Flawless delivery of high-tech paint for the aerospace industry

“ FedEx is the only company that knows how to ship hazardous materials so quickly – and adhere to aviation regulations as it does. Being so fast has allowed us to be qualified with a major manufacturer: we were one of the first to be able to respond to the call for tender.”

Julie Bonnemaison, MAPAERO’s Logistics Manager.

MAPAERO’s R&D teams design products in line with these specifications – in terms of both expected functionality and reduction of industrial cycles. The water-based technologies developed by the firm have allowed it to come up with an innovative product: by adding just the right amount of water, the paint becomes ready for use. In addition to the savings this delivers for shipping, storage and waste, MAPAERO is also making an environmental commitment by manufacturing paint with very little solvent.

A pioneer in the manufacture of water-based paint for aerospace, MAPAERO employs 85 people,based in Pamiers in Ariège. Since 1992, the company has been developing certified, qualified products for all aircraft types, in order to meet the requirements of the aerospace industry. Whether the paint is applied on the airframe, inside, or outside, MAPAERO must fulfil highly specific criteria in terms of adhesion, chemical strength, durability, and so on. The paint could legitimately be described as the haute couture of the industry, replete with stylistic innovations – including pearled, gilt, satin, textured, and even velvet finishes.

Why FedEx?To support its international expansion and stand out from the competition – often physically located abroad, closer to maintenance centres – MAPAERO has focused on being responsive in both production and delivery. For over ten years now, the company has chosen FedEx to help it achieve the goal of having over 98% of consignments delivered on time, thereby providing a service level commensurate with its top-of-the-range products.

FedEx has established itself as MAPAERO’s trusted partner thanks to its expertise in fast, reliable transport. FedEx ships all types of package for the Ariège-based firm, from 12ml tubes to 200-litre drums. In 2014, the amount of freight handled by FedEx for MAPAERO was up 30% compared to 2013.

With its “International Priority” and “International Priority Freight” services, FedEx provides express delivery within 48 to 72 hours worldwide, including customs clearance, along with compliant solutions for the shipping and handling of hazardous goods. International Priority and International Priority Freight services are backed by the FedEx money-back guarantee, which is particularly important when it comes to earning the trust of end clients.

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Challenges for MAPAERO

• Keeping to its clients’ very short lead times for supplies

• Shipping and handling of hazardous materials

• Dealing with regulatory restrictions and customs clearance in each country

FedEx solutions Express, door-to-door delivery within a guaranteed timeframe in 220 countries and territories, including customs clearance, for shipments of hazardous and non-hazardous goods:

• with FedEx International Priority: up to 68 kg per package

• with FedEx International Priority Freight: 69-1000 kg

Need more information? To learn more about our priority services, custom clearance or any solutions we offer to our customers, please visit: fedex.com/fr_english/aerospace/ FedEx. Solutions powered by people.

Julie Bonnemaison, MAPAERO’s Logistics Manager explains:

“ MAPAERO is an SME. For us to keep on growing and compete with much larger firms on a niche market, we have to play to our key strengths: Made in France quality, product innovation, and our excellent responsiveness.”

International growth – and major export challengesMAPAERO’s success is evident, with five years’ worth of sustained growth and worldwide acclaim for the “Made in France” quality of its paint products. Today, the SME exports worldwide, supplying major international aircraft manufacturers, airlines and their maintenance centres.

MAPAERO has particularly strong export activity to the USA, Canada, and Asia, so logistics are a major challenge, with three key problems to be overcome.

Firstly, short delivery times are required. Aircraft stay in maintenance for only a few days, due to the extremely high cost of this downtime. Secondly, handling materials classed as hazardous in aviation regulations also involves complying with specific criteria; paint is a flammable product. Thirdly, each country has specific customs formalities to be dealt with.

“ Thanks to our relationship with FedEx, we can satisfy our clients very quickly and keep to guaranteed deadlines, as well as benefit from much simpler administrative formalities. Everything’s much easier with them, enabling us to offer turn-key delivery of a ready-to-use product. This strategy has paid off – over the past five years, we’ve doubled our exports and won market share thanks to FedEx.”

Julie Bonnemaison, MAPAERO’s Logistics Manager.