The contracts relate to two of Bombardier’s aircraft programmes, in which Belfast plays a significant role - the advanced composite wings for the CSeries aircraft and the composite wing skins and spar components for the Learjet 85 aircraft. Since Bombardier announced these programmes, more than 60 companies in Northern Ireland have been involved in the development and test phase of the wing programmes, or in the building or equipping of Bombardier’s new state-of-the-art wing manufacturing and assembly facility in Belfast that is currently under construction.
Contracts announced today are:
Denroy Plastics Limited, based in Bangor, County Down, has been selected to manufacture injection-moulded thermoplastic hydraulic and fuel brackets for the CSeries aircraft outer wing box.
Williams Industrial Services of Mallusk, Newtownabbey, has been awarded a contract for the supply of two pre-forming machines, which help prepare the composite materials for both the Learjet 85 and CSeries aircraft wings prior to the curing process. The machines have been designed, manufactured and integrated by Williams to facilitate Bombardier’s innovative Resin Transfer Infusion composite process.
Kemfast Pass, of Belfast, has been awarded a contract to manage the purchase and storage of raw materials, and their onward delivery to the CSeries and Learjet 85 aircraft wing production lines. To support this, Kemfast is building a storage facility near Bombardier’s new wing manufacturing and assembly factory, and is recruiting staff for its operations.
Meanwhile, New Breed Logistics is a US company that has established a base in Belfast as a result of being selected for work on the CSeries aircraft wing programme. New Breed is supporting the CSeries aircraft wing production with a logistics service, which includes supply chain management, inbound transportation management, warehouse management, order fulfilment, production line delivery and product dispatch.
Nova-Tech Engineering Ltd., a division of US-based TSI, is setting up a new European hub in Belfast as a result of being awarded two contracts. The contracts are to manage the supply, support and servicing of tooling and equipment for Bombardier’s new wing facility, and Nova-Tech has been recruiting for its new office in Belfast. As a further spin-off to the local economy, Nova-Tech will be employing a number of local companies to manufacture some of the equipment and tooling required to support Bombardier’s wing production lines.
“Our ongoing investment in these aircraft wing programmes, and in the construction of our new wing production facility, is not only developing our key capabilities and skills for the future, but is also providing valuable spin-offs and benefits to the wider Northern Ireland economy,” said Michael Ryan, Vice President and General Manager, Bombardier Aerospace, Belfast.
“These latest contracts are in addition to work we have already awarded to more than 60 local companies over the past three years,” he added.
Meanwhile, construction of Bombardier’s new 600,000 sq ft (55,742 m2) wing facility is progressing on schedule. The first phase has been completed and production equipment installed, whilst installation of the semi-automated jigs that will support assembly of the CSeries aircraft wings is also now under way in the second phase of the facility.