After 26 years as a family-owned operation, TestVonics, a leading manufacturer of Air Data Test Sets and Air Data Calibrators based in Peterborough, was recently acquired by Raptor Scientific.
Raptor Scientific, which is a leading provider in the design and manufacture of high-tech test and measurement products in the aerospace and defense markets, announced the acquisition last week, which became official March 31.
TestVonics founder Paul McCullough said there have been other offers to purchase the company in recent times. But what ultimately led to the decision to sell was the vision that Raptor Scientific had for TestVonics, which aligned with what McCullough and his wife Rita saw as a bright future for the company.
“They want us to do what we’ve done and continue to do what made us very successful,” McCullough said. “That’s the reason they bought us – because of our success.”
McCullough said the number one concern was for the TestVonics employees and that they would maintain their jobs and not be required to relocate.
“Everything is staying status quo, nobody’s losing their jobs and the business is not being relocated,” McCullough said. McCullough is staying on in an executive role to make the transition as seamless as possible.
TestVonics’s air data test sets and air data calibrators are used around the world, including in direct support of the United States Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, NATO Forces, Foreign Military Services, commercial airlines and airframes. TestVonics air data test equipment is used to test, verify and calibrate a wide range of air data instruments as well as the air data pitot static system used on rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.
Recently, McCullough said, TestVonics was awarded multi-year contracts with the United States Air Force (three total), Navy and Coast Guard.
“TestVonics position in the US Military market successfully secured several multi-year contracts providing job security for our employees over the next several years,” he said.
In addition to the 2020 contract awards, McCullough said, in 2021 TestVonics was officially and accredited in accordance with ISO-17025. This accreditation is a “badge of honor” he said and is highly recognized in the calibration and metrology environment market.
The addition of TestVonics to the Raptor Scientific portfolio of products further strengthens the existing customer relationships and allows customers to work with one supplier for a number of test and measurement products and services.
“It allows us to join a group of companies and position ourselves as a more diversified company to support military aircraft across the board,” McCullough said.
Air data test equipment and calibrators are mission-critical pieces of equipment used daily to test and measure key components on all aircraft. These products along with the existing Raptor products make Raptor a key vendor to a majority of major aircraft platforms.
“TestVonics is a great addition to the Raptor Scientific family,” said Derek Coppinger, CEO of Raptor Scientific. “They have built a best-in-class technical product line with exceptional customer service and technical support that positions the Company for growth. The addition of TestVonics products to our existing capabilities allows our customers access to a growing number of mission-critical products and services.”
TestVonics started in 1995 as a small repair shop for air data test equipment and more than 25 years later, TestVonics now manufactures a full line of high precision air data test equipment, air data calibrators and flight line Pitot Static testers.
“We look forward to joining Raptor Scientific and the opportunity to be part of their growing capabilities,” McCullough said. “This is exciting for our company, employees and customers as it will give us access to more opportunities to help TestVonics continue its growth at our Peterborough location and allow our customers access to Raptor’s other products and services.”
Raptor Scientific was founded in 2019 by L Squared Capital Partners to consolidate the highly fragmented aerospace and defense testing and measurement market. The company’s platform businesses include Space Electronics, Sensor Concepts and TestVonics. For more information, visit the website raptor-scientific.com.
For additional information about TestVonics, visit testvonics.com.