David C. Adams
Analyst · Stifel
Thanks, Glenn. I wanted to take a few minutes to provide you with an update on our integration status for each acquisition. I'll begin with Williams Controls. Thus far, we have integrated the industrial sales and marketing teams including the employment of new leadership, and consolidated our existing aerospace sensors business in China into Williams' state-of-the-art manufacturing facility. As for next steps, we're focused on the integration of Williams' joystick and sensors product lines with their existing offering, as well as leveraging Curtiss-Wright's supply chain management to further improve Williams' cost structure. Also, as previously noted, we intend to expand our industrial presence in India, using Williams' facility as a base to further increase the worldwide penetration of both our sensors and electronic throttle controls. In addition, we remain focused on growing Williams sales to the industrial off-highway vehicle market by driving synergies that include cross-selling and marketing new business through existing Curtiss-Wright relationships. Thus far, Williams is tracking in line with plan financially and ahead of plan in terms of integration. Next, the PG Drives where we've made solid progress year-to-date. This includes the integration of industrial sales and marketing teams, and the consolidation of U.S. and China sales offices. Elsewhere, despite ongoing industry issues that are impacting the U.S. medical mobility market, PG Drives has experienced solid growth in 2013 due to solid power chair system sale. This includes growth in BRIC economies, particularly in Russia and Brazil. PG Drives also experienced growth in industrial market sales for new forklift, truck motor controllers as we continue to win share from competitors. Next, I wanted to highlight a recent positive development that exemplifies the benefits of our business strategy and our ability to leverage the combination of our sensor businesses. PG Drives recently executed a favorable global supply agreement that benefits all 3 of our recent sensor and Controls acquisitions. And will provide various components that are widely used in sensors and joysticks. Looking ahead, we are evaluating further facility consolidations and additional integration initiatives, including leveraging Curtiss-Wright's supply chain management. At this time, PG Drives is on plan financially and ahead of plan in integration. Let's move on to Exlar. We continue to focus on lowering Exlar's cost base, increasing their competitiveness and expanding their distribution network of industry-leading electromechanical actuation products. Thus far, we have leveraged Curtiss-Wright's supply chain management and implemented various cost reduction and lean initiatives. We're also leveraging Exlar's motor design expertise to enhance our legacy designs by employing technology-sharing through aerospace and industrial engineering groups and jointly integrated R&D programs. We have begun cross-marketing new business engagement through existing Curtiss-Wright relationships as well. Moving forward, this should enable us to increase Exlar's end market penetration in the commercial aerospace, defense and adjacent industrial markets. It also opens the door for future expansion of their customer base by leveraging Curtiss-Wright's global exposure throughout both our Controls and Flow Control segments. Thus far, Exlar's integration and financials are tracking in line with plan. Next, an update on Gartner. Aside from focusing on various cost reduction and lean initiatives, we launched a new satellite coatings facility in Houston, Texas. It's designed for the efficient handling and coating of drill pipes, pump motors and other processing equipment serving Gartner's oil and gas customers, its largest end market. As for next steps, we expect to leverage the significant cross-synergies between Gartner and our existing thermal spray businesses, seeking to penetrate new markets and new geographies. We are also evaluating the ability for technology transfer and insertion across existing facilities, and the integration of existing Curtiss-Wright coating technologies into Gartner facilities for increased pursuit of aftermarket applications. This includes increased penetration of advanced industrial gas turbine coatings in the electric power generation market and wear-resistant coatings in the aerospace market, just to name a few. Gartner is above plan in terms of both financials and integration. Next, an update on AP Services because as is typical with niche nuclear aftermarket acquisitions, we have fully integrated AP Services product line and sales team in the Curtiss-Wright's market-leading global distribution network. We also migrated their ERP and financial reporting systems on the Curtiss-Wright's platform. As for next steps, we'll look to continue to lower their cost base. AP Services is currently tracking in line with plan. I also wanted to mention that AP Services recently won the Utilities Service Alliance Material Supplier of the Year Award for the fourth consecutive time, a fantastic achievement and recognition of their innovative, high-quality products and services to the nuclear power industry. Moving over to Phönix. As we've stated, there are significant opportunities for global expansion and cross-selling as Phönix provides an entrée for our products into key geographies in both Europe and Asia. Thus far, we have begun extensive training of our U.S.