As the aerospace and aviation sectors move deeper into 2026, the industry is measuring success by the ability to sustain growth with discipline and control. The momentum built through 2025 marked a decisive shift. Passenger demand remained strong, fleet renewal accelerated, and long-term aircraft orders signalled confidence extending well into the next decade. At the same time, sustainability, airspace modernisation and the convergence of aerospace and space technologies added layers of complexity that placed new demands on the manufacturing base.
“For aerospace, 2025 was the year confidence truly returned,” says Doug Allen, CEO of HT Brigham. “However, customers expect absolute reliability as volumes rise, and that means disciplined systems, proven processes and suppliers who understand the realities of safety-critical manufacturing.”
For the supply chain, 2025 became a proving ground. Rising build rates and longer order visibility exposed the importance of robust systems, repeatable processes and partners capable of scaling without compromising quality. Aerospace manufacturers increasingly prioritised suppliers who could demonstrate not only technical competence, but governance, traceability and consistency under pressure. In this environment, accreditation and process discipline became central to commercial credibility rather than a simple box-ticking exercise.
Within this context, HT Brigham entered 2026 with a clear strategic advantage. Its AS9100-accredited quality management system underpins a long-established specialism in precision presswork and tooling for safety-critical aerospace applications. As aircraft programmes move from ramp-up into sustained production, demand is growing for high-integrity pressed components produced at volume, supported by tooling that delivers repeatability over long programme lifecycles.
“Presswork expertise has a growing importance within aerospace manufacturing, for components that require high precision, strength, and durability to meet the stringent safety and performance standards of aerospace performance and safety,” says Allan Murray, Managing Director. “When production rates increase, there is very little tolerance for variation. Our focus is on making sure the tooling, the processes and the people are aligned so customers get the same result on the ten-thousandth part as they did on the first.”
HT Brigham’s expertise in designing, manufacturing and maintaining press tools allows it to support customers beyond individual part supply. In an era where reliability of output is as critical as part performance, in-house tooling capability provides tighter control over tolerances, process stability and continuous improvement. This is particularly relevant as OEMs and tier-one suppliers seek to de-risk their supply chains by working with partners who can manage complexity internally rather than relying on fragmented external processes.
From an operational perspective, the lessons of 2025 have carried directly into how aerospace manufacturers are preparing for the years ahead. “The past year showed very clearly that growth exposes weakness,” says Michael Benham, Operations Director. “Our priority has been making sure our presswork and tooling operations are built for sustained demand — not just capacity, but control, repeatability and continuous improvement at every stage.”
The themes that shaped 2025 — fleet modernisation, sustainability-driven design changes and increased regulatory scrutiny — have flowed directly into 2026. Lighter, more efficient aircraft architectures continue to place demands on material selection and forming processes, while sustainability expectations require manufacturers to minimise waste and maximise process efficiency. Precision presswork, supported by well-engineered tooling, remains central to meeting these objectives at scale.
As long-term aircraft orders announced in late 2025 begin to translate into sustained production schedules, the focus across aerospace manufacturing is firmly on delivery. Customers are looking for suppliers who can combine engineering capability with operational resilience, ensuring continuity over multi-year programmes. For HT Brigham, this aligns closely with its model: accredited systems, deep presswork knowledge and tooling expertise designed to perform reliably across the full life of an aerospace programme.
Looking ahead, aerospace growth in 2026 is expected to be steady rather than speculative. Success will belong to those manufacturers able to execute consistently, invest intelligently and support customers through increasingly complex programme requirements. In that environment, the role of specialist presswork and tooling suppliers becomes more strategic, enabling the wider industry to deliver on its ambitions without compromising safety or quality.
For HT Brigham, 2026 represents an opportunity to grow, a chance to demonstrate how disciplined manufacturing, accredited systems and specialist expertise can support the next phase of UK aerospace renewal.