Howmet Aerospace is making a big bet on the nuts and bolts of aerospace manufacturing. The company has agreed to acquire Consolidated Aerospace Manufacturing, or CAM, in an all-cash deal valued at roughly $1.8 billion, buying the business from Stanley Black & Decker.
CAM is not a household name, but its hardware is everywhere across modern aircraft and defense platforms. The company designs and manufactures precision fasteners, fluid fittings, latches, and other highly engineered components that are essential to keeping aircraft structures, engines, and systems together under extreme conditions. Its portfolio includes well-known aerospace brands such as Bristol Industries, 3V Fasteners, Moeller, Aerofit, Voss Industries, QRP, E.A. Patten, and Prikos & Becker.
In commercial aviation, CAM supplies high-strength fasteners, specialized latches, and ducting components used on major Boeing programs, including the 737 MAX and 787 Dreamliner. It is also a key supplier to Airbus, providing mission-critical latches and fluid fittings for the A320neo family, as well as widebody platforms such as the A350 and A330. Beyond large commercial jets, CAM hardware appears on aircraft produced by regional and business jet manufacturers, including Bombardier and Embraer.
The defense side of the business is equally broad. CAM components are integrated into frontline fighter aircraft such as the F-35 Lightning II, the F-15 Eagle, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet, where reliability under heat, vibration, and combat stress is non-negotiable. The company also supplies airframe hardware for heavy transport and tanker aircraft, including the C-17 Globemaster III and the KC-46, and produces components for military helicopters built by Bell and Sikorsky.
CAM’s reach extends into propulsion as well. The company provides tubular assemblies and fittings used in major engine programs, including GE Aerospace’s GEnx and LEAP engines, Pratt & Whitney’s Geared Turbofan, and Rolls-Royce’s Trent family. It also supports space and strategic systems markets, supplying fluid distribution systems and high-pressure fittings for commercial launch vehicles and missile defense applications.
Financially, Howmet expects CAM to generate between $485 million and $495 million in revenue in fiscal year 2026, with adjusted EBITDA margins exceeding 20% before synergies. Factoring in cost synergies and tax benefits, Howmet estimates the transaction values CAM at roughly 13 times adjusted EBITDA.
Expected to close in the first half of 2026, the deal underscores accelerating consolidation in the aerospace supply chain, particularly in the high-margin world of precision fasteners and fluid systems. For Howmet, absorbing CAM strengthens its position as a Tier 1 supplier to both commercial and defense primes. By bringing these specialized brands in-house, Howmet Aerospace increases its content per aircraft on nearly every major commercial and military platform in production. As aircraft production rates climb and defense spending remains elevated, owning these specialized, difficult-to-replace components could translate into greater pricing power, improved resilience, and increased strategic leverage with the industry’s largest customers.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
