This article is based on an official press release from CORE Industrial Partners.

AxioAero Group Expands MRO Capabilities with Acquisition of Airway Aerospace

AxioAero Group, a portfolio company of the private equity firm CORE Industrial Partners, has officially announced the Acquisitions of Airway Aerospace LLC. The transaction, announced on January 7, 2026, marks a significant expansion for the Florida-based aerospace platform as it seeks to vertically integrate aftermarket services.

This acquisition represents the second major investment for the AxioAero platform. It follows the January 2024 purchase of Aviation Concepts, LLC, a distributor of mission-critical aircraft parts. By acquiring Airway Aerospace, AxioAero aims to combine parts distribution with specialized maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) capabilities, creating a more robust service offering for commercial and military aviation clients.

Strategic Rationale: Vertical Integration

According to the press release, the primary driver behind this transaction is the creation of a vertically integrated aftermarket aerospace platform. The integration of Airway Aerospace is designed to complement the existing capabilities of Aviation Concepts.

Jason Fulton, a Partner at CORE Industrial Partners, highlighted the operational benefits of this combination in a statement regarding the deal:

“Combining ACI’s [Aviation Concepts] parts distribution network with Airway’s repair offerings improves turnaround times and delivers greater value to customers.”

The strategy focuses on offering a “one-stop” solution that can reduce turnaround times, a critical metric in the aviation industry, by housing both component supply and repair services under one umbrella. The deal also expands AxioAero’s market reach across cargo, commercial, and defense sectors.

Target Profile: Airway Aerospace

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Doral, Florida, Airway Aerospace operates as an FAA-certified repair station. The company holds certifications from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the EASA, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), allowing it to service a global customer base.

Airway specializes in the repair and overhaul of critical aircraft components, including:

• Hydraulics and pneumatics
• Fuel systems and flight controls
• Electrical components
• Thrust reversers and nacelles

The company services a wide range of aircraft platforms, including the Boeing 737, 747, and 767, as well as the Airbus A320 family, A300, and A330. It also supports military variants such as the Boeing 707. Additionally, Airway possesses RS-DER (Repair Specification Designated Engineering Representative) authority, enhancing its technical engineering capabilities.

Executive Commentary

Matt Haugk, CEO of AxioAero Group, emphasized the forward-looking nature of the acquisition in the company’s announcement:

“The acquisition of Airway Aerospace marks an important step in AxioAero’s strategy to build a differentiated platform in the aerospace aftermarket… Together, we will continue to expand capabilities and deliver value to customers worldwide.”

Joe Ferrer, the owner of Airway Aerospace, will remain with the company following the transaction. He expressed confidence in the partnership’s ability to support growth while maintaining the company’s established culture:

“We view AxioAero Group as the ideal partner to support our continued growth while ensuring the Company retains its core identity, culture, and small-business agility.”

AirPro News Analysis

We observe that this transaction aligns with broader trends in the aerospace MRO sector, where private equity firms are increasingly consolidating fragmented markets. By acquiring specialized repair stations like Airway, platforms like AxioAero can mitigate supply chain volatility. Owning both the parts distribution (via Aviation Concepts) and the repair capability (via Airway) provides a hedge against the parts shortages that have plagued the post-2020 aviation landscape. Furthermore, with aging fleets of B737 and A320 aircraft requiring more frequent maintenance, the demand for the specific component repairs offered by Airway is likely to remain strong.

Sources

• Business Wire

This article is based on an official press release from DRF Luftrettung.

DRF Maintenance Opens New Hangar in Straubing to Serve Southern Germany

DRF Maintenance GmbH, a subsidiary of the non-profit air rescue organization DRF Luftrettung, has officially commenced operations at its new MRO facility at Straubing-Wallmühle Airport (EDMS) in Lower Bavaria. According to a company press release issued in early January 2026, the new hangar is now fully operational and has already completed its first major maintenance contract.

The expansion marks a strategic effort to decentralize maintenance, repair, and overhaul capabilities, specifically targeting fleet availability in Southern Germany and neighboring Austria. By establishing a foothold in Bavaria, the organization aims to reduce downtime associated with ferry flights to its primary headquarters.

Expanded MRO Capabilities and Infrastructure

The new Straubing facility operates as an EASA Part 145 certified maintenance organization. DRF Maintenance confirmed that the site is currently specialized in Base Maintenance for Airbus EC155 and H145 helicopters. The company plans to expand these capabilities in the near future to include the Airbus H135, a staple airframe in European air rescue fleets.

According to the announcement, the hangar is equipped with specialized maintenance docks and modern workstations designed for complex technical tasks. The infrastructure includes dedicated workshops for sheet metal repairs and avionics, allowing on-site technicians to handle base maintenance, detailed inspections, and modifications without outsourcing critical steps.

First Contract Completion

DRF Maintenance reported that the facility hit the ground running, successfully completing a comprehensive maintenance project immediately upon opening. The initial contract involved an “official helicopter”, designating a government or authority aircraft, which underwent software updates and detailed inspections of its engines and avionics systems.

Strategic Network Growth

The Straubing location serves as a complementary hub to DRF Maintenance’s existing network. The organization’s primary facility remains in Rheinmünster (Baden-Württemberg) at the Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden Airport, which is recognized as one of Europe’s largest helicopter MRO centers. A separate facility in Wilhelmshaven serves Northern Germany.

