Integration update
August 30, 2010
KELOWNA OFFICE CLOSURE:
Due to the aerospace industry challenges of 2009 and ongoing, Cobham Avionics has reviewed its current organizational structure and has decided to close the Kelowna, BC Canada facility effective November 30, 2010. Engineering and program functions will be integrated into the Seattle and Prescott facilities. This will assist in streamlining current and future processes, the overall organizational structure, and new product development plans.
This decision is the final phase of the planned audio product line move from Kelowna to Prescott. Customers are assured that this will not affect your orders in any way, as the sales department and production transition was completed during the previous integration phase. of the integration.
In concert with the integrated Cobham Avionics sales team, the Kelowna sales and marketing team will continue to support the needs of our Customers and Dealers. Please continue to contact your assigned Sales Coordinators or Business Development Managers, or contact the main office in Prescott, AZ at (928) 708-1550 to be directed to the appropriate department. Your sales representative will be in contact with you in the near future to answer any questions you may have on your account and/or the closure of the Kelowna facility.
We appreciate your continued support of Cobham Avionics.
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October 2, 2009
Click the links below for details on Purchase Orders, Repairs, Customer Service, and RMA procedures.
(Click here for NAT Purchase Order Process info.)
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September , 2009
• The NAT Sales Office transition is in progress, with new Sales Coordinators at the Prescott location, trained on NAT products, customers and sales processing procedures. Click the link below for a customer letter advising further details.
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May - August , 2009
• Integration activities involved in the transfer of manufacturing from Cobham Avionics, Kelowna to the Prescott facility are progressing on schedule, with many products now being manufactured in Prescott.
• Business development, engineering, product support, marketing and dealer administration will continue at our Cobham Avionics, Kelowna location.
• On July 29, 2009 Cobham announced that the Aurora, OR (Artex) facility will close and be merged into the company’s existing facility at Prescott, AZ. “This consolidation is part of the continued transformation of Cobham Avionics and will enable us to better serve our customers and focus on the development of new avionics products,” said Mike Sheehan, Vice President of Cobham Avionics.
• The Cobham Avionics, Communications 2010 Product Guide will incorporate product lines manufactured as Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. (NAT), NAT Seattle, Wulfsberg and Artex into one publication, with distribution to customers and dealers planned for the end of December, 2009.
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April 24, 2009
Dear Valued NAT Customer,
We would like to take a moment to update you on transition planning with respect to manufacturing and support of Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. (NAT) products.
Our transition activities, initiated in early February 2009, include various stages of NAT’s integration with Wulfsberg Electronics (Prescott, AZ), our affiliated company within the Cobham Avionics & Surveillance Division. A NAT presence will continue to operate in Kelowna, comprised of customer/product support, business development, engineering, dealer administration and marketing.
As we move forward with the marketing side of the transition, in Cobham’s initiative to present a single unified identity, we have begun initial external changes to incorporate the Cobham brand. NAT will be referred to as “Cobham Avionics, Kelowna”, and Wulfsberg as “Cobham Avionics, Prescott”. NAT’s formal business name has not changed at this time, however, and it is important to continue all business transactions with Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. until you receive an official notification/ request from us to change any of our accounts within your system(s).
As our transition continues to progress, you will see the manufacture of selected NAT products moved in a phased approach from Kelowna to Prescott on a product-by-product basis. As manufacturing responsibility shifts to Prescott, repair responsibility for the affected products will shift at the same time. Our schedule shows manufacturing transition activities will be complete by the end of 2009.
New Products: To minimize the impact on you, our valued customer, order processing will continue as before through the balance of 2009, with no need for you to change anything in your system when ordering new products.
Repair Service: Repairs will be handled similar to the current system. When you call NAT for Return Material Authorization (RMA) numbers, you will be informed of where to send your unit for repair. NAT contact personnel remain the same: Steve Wile, John Horton and/or Ray Guenther. All can be reached at (250) 763-2232 or (888) 763-2232. As the transition plan progresses, selected product lines will be routed to Cobham Avionics, Prescott for repair.
Cobham Avionics, Prescott is an authorized NAT Manufacturing and Repair Depot with NAT trained staff and holds: FAA Part 21 Quality System Approval, Air Agency Certificate (# W7LR106O), EASA Part 145 Approval (#EASA.145.5057), and ISO9001:2000 and AS9100B certification. If Cobham Avionics, Prescott is not already on your Approved Vendor list, please contact Jim Makela, Director of Quality Assurance (928) 708-1550 or Jay Jensen, Director of Customer Service and Repair (928) 765-1615 for information.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this time of change. As always, if you have any concerns or questions please let us know.
Sincerely,
Ray Lewis
Director of Business Development
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April 9, 2009
For information purposes only; this is not a formal announcement.
Dear Valued NAT Customer,
We would like to take a moment to update you on transition planning with respect to the common re‑branding of Cobham Plc owned companies worldwide, particularly our plans at Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. (NAT).
Our transition activities were initiated in early February, 2009. The first external changes you will see are the use of the Cobham logo and name on our marketing materials including business cards, telephone greetings, email signatures, advertisements, websites, building signage, etc. This change is part of Cobham’s initiative to present a single unified brand and identity.
As part of the Cobham Avionics Strategic Business Unit, within the Cobham Avionics & Surveillance Division, NAT will begin to be referred to informally as “Cobham Avionics, Kelowna”. This approach will also apply to NAT Seattle Inc. (transitioning as “Cobham Avionics, Bothell”), and Wulfsberg Electronics (transitioning as “Cobham Avionics, Prescott”).
During this transition it is critical that we avoid confusing customers, suppliers, and other important parties. In this regard, all formal business transactions must continue to be executed with the existing registered business organizations, that being Northern Airborne Technology Ltd., NAT Seattle Inc., and Wulfsberg Electronics, respectively. This shall be maintained until all required steps in the transition are known and completed. Please remember: DO NOT change any of our accounts within your system(s) until you receive an official notification/request from us to do so.
In the meantime, you will continue to see informal changes including the use of statements such as “Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. doing business as Cobham Avionics” as we move forward with the marketing side of the transition. We will continue to keep you informed on our progress with respect to any formal name changes, integration of resources and facilities including the manufacture, test, and release of products to meet your needs. Our new website reference is www.cobham.com/avionics.
Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this time of change. As always, if you have any concerns or questions please let us know.
Best regards,
John Payne
General Manager
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September, 2008 - March, 2009
• Rebranding initiative introduced by Cobham, to present a unified brand worldwide.
• NAT, NAT Seattle and Wulfsberg Electronics marketing and tradeshow presence rebranded to Cobham identity.
• All daily business transactions with NAT continue as Northern Airborne Technology Ltd. dba Cobham Avionics until further notice.********************************************************
August 12, 2008
Over the next few months, NAT and its sister business unit, Wulfsberg, both within the Cobham Avionics and Surveillance division of companies, will be working on plans to strengthen their respective product lines and take a more integrated approach to new product development and marketing.Remaining largely transparent to customers and dealers, this strategy will combine the skills and technology of both companies. While no changes are expected in future capabilities, a significant and positive change will be the introduction of a number of new and exciting avionics products. Meanwhile, business continues as usual at NAT.
Updates will be communicated via this page, as well as by formal Press Releases and regular customer contact.