Paris, France, June 20 2007 – ÉireComposites Teo, Galway, Ireland and Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, signed a manufacturing contract under which ÉireComposites will supply advanced composite aircraft components to Bombardier. The contract was signed at the Paris Airshow in Le Bourget, France, where ÉireComposites is exhibiting at the enterprise Ireland stand.
The contract is to supply carbon-fibre components for the Bombardier global express programme, and for the v2500 engine cowling, supplied by Bombardier to international aero engines for the Airbus a320 family of aircraft. The contract is initially worth in the region of $2.7 million us over a five-year period.
ÉireComposites’ joint managing director, PJ Feerick, said at the signing: “this manufacturing contract with Bombardier puts ÉireComposites at the forefront of suppliers of global aircraft composite components. Combined with our recent NADCAP accreditation award, this contract demonstrates the world-class manufacturing capability of ÉireComposites, and the expertise and training of our engineers and production staff.”
Michael Ryan, vice-president of Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast, said: “we welcome ÉireComposites on board as a new supplier. Their recent NADCAP quality accreditation endorses their considerable expertise in composites manufacturing processes. This contract represents a significant step in Bombardier’s ongoing commitment to encourage the development of a competitive supply base throughout Ireland. Along with our links to universities and R&D programmes, contracts with suppliers on the island of Ireland, which now total $67 million us per annum, are an important part of our contribution to the island economy. We look forward to building a relationship that will play an important role in the success of our global express and nacelle programmes.”
Jim Lawler, director, industrial technologies commercialisation, Enterprise Ireland, said: “enterprise Ireland is delighted to welcome this significant cross-border collaboration between ÉireComposites and bombardier. Enterprise Ireland and invest NI are working together to highlight the diversity and capabilities that are available in the aerospace sector on the entire island of Ireland. This new partnership helps to underpin that goal and enhances the position of ÉireComposites in the sector globally. We look forward to seeing more cross-border contracts like this in the future.”
PJ Feerick also thanked the Irish government agencies, enterprise Ireland and Údarás na Gaeltachta for their assistance in gaining the contract from bombardier: “this type of cross-border co-operation in business is to be welcomed if we are to expand aerospace capabilities on the island of Ireland”.
