China Aluminium Network
Company to increase aluminium alloy production
Edited by : AL CIRCLE
2 min read
Aluminium products developer Constellium plans to inaugurate two new foundries in Issoire and Voreppe, in France, during the last quarter of this year to increase production of its Airware technology, which comprises a range of complementary, high-performance and low-density alloys that are suited for use in all parts of an aircraft’s primary structure.
The company launched the Airware technology, which is aimed at reducing the weight of aircraft structures and lowering assembly and maintenance costs, in July last year.
The technology is expected to improve the aerospace industry’s efficiency and reduce its overall environmental footprint, as the alloys are 100% recyclable and can result in a 20% reduction in the weight of primary aircraft parts.
“With Airware, we are the first to launch and industrialise a technology that meets the challenges of producing ever- lighter aircraft with a lower environmental impact that meets the industry’s economic management criteria,” says Constellium Global Aerospace division president Christophe Villemin.
The company says that major aircraft manufacturers have already selected the technology for use in their new aircraft.
Airbus will use Airware metal sheets and forged parts to manu- facture the key structural elements of the wings of its new wide-bodied, twin-engine A350-XWB aircraft, while Bombardier will use the technology in the fuselage skin, stringer, frame and floor plates of its CSeries aircraft.
Constellium notes that production of the Airware technology has already started at it Ravenswood plant, in the US, and at its Issoire site, in France, but adds that the inauguration of the two new foundries will allow for increased production.
The company announced last year that it would invest €42.5-million in these two sites.
The company launched the Airware technology, which is aimed at reducing the weight of aircraft structures and lowering assembly and maintenance costs, in July last year.
The technology is expected to improve the aerospace industry’s efficiency and reduce its overall environmental footprint, as the alloys are 100% recyclable and can result in a 20% reduction in the weight of primary aircraft parts.
“With Airware, we are the first to launch and industrialise a technology that meets the challenges of producing ever- lighter aircraft with a lower environmental impact that meets the industry’s economic management criteria,” says Constellium Global Aerospace division president Christophe Villemin.
The company says that major aircraft manufacturers have already selected the technology for use in their new aircraft.
Airbus will use Airware metal sheets and forged parts to manu- facture the key structural elements of the wings of its new wide-bodied, twin-engine A350-XWB aircraft, while Bombardier will use the technology in the fuselage skin, stringer, frame and floor plates of its CSeries aircraft.
Constellium notes that production of the Airware technology has already started at it Ravenswood plant, in the US, and at its Issoire site, in France, but adds that the inauguration of the two new foundries will allow for increased production.
The company announced last year that it would invest €42.5-million in these two sites.
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