Spirit AeroSystems opens new spoiler manufacturing facility
The Scotland-based facility will use advanced composites technology for high-volume production of spoilers for the Airbus A320 aircraft family.
Spirit AeroSystems’ new facility will use composites technology to produce spoilers for the Airbus A320 aircraft family. CW photo | Jeff Sloan
On Feb. 28, Spirit AeroSystems (Wichita, Kan., U.S.) announced the opening of a new composite manufacturing facility at its site in Prestwick, Scotland. This facility leverages advanced composite technology from Spirit’s research and development portfolio and brings new work to the site in the form of the Airbus A320 family spoiler. The Rt Hon. Nicola Sturgeon MSP, first minister of Scotland, was on site Feb. 28 to officially open the new facility.
“This is the result of a three-year journey to secure production of the spoiler in the U.K.,” says Scott McLarty, Spirit AeroSystem’s senior vice president of Airbus programs. “We appreciate the investment support provided by our government and community partners. This new facility allows us to utilize innovative technologies like the Spirit-developed resin transfer molding (RTM) solution to better meet the needs of our customer.”
Pictured left to right: Scott McLarty, senior VP Airbus Programs, Spirit AeroSystems; Tommy Cowan, general manager - Prestwick Operations, Spirit AeroSystems; and Rt. Hon. Nicola Sturgeon, First Minister of Scotland, standing before a plaque commemorating opening of new spoiler production line. CW photo | Jeff Sloan
CW photo | Jeff Sloan
According to Spirit, the company’s RTM solution supports the high-volume production of spoilers and other monolithic components and promises to deliver improved quality and significant cost savings. The investment has allowed Spirit to establish a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility using the latest automation and robotics. With these innovative technologies, Spirit expects to achieve the required rate of approximately 700 aircraft and 7,000 spoilers annually, and create more than 100 new jobs in Scotland.
“The opening of this new facility is part of Spirit’s journey to become a leader in advanced out of autoclave composite technology,” McLarty says. “It demonstrates how we can develop cost-effective new technologies and manufacturing processes that will play a central role in the next generation of aircraft programs.”
In addition to spoilers, Spirit AeroSystems currently produces the A320 family leading and trailing edge.
Related Content
-
Carbon fiber, bionic design achieve peak performance in race-ready production vehicle
Porsche worked with Action Composites to design and manufacture an innovative carbon fiber safety cage option to lightweight one of its series race vehicles, built in a one-shot compression molding process.
-
3D-printed CFRP tools for serial production of composite landing flaps
GKN Aerospace Munich and CEAD develop printed tooling with short and continuous fiber that reduces cost and increases sustainability for composites production.
-
A new era for ceramic matrix composites
CMC is expanding, with new fiber production in Europe, faster processes and higher temperature materials enabling applications for industry, hypersonics and New Space.
