Heliwagon is expanding into the European market in a big way, thanks to a new partnership with its first European distributor.
The Texas-based company has signed a distribution agreement with AD-S & Co., a diverse operation in the Netherlands that caters to smaller helicopter operators.
“It just seemed like a really good fit for us for that market,” said Brad Seibold, president of Heliwagon.
“With the sales of Airbus helicopters and the other helicopters that are there, we feel like that’s a market that we really needed to be in.”
Company CEO Gordon Jiroux stated, “the weight alone, with regards to these larger helicopters, makes the HeliWagon the best choice regarding overall safety and helps maintain a professional platform. It’s the logical solution.”
Heliwagon is a unique remote-controlled landing and ground transport system for helicopters that eliminates the need for tugs and tows.
Pilots land on the Heliwagon platform, which has industrial-grade casters and drive wheels and is coated with a thick, durable, non-skid polyurethane liner that is resistant to fuels, hydraulic fluids and other caustic chemicals.
Then pilots or other staff can maneuver the platform from inside or outside the helicopter using a remote control that operates at 2.5 gigahertz and has an operating range of up to 500 feet.
The product was first introduced in 2009, and the company was sold to Gordon Jiroux in February 2016, bringing it under the same umbrella as sister companies Night Flight Concepts, Universal Helicopters and Blue Sky Helicopter Tours.
“We’re having our best year in business this year,” said Seibold. “We’re getting more worldwide exposure … and we are continually looking to sign up quality distributors as its the only effective means of getting our platform to your area, with the appropriate
product support.
Based in Alphen aan den Rijn in the Netherlands, about 40 kilometers southwest of Amsterdam, AD-S & Co. is a certified supplier, specializing in supply chain management solutions and distribution of spares to operators and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) operations worldwide.
The company is part of Avio-Diepen Group, an international organization whose core business is the timely delivery of aircraft parts.
Heliwagon and AD-S & Co. began discussions in early spring this year and signed a distribution agreement at the Helitech International tradeshow in Amsterdam in October.
It was a successful show for both companies. They sold one Heliwagon on the first day and had interest from at least a dozen other clients, said Seibold.
“It was a magnet for the operators,” added Walter Smit, director of AD-S & Co.
“There was so much attention for it, so much interest — not only the small operators but also HEMS services asking for it and basically from customers all over Europe.
“So I really think there’s a quite good potential.”
The Heliwagon struck AD-S & Co. as a good solution for small operators because it’s a one-of-a-kind product, he said.
“Normally you have a landing platform and a small tug. That’s always cumbersome, because you need at least two people to operate and control everything.
“The Heliwagon, having a remote control and basically the tug built into the platform, allows you operate it on your own. And specifically for small operators, that’s a large benefit.”
Both Seibold and Smit see a great deal of potential for the Heliwagon in Europe, and plenty of room to grow.
“We’re really pleased to have the partnership, and we had excellent cooperation during the [Helitech] show,” said Smit. “It felt really natural.
“We are a small company as well, although part of a much larger one. But apparently we just hit the right note together, and that’s very positive for the future, I would say.”
