Story of A.S.H.

Avionic Systems (Heathrow) Ltd. (A.S.H.) was formed in November 1971.
The formation of the company came out as a result of the decision of Standard Telephones and Cables Ltd. (at that time the UK subsidiary of I.T.T.) to close down its Radio Division at New Southgate, London N11. Standard Telephone and Cables Ltd.(STC) had for many years been a leading supplier of airborne radio equipment to Armed Forces and commercial Airlines world-wide. In order to provide a rapid-response after-sales service to the airlines, STC had for some considerable time operated a repair and spare organisation at London Airport.

When the decision to close down the STC Radio Division was implemented the Division’s total activities were divided into a number of separate product lines, which were progressively acquired by various individuals or companies, who believe that viable businesses could be built from these smaller elements.

Avionic Systems (Heathrow) Ltd. (A.S.H.) is an amalgamation of then STC London Airport Service Depot, and the Radio Altimeter business which had been carried on at New Southgate, and in which STC were then world leaders both in the commercial and military markets.

The business was in fact started at the airport premises previously occupied by STC.

Initially the business of the newly formed company was mainly devoted to continuing a service for the large number of STC manufactured airborne equipment then in service with both military and commercial customers. Inevitably the number of STC designed products in use has fallen over the years, and the company has progressively introduced either totally new products or major modifications to up-date STC designed apparatus still in service.

In 1980s Avionics and communications market were moving in completely opposite directions. With the demise of the UK civil aircraft industry, the UK civil avionics business had all but disappeared and the majority of avionic equipment in civil aircraft, even the European Airbus, was of U.S. manufacture. This applied even more to the general aviation and business executive market. Because of the large home market in the U.S. virtually all the equipment were designed and built in the U.S.A.

The Aviation product support market was also very small as the major airlines all had their own well-equipped maintenance facilities and good back up from the large avionics manufacturers.

The traditional avionics market of STC products for Avionic Systems was a diminishing market and other business opportunities needed to be pursued in order to maintain or increase the turnover in this market sector.

By contrast, the U.K. communications market has been expanding continuously over the last thirty years.

Resulting from the above analysis of the market, in 1980s Avionic Systems (Heathrow) Ltd. decided to maintain the avionics business at or near its level and develop the communication business to take advantage of the rapid market growth in that area. By adopting that policy and keeping contact with the export market, particularly in the Middle East where the company had already been successful, Avionic Systems (Heathrow) Ltd. maintained and improved its expansions.

Avionic Systems (Heathrow) Ltd. launched its business in to ASHCOM Systems Ltd. from Feb. 2006. ASHCOM continues the business as a global player in the telecommunication, fire and security markets.