Watts Aviation sold to Desser Tire

Desser Tire & Rubber Co., LLC. has acquired Europe’s leading aircraft tyre distributor, Watts Aviation. Located in Gloucestershire, Watts distributes a broad range of aircraft tyres and tubes as an authorized distributor for a number of major tyre brands. No details relating the price of the acquisition have been released.

According to the purchasing company, “Watts enhances Desser’s global footprint and further solidifies Desser’s commitment to being a global leader in specialty aerospace distribution”. In addition, the combination of Watts and Desser is said to create the opportunity to enhance service to current customers via a broadened, transatlantic footprint, and win new customers as a result of its extended geographical reach. Company representatives suggest the newly expanded company will continue its focus on providing its customers exceptional levels of product support and service.

Desser Tire & Rubber Company, headquartered in Montebello, California holds Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) approvals for high speed aircraft tyre retreading, wheel and brake services, produces aviation transparencies as well as hydraulic hose assemblies for aftermarket applications. Desser is a portfolio company of private investment firm Graham Partners, having been bought by the firm in August 2014. The wider Watts Tyre Group was bought by Trelleborg for £12 million in November 2010.