SAERTEX extends carbon fiber contract with Bombardier

Contract extension: SAERTEX® remains Bombardier's supplier for carbon fiber composites

Saerbeck, February 18, 2020 - Bombardier Belfast and SAERTEX have reached an agreement to contractually extend their collaboration for the production of lightweight carbon fiber reinforced multiaxial fabrics for the Airbus A220.

SAERTEX supplies textile reinforcement materials and carbon fiber-reinforced, multiaxial fabrics, which Bombardier uses to manufacture the wing skins for the A220 model using its unique resin transfer infusion (RTI) manufacturing process. Bombardier's carbon fiber wings are the largest and most complex composite structures designed, manufactured, and assembled using this RTI technology. The multiaxial carbon fiber fabrics specially developed by SAERTEX for Bombardier facilitate the application of RTI manufacturing technology. The resulting massive weight savings contribute to the A220 achieving unbeatable fuel efficiency in the single-aisle aircraft class. Christoph Geyer, CEO of SAERTEX, commented on the contract extension: „The aerospace industry is an important strategic pillar among SAERTEX's business areas. We see the contract extension as confirmation of our work to date and would like to thank Bombardier for their trust.”

The wings of the A220 will be manufactured by Bombardier at the Belfast plant in Northern Ireland. Spirit AeroSystems has entered into an agreement with Bombardier to acquire the aerostructures and aftermarket activities in Belfast, Casablanca and Dallas. The transaction is expected to take place in the first half of 2020 and remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.