Daher
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Aerospace, Defence, Nuclear, Automotive, Logistics |
| Predecessor | Barban & DAHER |
| Founded | 1863 in Marseille, France |
| Founder | Alphonse Barban |
| Headquarters | Marseille , France |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Didier Kayat (CEO) |
| Products | Aircraft manufacturing (TBM and Kodiak turboprops), aerospace systems and components, logistics and supply chain services |
| Owner | Daher family (80%), BPI (20%) |
| Website | www |
Daher (often presented as DAHER) is a French multinational industrial group active in aerospace, defence, nuclear, and automotive sectors, providing manufacturing, services, and transportation solutions.
Originating in 1863 as a maritime shipping enterprise based in Marseille, France, the company came under the ownership of the Daher family within its first ten years and has remained a family-controlled business for over a century.
In the 2000s, Daher broadened its scope into aviation by acquiring French general aviation manufacturer SOCATA and the American aircraft producer Quest Aircraft. It produces its own line of light aircraft and functions as an aerostructures subcontractor for leading aerospace corporations such as Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, and Gulfstream Aerospace.
History
Founded in 1863 by Alphonse Barban as a shipping firm in Marseille, Daher was acquired in 1871 by Syrian entrepreneur Paul Daher. By 1880, its vessel Herald of Morning had set a record for the Marseille to San Francisco voyage via Cape Horn. The company adopted the name Barban & DAHER in 1887.
During the early 1900s, Daher diversified into charter flight services and established routes across the Middle East to support pipeline construction projects, emerging as a key player in energy transport. By the 1930s, it specialized in maritime transportation of locomotives and railway rolling stock.
In 1972, Daher ventured into France’s nuclear sector by providing cranes for power plant construction. The late 1980s marked expansion into global logistics focused on manufacturing and distribution. Starting in 1989, Daher managed transport of oversized Airbus aircraft components between Southampton and Toulouse.
Following the Cold War’s conclusion, Daher extended operations eastward, contributing to China’s first French-built nuclear power facility at Daya Bay (1990) and overseeing logistics for Russia’s Omsk Refinery Project (1994).
Between 1999 and 2003, Daher acquired several aerospace and defense companies including L'hotellier Montrichard, pipe fabricator LaCroix Lucaero, and thermal insulation provider Manutex. In 2003, it secured a significant RFID-based logistics contract with Rolls-Royce Plc.
Daher entered nuclear logistics in 2007 through acquiring Germany’s Nuclear Cargo + Services (NCS), followed by purchasing American firm Transport Logistics International in 2010.
The acquisition of a controlling 70% stake in EADS Socata in 2008 marked Daher's major expansion into general aviation.
In 2010, Daher inaugurated a composites manufacturing plant in Nogales, Mexico. The following year, it strengthened its nuclear equipment portfolio by acquiring valve manufacturers Vanatome and Verdelet.
Marking its 150th anniversary in 2013, Daher acquired aeronautical equipment maker Dyonix and became a strategic partner for Airbus Helicopters' H160 program by designing and producing tail booms and fenestron anti-torque systems. By this time, Daher was also supplying aerostructures for Airbus A350 XWB, Dassault Falcon 5X, and Gulfstream G500/G600 aircraft.
In 2015, leadership transitioned as CEO Patrick Daher passed management to Didier Kayat; ownership continued with the Daher family holding an 80% stake alongside French public investment bank BPI’s 20%.
The enhanced SOCATA TBM 930 turboprop launched in 2016 coincided with production of the company’s 800th TBM aircraft. That year also saw Daher's logistics operations expand with a new base in Queretaro, Mexico.
By 2017, aerospace represented approximately 80% of Daher's total revenue; remaining income derived from engineering and logistics services supporting France's nuclear sector. Delivery rates to Airbus improved substantially from 85% up to nearly full compliance.
Early in 2018, Daher secured its inaugural Boeing contract to supply subassemblies for the 787 Dreamliner. Managing director Didier Kayat set a goal to achieve one-third of revenues from the Americas within five years.
In June 2019, Daher announced plans to acquire American general aviation company Quest Aircraft from Japanese owner Setouchi Holdings; the acquisition finalized in October expanded Daher's footprint in North America while integrating sales with SOCATA operations.
Aircraft manufacturing
Daher's aviation sector specializes in the design, production, and servicing of the TBM and Kodiak single-engine turboprop aircraft. In addition, the company offers maintenance, repair, and technical assistance for comparable aircraft types.
Aerospace systems and components
Utilizing its proficiency in metals, composite materials, and assembly processes, Daher designs and manufactures a range of aerospace parts including:
- Aerostructures: wings, tail assemblies, access doors, airframes, and fairings
- Aero-engines: engine nacelles, pylons, and various engine components
- Aircraft interiors: floor coverings, cargo restraint nets, insulation blankets, and air distribution units
Logistics and services
Daher provides comprehensive logistics and supply chain management solutions to clients in aerospace, automotive, and industrial sectors:
- Logistics Solutions: overseeing inbound, outbound, and aftermarket logistics customized to client requirements
- Manufacturing Operations: delivering assembly, quality assurance, repair, and refurbishment services either on-site or off-site
- Project Transportation: managing oversized or specialized cargo with dedicated engineering support
- Supply Chain Support: supplying engineering expertise in supply chain architecture, procurement processes, supplier development, production oversight, planning, and transportation tracking