Aerospace Industrial Development Corp (AIDC, 漢翔航空工業), the nation’s largest civilian and military aircraft manufacturer, on Friday announced that its new composite materials manufacturing plant has commenced operations and was expected to contribute NT$1 billion (US$31.04 million) in annual revenue.
The Taiwan Advanced Composite Center 19 (TACC-19) is to be used primarily to fill aircraft fairing orders for Airbus A320s.
The 5,500m2 Taichung facility is equipped with three autoclaves to elevate pressure and heat for the production of advanced composite materials, as well as two five-axis computerized numeral control machine tools for milling components.
“The capacity of the original TACC is no longer adequate to satisfy our clients demands,” AIDC chairman Anson Liao (廖榮鑫) said in a ceremony marking the plant’s opening, which coincided with the company’s 20th anniversary.
Much of the plant’s capacity goes into making faring structures that are fitted to the lower fuselage of A320s to cover gaps between parts and improve aerodynamics.
“The aircraft faring contract with Airbus SAS is expected to provide the company with a steady revenue stream, and help contribute to sales growth when ongoing negotiations on supply contracts for other parts bear fruit,” Liao said.
International passenger flight demand is expected to increase about 4.6 percent annually for the next 20 years, creating a demand for about 32,600 new jetliners over the next two decades, Liao said, citing forecasts by Airbus Group SE.
TACC-19, which broke ground in June last year, is the result of a NT$2.4 billion capital expenditure the company allocated last year.
Other investments made by the company last year include a manufacturing center for aircraft engine housings and a hangar for the F-16A/B fighter jet upgrade program for the Republic of China (ROC) Air Force.
AIDC last month held a ceremony after its Arizona-based US subsidiary began operations in March.
The subsidiary is to reduce time zone and geographical barriers and help the company better understand the needs of its US-based clients, the company said.
AIDC shares gained 0.68 percent to NT$44.3 in Taipei trading on Friday.
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