towbarless Aircraft Tractors. Douglas is now the foremost manufacturer of this innovate line of tractors, with units operating throughout North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Far East. In April 2011 Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Company acquired the assets of Douglas Equipment, Ltd. for approximately $20 million. For more information, visit: http://douglas.cwfc.com.

About Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright Flow Control specializes in the design and manufacture of highly engineered valves, pumps, motors, generators, electronics, systems and related products for the commercial nuclear power industry, oil and gas processing facilities and a range of military programs. Its innovative, high-performance products play an integral role in our nation's defense and in the safe, efficient operation of power plants and other industrial sites worldwide. Based in Falls Church, VA, the company has more than 3,400 employees worldwide. For more information, visit: www.curtisswright.com

Contact

Douglas Equipment
A Business Unit of Curtiss Wright Flow Control (UK) Ltd
Douglas House
Village Road, Arle
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
United Kingdom
GL51 0AB
  • +44 (0)1242 527921