Barry Turnbull meets GEOFF STEWART, managing director of aerospace firm CML

I WATCHED a dog limp across a litter-strewn road and disappear up a ginnel that bisected a row of derelict houses.

Not all these forlorn homes were vacant, though; one still had grimy curtains and a window box that looked to have been planted when Methuselah was a lad. Not the sort of setting that you would expect to find a firm that supplies parts for some of the biggest aerospace projects on the planet.

Welcome to CML, in downtown Birkenhead.

Price Street is a curious mix of run-down residential and industrial space. For CML, it has been home for 60 years and, although the company might like swanky new premises to impress blue-chip clients, they are stuck on a long-term lease.

But because business is so good they are on the look-out for additional accommodation on another site.

Managing director Geoff Stewart, who has been with the firm since 1968, has witnessed a lot of changes down the years.

“The town was a lot busier back then, especially with Cammell Laird employing so many people in Birkenhead.

“It’s a bit different these days. To be fair, in the right circumstances, we would probably be looking to move. As it is, we need to stay here and find new premises to expand into,” said Stewart.

CML is a precision engineering business specialising in the aerospace industry, making parts for the A380 Airbus and even the Joint Strike Fighter, the next US Air Force fighter jet developed to fight the war on terror from the stratosphere.

In recent times, the firm has mainly been involved in civil aviation, although the firm sees new opportunities in the military field.

Stewart explained: “The modern phase of the company’s development happened in the 90s when we recognised that the trend in the aviation industry was towards composites such as carbon fibre body panels. “Someone put their neck on the line and decided this was the way to go. Previously we had equipment that was 40 years old, doing small machine parts and fabrication. So we started a composites division, and that really secured the future and led to us merging with Intelek, which is a quoted company.”

The firm makes airframe parts such as nosecones and ribs which make up the internal structure of wings.

The aviation business, like many others, is going through a period of re-adjustment and possibly consolidation.

Stewart added: “It is a very competitive industry, but we have a number of long-term contracts, such as with global engineering firm GKN, and this gives us a degree of stability.

“There is more demand for composites and materials like titanium, so we are looking at more space and equipment being needed.”

The company is now looking to invest in new equipment to capitalise on the increasing use of composites and to increase its penetration into the military and business jet sectors.

By 2011, sales are forecast to increase by £5.6m to £18.8m, while the company will grow its workforce by 34 to 220.

CML has also been awarded a £600,000 grant from the Northwest Development Agency under the Selective Finance for Investment programme, as part of its £4m expansion plan.

Stewart added: “The SFI grant is a tremendous vote of confidence in CML and all its staff.

“We look forward to delivering real value to all our stakeholders, particularly our customers and employees.”