Rogersons Buys 3 German Firms in Expansion Bid

Rogerson Aircraft Corp., an Irvine-based aircraft and components maker, said it has acquired three West German firms that company executives believe can help Rogerson’s expansion in the European market.

“It gives us the presence we need to do the things we wanted to on an international basis,” said John McNeil, Rogerson’s vice president of technology and planning.

McNeil would not say how much the privately held company paid for the three German-based divisions of Kollsman Instrument Co., a subsidiary of New York-based Sun Chemical Bank. Kollsman Instrument is based in Merrimack, N.H.

The divisions have combined annual sales of $13 million, Rogerson officials said.

The Kollsman Instrument divisions are: Kollsman System--Technik GmbH of Munich, and Keytronic Technology GmbH and Rutherford System--Technik GmbH, both of Hamburg. The three officially became Rogerson properties on Wednesday, McNeil said.

Rogerson builds secondary instruments and equipment for Boeing and McDonnell Douglas aircraft. In addition, the company’s Hiller Helicopter division manufactures two types of helicopters.

Michael J. Rogerson, company founder and president, first set foot on the acquisition trail in December, 1984, when the company bought Kratos Aviation Products of Pasadena for more than $5 million. Rogerson Aircraft since has purchased a helicopter maker based in Michigan.