Firth Rixson Snapshot
A modern-day lord of the rings -- that's one way to describe Firth Rixson. The components maker supplies forged rings and other ready-to-assemble parts used to build aircraft engines and automotive transmissions to OEMs and subcontractors in more than 40 countries. Other products include die forgings (used in engine discs, shafts, and valves) and metal superalloys (used in high-temperature gas turbine engines). The aerospace industry accounts for half of Firth Rixson's sales, followed by the commercial vehicle market. In 2007, Oak Hill Capital Partners acquired Firth Rixson from The Carlyle Group and Lehman Brothers for about $2 billion to further beef up its interests in the global aerospace industry.