Alcoa has struck a multi-year supply deal with Airbus for value-add titanium and aluminium aerospace forgings.
According to the news release issued by Alcoa, the agreement is valued somewhere in the region of $110 million. Under the defined terms, Alcoa will produce the parts in its recently modernized state-of-the art 50,000-ton press in Cleveland, Ohio, which is fully equipped to manufacture the largest and most complex nickel, steel, titanium and aluminium forgings.
“Our expertise innovating highly engineered products, long history in aerospace, and the unmatched capabilities of our 50,000-ton press make Alcoa uniquely qualified to produce high-end solutions for the most advanced aircraft,” said Olivier Jarrault, Executive Vice President and Alcoa Group President, Engineered Products and Solutions.
“This agreement deepens our long and collaborative relationship with Airbus with whom we will continue working to advance the industry with superior products.”
Alcoa will manufacture titanium forgings used to connect the wing structure to the engine for Airbuses A320neo, the company’s most fuel-efficient single-aisle jet.
Alcoa will also produce several large aluminium forgings for the A330 and A380- including the A380 inner rear wing spar, which is the largest aerospace forging in the world. The wing spar will be manufactured with the use of Alcoa’s proprietary 7085 alloy which is specifically used for constructing large structural aircraft components.
This is the second large collaboration between the two companies following the deal struck in 2012, valued approximately $1.4 billion.
According to the terms of the deal, Alcoa had agreed to supply Airbus with its aerospace aluminium sheet, plate and hard alloy extruded products utilizing its current, advanced-generation and aluminium lithium alloys. In addition, Alcoa also manufactures specialty fasteners and structural castings that are used on Airbus aircraft.
Alcoa’s profound technical expertise and the multi-material approach used to provide optimal solutions for customers have seen the company become a permanent fixture in every major milestone in aerospace history. Alcoa has generated $3.8 billion in 2012 from its aerospace dealings.
The company is globally renowned for its high-end produce of aerospace forgings, extrusions, jet engine air foils and fastening systems produced by its downstream business, Engineered Products and Solutions (EPS), and aerospace sheet and plate produced by its midstream business, Global Rolled Products (GRP).
