TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – US-based speciality alloys company Alcoa has struck a $1-billion contract with Airbus to supply multimaterial aerospace fastening systems for use on the European aircraft manufacturer's latest aircraft.
NYSE-listed Alcoa said the deal was its largest fastener contract ever with the aircraft manufacturer, which already used Alcoa’s fasteners on every Airbus platform.
Alcoa’s fasteners would be used to assemble some of Airbus’s latest high-growth airplanes, including the A350 XWB, Airbus’s newest commercial airplane, and the A320neo. Airbus would also use Alcoa’s fastening systems for longer-running aircraft, including the A330.
As part of this agreement, Alcoa would supply advanced fastening systems, such as those that enhanced aircraft panels and engine pylon assemblies on newer airplanes, which included sophisticated design features. Alcoa’s fasteners were made using various materials, including stainless steel, titanium and nickel-based superalloys, which improved fatigue life, enabled lightning strike protection and improved wear and reusability on conventional and composite aircraft.
Alcoa would produce these fastening systems at 14 of its global manufacturing facilities.