Pyroban has acquired specialist work platform manufacturer Euro Access in Cork, Ireland.

Euro Access, founded in 1996, manufactures ground support equipment specifically used for the maintenance of military aircraft.  The specially designed access platforms enable maintenance engineers to reach the nose cone and other confined areas of the fighter jets.

“The area around each aircraft is formally classified as Zone 1, meaning a potentially explosive atmosphere is likely to occur during normal operations, so the access platform must be explosion-proof and meet ATEX 2G compliance,” says Steve Noakes, managing director of Pyroban. “To support safety, Pyroban was involved in the equipment’s original design process and certification in the 1990s with Euro Access’ founders Paul McHugh and Michael Buckley.”

Since then, Pyroban has continued to supply Euro Access with hundreds of explosion-proof kits which are fitted on the production line in Cork, Ireland. The strong relationship that developed led the founders to approach Pyroban as a suitable new owner in early 2021.

“Euro Access fits perfectly within our portfolio because it has great synergies with Pyroban’s innovative, safety-driven culture and bespoke engineering capabilities,” says Noakes. “It is also aligned with our existing support for many organisations in the military and aerospace sectors and opens up further opportunities to expand our offerings.  We are proud to be the new owners of Euro Access, starting a new and exciting chapter in the long-standing relationship.”

Euro Access was started by McHugh and Buckley who had previously worked for leading MEWP (Mobile Elevated Work Platform) manufacturers. They saw an opportunity to develop the specialist equipment due to their technical knowledge, understanding of the military application, and ATEX experience. The company soon became an approved supplier to BAE Systems and the wider military partnerships globally.

“Euro Access has been our passion for the last 25 years, but it is time for us to retire and let our legacy live on with a strong custodian that has the same values, principles and engineering excellence,” says McHugh.