Alcoa wins $1 billion Airbus order for high-tech, multi-material aerospace fastening systems

NEW YORK, 7 Oct. 2015.Alcoa (NYSE:AA) won a roughly $1 billion contract with Airbus for high-tech, multi-material aerospace fastening systems. The deal is Alcoa’s largest fastener contract with Airbus, and Alcoa’s fasteners fly on every Airbus platform, officials say.

“Our growing aerospace capabilities, technology strength, and global, first-rate customer service continue to strengthen Alcoa’s decades-long partnership with Airbus,” says 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 has signed a contract with Airbus for high-tech, multi-material aerospace fastening systems. Alcoa's fasteners fly on every Airbus platform including new, high-growth platforms such as the A350 XWB, shown here. (Photo: Business Wire)

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 has been growing its multi-material aerospace business to capture growth in the global aerospace market in support of its broader transformation, officials say. The company also delivers jet engine components and aircraft structures.

Alcoa acquired global titanium provider RTI International Metals, aerospace components manufacturer TITAL, and global jet engine parts leader Firth Rixson. Alcoa also opened an 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.

Alcoa Fastening Systems & Rings, a business unit of Alcoa, is a 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.