March 1 2011

New Facilities; New Opportunities

Richmond Aerovac, Part of Umeco Composites Process Materials (UCPM) - a Division of Umeco plc., has recently significantly expanded facilities in the United States

To ensure enhanced customer service through better organized facilities, we have moved to a new location in Santa Fe Springs, CA. The new site is some 20% larger than the previous Norwalk location. The warehousing side of the operation is now better suited to through-flow from receiving to picking, packaging and shipping of roll stock materials and boasts higher inventory levels to enable rapid turn-around of customer orders from stock

In addition to space, however, the new building has allowed development of the scope of kitting and custom vacuum bag manufacture in line with Umeco's strategy for increasing this type of work. Over many years, we have come to recognize the value that this exceptional service brings to customers, allowing their staff time to focus on the all-important aspects of composite layup assembly and final bagging of components with a vacuum assembly they can have absolute confidence in fitting and working. The fabrication cell is now substantially larger and boasts better layout, improved facilities and more working space for assembling larger products - perfectly suited to the adoption of composite materials in larger components.

Richmond Aerovac currently manufactures custom-built bags for both curing and intermediate compaction for substantial aerospace structures including wings and stabilizers plus integral bags for curing complete wind turbine blades. Improvements to the environment in this manufacturing cell have also created an opportunity to continuously develop the process of film heat seaming, testing and fabrication. A complete solution is offered including the most technically appropriate materials from our extensive product range of vacuum bag films, release films, breathers, peel plies, sealant tapes etc, all shaped, kitted, assembled and packaged ready for use straight from the box. Customized packaging is included in the design of fabricated kits to ensure that these valuable products are delivered direct to point of use in the best condition possible. Using in-house CAD facilities, designing the developed shape to ensure fit and function is also an integral part of our service.

New facilities in Washington State.......

Already renowned in the industry for our level of customer service, Richmond Aerovac has also expanded this focus by establishing a satellite facility in NW USA. Close to the Northwest center of aerospace composite manufacturing excellence, we are now able to service local supply requirements from this hub - again a way of enhancing our all round performance with the customer. Logistic support has been substantially enhanced with this service.

New employees joining Richmond team in both locations have been added to meet the demand of additional business.

AS9100 Rev C well on the way.....

Having just completed our final AS9100 Rev B audit in the new facility, Richmond Aerovac is now well on the journey to accreditation to the prestigious Rev C standard. Priding ourselves on a continuing commitment to quality, customer service and continuous improvement, AS9100 process and procedure is the underlying methodology which supports our performance. We are pleased to be pushing towards the Rev C standard and through this giving our valued customers the confidence in our committed approach to product and service quality.

Our new addresses for both locations are:-

12801 Ann Street

Santa Fe Springs

CA 90670

Tel:- (562) 906-3300

Fax:- (562) 941 9505

www. richmondaircraft.com

email:- sales@richmondaircraft.com

New Address in NW:-

Richmond Aerovac NW

3025 142nd Ave E,

Building A, Suite 101

Sumner, WA 98390

Tel:- (253)-987-7592

email:- sales@richmondaircraft.com

Customer Service is front and center of everything we do. Richmond Aerovac is leading the way in the Process Materials arena of Composites Industry globally as the beacon for the highest quality of products which our customers, both current and future, can rely on.

- Ends -

Notes to Editors

Richmond Aircraft Products, a UMECO COMPOSITES company, based in Santa Fe Springs, CA is a leading full service supplier of VAC-PAK® vacuum processing materials for the Aerospace, Wind Energy, Composite and Metal Bonding Industries. Richmond Aircraft constantly strives to maintain the level of quality we've already achieved and to adapt to the ever-changing demands of the industries we serve. Skilled personnel combined with outstanding facilities, equipment and experience permit us to provide the best quality service and products that our customers expect and demand from us.

Richmond Aircraft is certified to ISO 9001:2000 with AS9100:2004 Rev B and is currently qualified to Boeing D6-82479 Rev E Appendix A. A fully integrated Quality Control program carefully monitors all aspects of manufacturing. From raw material selection and production to final inspection, each product undergoes a series of intensive inspections throughout our entire process

Umeco - a leading innovator in distribution and supply chain management to the aerospace and defence industries, harnessing new methods for enhancing its customers' performance and profitability.

Umeco also has significant manufacturing interests in advanced composite materials for a growing range of applications in its core aerospace and defence markets, and in other high performance technology industries such as motor sport, automotive and wind energy.

Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Umeco had turnover of £409.4 million in the year to 31 March 2010.

Umeco is managed through two divisions:

Umeco Composites - a provider of a complete range of advanced composite materials, principally to the aerospace, motor sport, automotive and wind energy markets.

Customers include: Boeing, Airbus, BAE Systems, manufacturers of wind turbines, a number of manufacturers of high performance super cars, and Formula One teams, including Team McLaren Mercedes.

Umeco Supply Chain - a leading international provider of value-added distribution and supply chain outsourcing services to customers in the aerospace & defence market. With its specialisation in the supply of small components and sophisticated IT systems, its growing global customer base can enjoy significant operational, cost and working capital benefits.

Customers include: Rolls-Royce plc, BAE Systems, Safran Group, Parker Aerospace, Goodrich, Thales, Aerospace, Turbomeca, Lockheed Martin, and the US Department of Defense.