Constellium, formerly Alcan Engineered Products, Thursday said it has signed about $2 billion worth multi-year agreement to support all aircraft programs from French aircraft maker Airbus and its parent company, the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co. - popularly known as EADS - (EADSY.PK, EADSF.PK). The specific terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Constellium noted that the deal strengthens its collaboration with Airbus and confirms its position as the leading partner for aerospace aluminium products and solutions.
Under the new agreement, the developer of aluminium products and solutions will supply aluminium rolled products for airframes including wing skin panels and stringers, aero-sheets for fuselage panels, as well as rectangular and pre-machined plates for structural components.
Paris-based Constellium added that all key Airbus and EADS programs will use its aluminium, particularly for the A320 Family with advanced solutions for upper and lower wing skin panels. Constellium also collaborates on the longest 34-meter wing panels and largest structural components seen to date in the aviation industry.
The company will supply the products under the contract from its major plants in United States, France and Switzerland. These three plants offer capabilities to provide the full spectrum of products and secure Airbus and EADS requirements.
Constellium and Airbus have already signed a 10-year partnership agreement in 2010 that marked the introduction of the AIRWARE technology on the A350 XWB.
Aluminium has high level of recyclability without property loss and to leverage this, Constellium and Airbus agreed to increase the recycling share of the aluminium chips generated during the manufacturing process.
Christophe Villemin, President of Constellium's Global Aerospace Division, said, "This agreement is a significant accomplishment for Constellium. Through our partnership, we have a unique opportunity to work even more closely with Airbus to further develop innovative aluminium processes and designs. We are also eager to see our collaboration explore the full potential of aluminium technologies in future aircraft programs."
"Through these contracts Constellium demonstrates its commitment to supply the aerospace industry with the most performing aluminium products and solutions enabling to deliver in terms of fuel consumption, and new maintenance requirements," the company noted.
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