ÉireComposites, Spirit AeroSystems sign multi-million aerospace contract
Contract covers manufacturing of complex composite components, including assembly, part trimming and non-destructive testing (NDT) services for commercial airliners and business jets.
Left to right: Mark McKeigue, CCO ÉireComposites, Tomas Flanagan, CEO ÉireComposites, Minister Hildegarde Naughton, Mark de Faoite, director of Enterprise, employment and property at Udaras na Gaeltachta and Aisling. Photo Credit: Conor McCabe.
Design, manufacturing and testing company ÉireComposites (Invern, Galway, Ireland) has signed a new multi-million Euro contract with Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, Kan., U.S.), to provide structural composite components for commercial airliners and business jets.
The contract will enable the creation of 40 new jobs over the next three years, while also securing 60 existing positions. The new jobs created will be a combination of engineering, quality and high-tech manufacturing jobs.
The contract highlights the continued commitment by Spirit AeroSystems to quality Irish suppliers following its acquisition of Bombardier’s (Montreal, Canada) Belfast operations. The scope of the contract involves complex composite component manufacturing, including assembly, part trimming and non-destructive testing (NDT) services for a number of key business and commercial aircraft programmes.
“The announcement of the continuation and expansion of the relationship between ÉireComposites and Spirit AeroSystems is hugely significant not only as a sign of confidence of the work of Irish suppliers post-Brexit but the massive role our company will play in the future of air travel,” states ÉireComposites CEO Tomás Flanagan. “In line with the impact the coronavirus had on the aviation sector last year, our aerospace sales were slower than in previous years. However, we expect to recover throughout this year and this announcement is a real show of confidence by Spirit AeroSystems in the work we undertake here in Co. Galway. It is our hope and our goal to return to the same level of revenue in 2019 this year and we plan on strong growth next year with the intention of expanding our work by 40 new positions between now and 2025 to bring our employment numbers to 100 full-time employees.”
ÉireComposites would also like to place on record its thanks to Údarás na Gaeltachta and Enterprise Ireland as they continue to support the company and ensure it continues to work on novel news projects with industry partners across the world.
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