Alcoa’s Largest-Ever Fastener Deal with Airbus
- Alcoa will supply primarily titanium, steel and nickel-based superalloy fastening systems for every Airbus platform
- Deal strengthens Alcoa’s position on new, high-growth platforms including the A350 XWB and A320neo, and reinforces position on existing aircraft, such as the A330
- Alcoa supplying several proprietary products developed specifically for Airbus, produced at 14 of Alcoa’s global manufacturing facilities
Lightweight metals leader Alcoa (NYSE:AA) has signed an approximately $1
billion contract with Airbus for high-tech, multi-material aerospace
fastening systems. The deal is Alcoa’s largest fastener contract ever
with the aircraft manufacturer. Alcoa’s fasteners fly on every Airbus
platform.
“Our growing aerospace capabilities, technology strength and global,
first-rate customer service continue to strengthen Alcoa’s decades-long
partnership with Airbus,” said Alcoa Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer Klaus Kleinfeld. “Alcoa is proud to partner with Airbus to
provide breakthrough technologies for some of the most advanced aircraft
in the world.”
Alcoa’s fasteners will be used to assemble some of Airbus’s latest
high-growth airplanes, including the A350 XWB, Airbus’ newest commercial
airplane, and the A320neo. In addition, Airbus will use Alcoa’s
fastening systems for longer-running platforms including the A330.
As part of this agreement, Alcoa will supply advanced fastening systems,
such as those that enhance the assembly of aircraft panels and engine
pylons on newer airplanes with sophisticated design features. Alcoa’s
fasteners are made using a variety of materials including stainless
steel, titanium and nickel-based superalloys, which improve fatigue
life, enable lightning strike protection, and improve wear and
reusability on conventional and composite aircraft. Alcoa will produce
these fastening systems at 14 of its global manufacturing facilities.
Alcoa Aerospace
Alcoa has been growing its multi-material aerospace business to capture
growth in the global aerospace market in support of its broader
transformation, and has become a leader in jet engine components and
aircraft structures. Alcoa acquired global titanium leader RTI
International Metals, aerospace components manufacturer TITAL
and global jet engine parts leader Firth
Rixson. Alcoa also has grown organically. It opened the
world’s largest aluminum-lithium facility in Lafayette, Indiana,
launched expansions to increase jet engine parts production in La
Porte, Indiana and Hampton,
Virginia, began installation of advanced aerospace plate
manufacturing capabilities in Davenport,
Iowa, announced plans to double its coatings capabilities for
jet engine components in Whitehall,
Michigan and announced an investment in technology that strengthens
the metallic structures of traditional and additive manufactured parts,
also in Whitehall,
Michigan.
About Alcoa
A global leader in lightweight metals technology, engineering and
manufacturing, Alcoa innovates multi-material solutions that advance our
world. Our technologies enhance transportation, from automotive and
commercial transport to air and space travel, and improve industrial and
consumer electronics products. We enable smart buildings, sustainable
food and beverage packaging, high-performance defense vehicles across
air, land and sea, deeper oil and gas drilling and more efficient power
generation. We pioneered the aluminum industry over 125 years ago, and
today, our more than 60,000 people in 30 countries deliver value-add
products made of titanium, nickel and aluminum, and produce
best-in-class bauxite, alumina and primary aluminum products. For more
information, visit www.alcoa.com,
follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoa and
follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.
About Alcoa Fastening Systems & Rings
Alcoa Fastening Systems & Rings, a business unit of Alcoa, is a leading
worldwide designer and manufacturer of fastening systems and rings,
including specialty fasteners, fluid fittings, assembly components,
installation systems, and seamless rings for aerospace and industrial
applications. Headquartered in Torrance, California, the company has
over 8,700 employees at 39 manufacturing and distribution/logistics
locations in 13 countries. For more information, visit afsr.alcoa.com.
Alcoa
Investors
Nahla Azmy, 212-836-2674
Nahla.Azmy@alcoa.com
or
Media
Monica Orbe, 212-836-2632
Monica.Orbe@alcoa.com