TELFORD, UK, Oct 23, 2025 – Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE) has received the RTX premier award for business management performance from Collins Aerospace. It is the only UK-based company to earn this recognition in 2024.
The award honors ACE for achieving 100% on-time delivery and zero production errors throughout the year. It also recognizes excellence in business management, innovation, and customer support. ACE was also noted for its progress toward sustainable manufacturing, a focus across the aerospace supply chain.
Ian Whateley, managing director of ACE, commented: “We have been working with Collins Aerospace and other RTX businesses for more than 20 years, supplying specialist, small quantity production components for use in R&D and other groundbreaking projects.”
ACE manufactures metal components. Its products are used in battery interconnects, fuel cell bipolar plates, battery grids, cooling plates, and heating elements.
Aviation is one of ACE’s key markets, along with electrification, automotive, and medical sectors. About 20% of its revenue comes from aerospace applications.
Chris Ball, executive director of ACE, concluded: “We can supply into many areas, including heat exchanger plates, hydrogen fuel cells and full electric engine parts for commercial aircraft and UAV platforms.
“There are also components like ice protection heater elements, precision shims/gaskets, and interior lighting – all produced for our aerospace clients from our world class manufacturing facility in Telford and at our sister site ACE Forming in Kingswinford.”
Source: ACE
About Advanced Chemical Etching (ACE)
Advanced Chemical Etching Ltd., founded in March 2000, is a U.K.-based manufacturer specializing in precision photo-etched metal components. Headquartered in Telford, Shropshire, the company serves a range of sectors including aerospace, automotive, communications, electronics, medical, precision engineering, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. Its product portfolio ranges from simple washers to complex components used in applications such as battery interconnects, fuel cell bipolar plates, cooling plates, and heating elements. ACE is recognized for its proprietary etching techniques, including specialized chemistries for titanium and aluminum. The company holds certifications including ISO 9001, AS 9100 for aerospace, and ISO 14001 for environmental standards. ACE employs approximately 70 staff in Telford and exports to more than 33 countries. The company employs 70 workers and reports a turnover of £9M in 2025, reflecting financial growth and global market reach.