In the press release, the company emphasized that the Straubing site was selected to serve as a regional hub. This location is intended to support:

• Internal Fleet: DRF Luftrettung helicopters stationed at nearby HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Services) bases.
• External Clients: Private operators, public/government fleets, and ARA Flugrettung (DRF’s Austrian subsidiary).

Hendrik Schubien, Managing Director of DRF Maintenance GmbH, highlighted the customer-centric focus of the expansion:

“The opening in Straubing is an important step, both for us and for our customers. It brings our service quality closer to them and at the same time enables more efficient processes. As part of DRF Luftrettung, we benefit from over 50 years of experience in air rescue and maintenance. This expertise remains at the heart of our quality promise.”

, Hendrik Schubien, Managing Director of DRF Maintenance GmbH

AirPro News Analysis

The opening of the Straubing hangar represents a logical logistical evolution for DRF Luftrettung. As operators modernize their fleets, DRF recently transitioned to the five-bladed H145 (D3) and modern H135s, the demand for specialized, certified maintenance slots increases. By placing a Part 145 facility in Southeast Germany, the operator significantly cuts the “non-productive” flight hours previously required to ferry aircraft across the country to Rheinmünster for routine heavy maintenance.

Furthermore, the inclusion of third-party service capabilities suggests a business model designed to offset operational costs. Straubing-Wallmühle Airport is already an established ecosystem for aviation technology (hosting companies like Avionik Straubing), making it an attractive location for external clients seeking high-standard MRO services in the region.

Sources

• DRF Luftrettung

This article summarizes reporting by the Chicago Tribune and official announcements from AkzoNobel. This article summarizes publicly available elements and public remarks.

AkzoNobel Invests $58 Million to Modernize Waukegan Aerospace Hub

AkzoNobel has announced a significant capital injection of €50 million (approximately $58 million) into its Waukegan, Illinois, facility, solidifying the site’s status as the company’s largest aerospace coatings production plant in the world. According to reporting by the Chicago Tribune and official company statements released in early January 2026, the project aims to modernize manufacturing capabilities and expand capacity to meet surging global travel demand.

The investment involves a strategic reorganization of AkzoNobel’s North American footprint. While the Waukegan site will focus on intensified manufacturing, warehousing operations are set to relocate to a new facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin. This shift allows the company to repurpose existing storage space in Illinois for production lines, directly addressing the need for higher output.

Scope of the Expansion

The upgrade focuses on what AkzoNobel describes as “Industrial Excellence,” a program designed to streamline operations through advanced automation and improved workflow. The Waukegan facility, located at 1 East Water Street, currently spans 11 acres and employs approximately 200 people.

According to details shared in the company’s announcement, the modernization will be executed in two phases. The primary goal is to enhance supply chain resilience in North America, offering shorter lead times for airline and MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) customers.

Technological Upgrades

The investment will fund the installation of state-of-the-art machinery intended to increase throughput and consistency. Key technical enhancements include:

• Liquid Pre-Batch Area: A dedicated zone designed to improve the efficiency of mixing and preparing coating formulations.
• High-Speed Dissolvers: New technology aimed at accelerating the dissolving process for various coating components.
• Rapid Service Unit: A specialized operational unit focused on the MRO market, ensuring faster turnaround times for urgent aircraft repair needs.

Strategic Context and Market Demand

The decision to expand comes as the aerospace industry prepares for a projected rise in global air travel. Airlines and manufacturers are increasingly requiring specialized coatings for both new aircraft deliveries and the maintenance of existing fleets. By moving finished goods storage to the new Wisconsin facility, AkzoNobel expects to significantly increase its production capacity for primers, basecoats, clearcoats, and custom colors.

Patrick Bourguignon, Director of AkzoNobel’s Automotive and Specialty Coatings business, emphasized the strategic necessity of the move in a press statement:

“This investment will increase our comprehensive North American supply capability and solidify our position as a frontrunner in the aerospace coatings industry. Demand for air travel is expected to grow significantly over the next few years and we want to make sure our customers are able to meet that demand with aircraft of the highest quality.”

Operational Flexibility

Beyond raw capacity, the upgrades are designed to offer greater flexibility in production batch sizes. Martijn Arkesteijn, Global Operations Director for AkzoNobel Aerospace Coatings, noted that the improvements would directly benefit customer timelines.

“We’ll be able to provide current and future customers with even more flexibility through the delivery of large batch sizes, better responsiveness to market needs and shorter lead time for color development.”

Sustainability Targets

While the primary focus of the investment is operational efficiency, AkzoNobel has stated that the project aligns with its broader environmental goals. The company aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 (using a 2018 baseline) and transition toward 100% renewable electricity. The new equipment installed at the Waukegan plant is expected to reduce energy intensity per unit of production, supporting these corporate sustainability targets.

AirPro News Analysis

The separation of manufacturing and warehousing is a growing trend among industrial suppliers facing land constraints in established industrial zones. By decoupling storage from production, AkzoNobel effectively unlocks new square footage for value-added manufacturing without the need to acquire adjacent land, which can be difficult in developed areas like Waukegan. This move suggests a prioritization of speed and volume, critical factors as the aerospace supply chain continues to recover and expand post-pandemic.

Sources

Sources: Chicago Tribune, AkzoNobel Official Announcements