Posted to News on 18th Nov 2008, 22:29
40 years of Moog Controls in Tewkesbury
Moog Controls is announcing 40 years of growing business in Tewkesbury. A local employer, Moog explains its success - past, present and future - through significant local operations as well as world-class capabilities.
Part of the global Moog Corporation, Moog Controls has its roots in the design and manufacture of high-performance precision motion control products suitable for customers within the industrial and aerospace business sectors.
Moog history - hydraulics, not synthesisers
The heart of the Moog business is the hydraulic servo-valve, invented by engineer Bill Moog - the second cousin of Robert Moog, who did invent the Moog synthesiser! Bill created a lightweight servo-valve that enabled aircraft designers to control large flying surfaces using hydraulic control. These valves saved weight, which added design flexibility - important at that early stage of the jet age and the impending growth of passenger air travel. Since then, Moog has developed globally and locally, and has a vast range of technologies and products in 35 locations, with five operating divisions and more than $1.8billion in revenue.
The Tewkesbury facility is involved in the design, manufacture, development and implementation of a wide variety of industrial and aerospace products, from complete aircraft flight control and actuation systems to specialist micro valves for Formula 1 cars.
A people-orientated company
Moog strives to maintain one of the most refreshing working cultures in modern industry. More than 50 years ago, Bill Moog designed a set of values that are still in practice today. Barry Morgan, who has worked at Moog for 35 years, says: "The opportunities offered by Moog for people to develop are as strong today as when I joined the fledgling company in 1970. In all the time I have worked here, Moog has consistently offered opportunities for people to develop their skills and careers and is most certainly a people-orientated company."
And Mary Brennan, of Moog's human resources operations, adds: "Growth of our business has been supported by the continued efforts we place in developing our people and processes to support this culture. Indeed, we feel that the people working here at Moog in Tewkesbury can be justifiably proud of their achievements. We have exceptional local talent in the business and aim to keep it that way in years to come."
Moog Controls supports several local activities and programmes. It has links with the Alderman Knight School and was a major supporter of the 2007 flood fund. The recent Over the Rainbow celebration held at Tewkesbury Abbey also received Moog's support.
Educational and training links extend into Gloucester College as well as sponsorship of some major initiatives at the University of Bath - itself a centre of excellence in fluid power and motion control expertise.
Tewkesbury's continued growth even in these difficult commercial times is a result of team work - that team develops excellent applications for customers' business challenges wherever they may be: locally, nationally or globally as part of a team of thousands.
Making the impossible happen
Steve Darnell, from Moog's Industrial Business Group, says: "It is fair to say that we are experts in making the seemingly impossible happen on a routine basis. We solve some of the most complex motion control problems that help our customers win in their own marketplace, and our solutions embrace high-performance products to complete test systems for automotive and aerospace suppliers. If you need precision control of motion, we have all the tools you will ever need."
Delivering products to exacting international standards, the Tewkesbury site works with many global customers. The firm's growth rate over 40 years is claimed to be well above the market rate and very much in step with aspirations to ensure the corporation remains ahead of the industry. Moog Controls states that it has seen almost continuous growth from the birth of the company to now, remains a strong financial and intellectual contributor to the entire corporation and is destined to remain so in the future.
Site manager Steve Hawkins says: "Here at Moog Tewkesbury, we have a great business. Most importantly, we have first-class people from the local area with a huge breadth and depth of skills in the design and manufacture of motion control components and systems. When you combine this capability with the resources and might of the global Moog organisation, you get a winning formula to develop new and exciting customer solutions. I can't wait for the next 40 years."