-based Curtiss-Wright sales teams to represent Phönix throughout North America as significant synergies are expected based upon the combined efforts of our 2 sales forces. As for next steps, we will continue to leverage our sales and marketing capabilities to expand Flow Control's global sales channels. We expect this acquisition to help Flow Control expand its product offering in the refining industry, with the addition of Phönix's coker switch and isolation products, as well as other valve products. Phönix also provides Curtiss-Wright with increased nuclear opportunities in Europe. The business currently designs and manufactures product, which meets the quality specifications for the supply of parts and components of French reactors known in the industry as RCC-M. This will provide expanded opportunities to support the construction of Areva's new build plant design, where Phönix has a substantial pipeline for nuclear proposals, as well as additional prospects in the service, upgrade and plant life extension of existing Areva-designed plants, particularly in Europe. Integration is progressing well. And Phönix is currently tracking in line with plan. Next, to Cimarron, which continues to provide solid opportunities to expand our sales in the upstream oil and gas market, and to help improve Flow Control's overall profitability in the long run. The business has made steady progress with the implementation of their lean manufacturing and computerized maintenance management systems, which should provide material cost savings over time. As we noted on the previous call, Cimarron was anticipating the need to make a significant investment in plant capacity in the near future to meet their rapidly growing demand. With available capacity and capabilities at our existing Houston facility, we have developed an in-sourcing plant to service Cimarron's extra capacity needs and increase our overall capacity utilization. We also have absorbed almost $1 million in transfer and learning curve costs. And despite that impact, we've increased Flow Control's profitability during the first 6 months of 2013. This internal support has allowed Cimarron to achieve record sales in May and June, with the expectations of this trend to continue to grow through the year. Houston production is ramping up quickly. And the implementation of lean production techniques is also progressing very nicely. Lean flow lines have been implemented on 2 Cimarron products being built in Texas, the 16-inch and 24-inch sand traps, which play a key role in the separation process. And all other product lines will follow suit. Our expectation is to achieve at least a 20% improvement in productivity compared to the original benchmark, as well as the potential for significant incremental sales. As noted on our prior call, we believe this integration initiative has the potential to generate additional sales for Cimarron and Curtiss-Wright in excess of $40 million beginning as early as 2014, which would also substantially improve Flow Control's profitability. Overall, this is an excellent example of synergies between our businesses. As we progress through this integration, it will offset some of the overhead under-absorption that we have experienced over the last several years as a result of downstream refining market weakness. Cimarron is also at a solid position to grow its emission control devices business, with 4 of its 5 designs having passed the EPA-mandated test. The fifth device is in final testing. We should have a decision before the end of the year. Cimarron remains in an exciting position to become the first fabricator to have its devices certified to meet the EPA's new standard of governing the destruction of harmful vapors. Thus far, Cimarron is tracking well ahead of plan in terms of integration, and tracking on plan financially despite the absorption of nearly $2 million expected by the end of the year. Finally, I wanted to revisit our 2013 guidance by end market. As we've continued to highlight, we have built a very diversified and balanced portfolio across the defense, energy and commercial industrial markets. And this will remain a core component of Curtiss-Wright's long-term plan. We employ a strategy of growing through niche acquisitions to complement our organic growth, which we believe has positioned Curtiss-Wright for tremendous future opportunities to expand our sales and profitability. Although we've had some economic and market-driven challenges during the past few years unrelated to our acquisitions, we have successfully executed on this strategy throughout the past decade. Additionally, we have grown into new markets and geographies and gained new customers, all the while enhancing the acquired company's cost structure and distribution. So while we've taken some time to digest the most recent acquisitions, we remain on the lookout for additional opportunities to expand the depth and breadth of our markets and customer base, and continue to successfully grow Curtiss-Wright. Now I'd like to turn the call back over to Marty for his final comments before we wrap up the call.