Tributes have been paid to highly respected Carmarthenshire businessman and community figure Owain Davies who has died aged 55 following a plane crash in Switzerland.

It is with profound sadness that Amcanu announces the death of its Managing Director, Owain Davies, aged 55.

Owain died on Tuesday, September 15 following the crash of a Cirrus SR22T light aircraft in the Fluhalp area near Leukerbad, Switzerland.

A passionate and experienced pilot himself, Owain was travelling as a passenger in the aircraft alongside two close friends, who also lost their lives.

Owain was a highly respected figure within Welsh manufacturing and business, but to those who knew him personally he was much more than that. Strong-willed, spirited, determined and deeply caring, he was a natural problem solver who approached life with enormous energy and conviction.

He would often say: “There are no such things as problems… only opportunities.”

Family was at the centre of Owain’s life. He was devoted to his wife Michelle, immensely proud of his children Aron and Ffion, and adored being a grandfather to Oakley and Albie. He was equally proud of the people around him at Amcanu.

Founded by his father, Spencer Davies OBE, in Burry Port in 1975, Amcanu had been part of Owain’s life from an early age. He took over the leadership of the business in 2000 and helped shape it into the specialist enclosure design and manufacturing company it is today.

Owain placed enormous value on apprenticeships, skills development and giving people the opportunity to build careers within the business.

He became a mentor to many and took great satisfaction from seeing people grow, develop and take on greater responsibility. His contribution extended well beyond Amcanu. Burry Port was enormously important to Owain.

He was widely known throughout the local community and supported schools, sporting organisations, community groups and charities over many years.

A proud Welshman and Welsh speaker, he was also a strong advocate for Welsh manufacturing and Welsh business.

Owain became a Trustee of Wales Air Ambulance Charity in 2017 and contributed his aviation experience through its Aviation Subgroup. He had also served as a council member of CBI Wales and chaired its SME Enterprise Forum.

For ten years Owain was also a highly involved School Governor at Parc y Tywyn primary school. Earlier in his life, he served for nearly 25 years as a helmsman with Burry Port Lifeboat.

Aviation was another of Owain’s great passions. An experienced pilot, he loved the technical challenge, freedom and friendships that came with flying and had a wide network of friends within the aviation community.

Owain’s son, Aron Davies, said: “Dad was a real character. He was driven, determined and someone who simply didn’t accept that a problem was too big to solve. “I am immensely proud of everything he achieved, but I am even prouder to have had him as my father. He was my mentor throughout my life, personally and in business, and I know many people at Amcanu will feel that they have lost a mentor too.

“Our family has suffered an unimaginable loss, and we are incredibly grateful for the kindness and support already being shown to us.”

Owain leaves his wife Michelle, children Aron and Ffion, father Spencer, and grandchildren Oakley and Albie.

The Davies family remain closely involved in Amcanu, alongside strong leadership and an established and highly capable team responsible for the day-to-day running of the business. All current customer orders and commitments remain secure and will continue to be managed and delivered by the Amcanu team.

Plans for the next stage of the company’s development had already been discussed and agreed with Owain, and that work will continue.