ACL Airshop Teams for Growth with Ranger Airshop

GREENVILLE, S.C., March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- ACL Airshop, a leader in products and services for the global air cargo industry, has taken on growth investors by joining forces with Ranger Airshop.  Founded as "Airline Container Leasing" in 1983, successor operations ultimately merged in 2007 with Airshop Holdings of Amsterdam, Netherlands.  The combined company, ACL Airshop, has become a leading worldwide one-stop shop for leasing, sales, repair and management of Unit Load Devices ("ULDs") and cargo net / strap manufacturing for the aviation industry. Today the company operates around the world on six continents, at more than half of the world's top fifty air cargo hub airports.

Ranger Airshop of Greenville SC is the latest investment platform created and managed by Ranger Aerospace. Ranger brings additional capital strength and management resources to support ACL Airshop's continuing growth. Ranger's experience includes three large-scale, successful aerospace services consolidation platforms since 1997. Ranger's plan is to enhance and expand ACL Airshop through strategic investments and organic growth, entering new lines of technical capacity, expanding geographically, and possibly acquiring complementary companies.  It is noteworthy that Ranger is a long-time player in the aviation industry, and the two companies have known each other for 17 years. 

ACL Airshop provides unique products and services to numerous leading air carriers.  ACL Airshop operates in five highly complementary business segments: Cargo Control Products Manufacturing, ULD Leasing, ULD Sales, ULD Repairs, and ULD Logistics Management.  A comprehensive, vertically integrated operation, ACL Airshop manufactures the highest quality air cargo products at its state of the art production facility in Easley, SC USA.  Cargo pallets, cargo shipping containers, straps, nets, hardware, and other cargo-specific control products are globally available 24/7/365.  ACL Airshop also provides innovative leasing programs and management/tracking services, and operates FAA / EASA approved repair stations in multiple locations to repair and overhaul these assets.

ACL Airshop's predecessor operations started in the early 1980's, specializing in air transport services for horses and other large animals. By steadily investing in new capabilities over the years, the company now provides a full spectrum of ULD's for any air cargo aircraft. In 2016, ACL Airshop finds itself in a period of unprecedented growth.  The use of air cargo as a preferred shipping method is growing steadily, reflecting the global shift to speedy logistics and just-in-time supply chain management. Published reports recently cited over $5 Trillion in new orders for commercial planes through the year 2035, and almost all of those planes will carry cargo—not just the air cargo freighters.  Furthermore, the U.S. military's air transport requirements, along with allied nations, comprises another global cargo airlift segment that utilizes huge quantities of pallets, nets, straps, containers, and other equipment.

While increasing its operational footprint in North America, South America, and Europe, ACL Airshop's growth in recent years has also followed regional trends in the Far East and Mideast.  The company has a significant service presence at strategic locations such as Dubai, Hong Kong, and mainland China.  Plans call for opening a service and repair center soon in Japan (Tokyo's Narita Airport). Subsidiaries of ACL Airshop include DOT Tiedown (manufacturer of cargo nets and straps), and Animal Flight Services (flight transport for horses and other animals).   

Tony Morgan, President & CEO of ACL Airshop, commented: "By teaming with Ranger, we will now have the growth resources to accomplish even more for our customers.  We will expand our geographic footprint in response to customers' needs, while increasing our technical depth with the best cargo control products in the industry, at fair prices, all delivered with unrelenting, impeccable service.  Our customers know that we are globally available around the clock every day.  This teaming will make us stronger, more efficient, and a critically valuable partner for those we serve.  Our whole organization is excited to be advancing to the next level for our clients." 

Steve Townes, Ranger Aerospace founder and CEO of Ranger Airshop Holdings, stated: "We are honored to join the terrific people of ACL Airshop on a quality-centered growth plan aimed at superior customer service."  Townes is also Chairman of a statewide public/private partnership called SC Aerospace, and he added:  "The aerospace industry here is growing rapidly, and this growth teaming between two substantial South Carolina aerospace companies puts a strong exclamation point on our motto -  'You Are Cleared to Land in South Carolina!' "

ACL Airshop intends to invest for growth in each of its lines of business, and expand geographically, to keep pace with rising industry trends.  The headquarters is near Greenville, SC, and the main international office is in Amsterdam, NL.   Ranger Airshop is capitalized by four large institutional partners and management.

For more information:  www.aclairshop.com, and www.rangeraerospace.com.

Forward Looking Statements: The Company from time to time may discuss forward-looking information. Except for factual historical information, all forward looking statements are estimates by the Company's management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that are beyond the Company's control and may cause actual results to differ materially from management's expectations.

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SOURCE Ranger Aerospace LLC