Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited - Introduction

Introduction

Higher Denham, Near Uxbridge
Middlesex UB9 5AJ
United Kingdom
Telephone: +44 (0) 1895 832214
Fax: +44 (0) 1895 832587
Web site: http://www.martin-baker.com

Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Martin-Baker (Engineering) Ltd.
Incorporated: 1934
Employees: 750
Sales: $90 million (2003 est.)
NAIC: 332912 Fluid Power Valve and Hose Fitting Manufacturing; 336413 Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing; 541710 Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences; 551112 Offices of Other Holding Companies

Martin-Baker Aircraft Company Limited is the world's leading producer of ejection seats. With 70,000 seats produced and 7,000 lives saved as of 2003, no one in the industry has more experience. Seats cost up to $150,000 each; they are made with the knowledge that one in ten of them will be used. The firm also supplies related safety equipment, such as life rafts.

Martin-Baker has remained family-owned throughout its existence. The company's main facilities are located in the English countryside; some of its World War II-vintage buildings once housed captured German aviators. Martin-Baker still flies a 1950s-era Meteor jet as a test bed.

Martin-Baker controls between 70 and 75 percent of the market for ejection seats for Western-made military aircraft. The U.S. Navy traditionally has been its single largest customer; in 2000 the company opened two plants in Pennsylvania.