Northern Ireland-based GSE manufacturer Mallaghan has inked a deal with US carrier Delta Air Lines for the provision of customised maintenance platform lifts (MPLs).
The multi-million-dollar contract will see Mallaghan supply Delta with MPLs for use at airports across the US. The platform offers engineers easy access all around fixed-wing or rotary aircraft.
Parts for the MPLs are manufactured at Mallaghan’s primary prodction site in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, and assembled at the company’s Atlanta location.
Mallaghan employs some 450 staff across its Dungannon base and Atlanta manufacturing facility (Atlanta is also home to Delta Air Lines). It took on 10 new employees to support the increase in production required by this latest order. The manufacturer also has a presence at five other locations across the world.
Joe Santos, director techops maintenance for Delta Air Lines, declares: “Mallaghan Engineering has demonstrated a clear understanding of our business needs and [has] provided us with industry-leading equipment with a range of bespoke features including better manoeuvrability, decreased size and side-mounted engine hydraulics/mechanics.”
He continues: “Delta Air Lines employs over 80,000 people globally, with 30,000 in Atlanta alone. We are very pleased [with] our recent contract with Mallaghan as it has allowed Delta to further support our TechOps Maintenance division and therefore our customers.”
He concludes: “We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with Mallaghan Engineering on future projects.”
Next stage of expansion
Mallaghan is boosting its US presence through this and other operations, explains commercial manager Joe Griffith.
“Our latest partnership with Delta Air Lines represents the next stage in our US expansion plan,” he says.
“Innovation within the aviation and ground handling industries is at the core of our business and we have worked very closely with Delta throughout the design and manufacturing process,” Griffith states, adding: “As a result, our talented teams have created truly bespoke equipment which successfully caters to the needs of Delta Air Lines’ TechOps Aircraft Maintenance technicians.”
The MPLs that Mallaghan supplies can support maintenance processes on a wide range of equipment, and come with various helpful features.
“The MPL22, MPL22t and MPL32 models are available as electric, gasoline or diesel options and offer a range of tailored features including dynamic braking, extendable overhead tie-off system, traversing platform, greater working height, and seating for up to three people,” Griffith informs.
“Our maintenance platform lifts ensure that maintenance teams can position themselves safely by the aircraft and are suitable for use across a wide range of aircraft, including widebody jets.”
Griffith observes: “We look forward to continuing to invest in and develop our product offering as well as our people. Since the opening of our 50,000 sq ft Atlanta site in 2018 we have demonstrated a clear commitment to the local area, and we hope to carry on driving local economic growth well into the future.
“We are proud that the maintenance platform lifts ordered by Delta Air Lines will be used at airports across the US, and we hope to continue to maintain and develop close working relationships with airlines and airports globally in order to provide innovative equipment to suit the needs of a changing industry.”
Mallaghan is expanding on the other side of the Atlantic, too. At inter airport in Munich in October last year the company handed over the keys of its first, all-new Mallaghan 50W airport bus to launch customer Ryanair. The Irish low-cost carrier has ordered 32 of the vehicles, with an option on a further 20. The Mallaghan 50W is said to be the largest capacity airport bus in the world.
Mallaghan’s airline clients include Aer Lingus, British Airways, China Eastern Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, Qantas, Qatar Airways and SAS, as well as Ryanair and Delta. Its customers also include ground service providers such as Menzies and Swissport.
