EADS N.V. - Augsburg delivers the first A380 wing component in time

The Augsburg Plant of EADS Military Aircrafts celebrated an important day for the Bavarian aviation industry on Wednesday: The first wing component for the A380 from Airbus was handed over to the customer as scheduled. During the solemn handing over ceremony the Bavarian Chief Minister Dr. Edmund Stoiber emphasized the importance of this new milestone even for Bavaria.

Stoiber said in his speech: “EADS, as the second largest aerospace and defence company in the world with a workforce of about 15,000 in Bavaria contributes significantly to the outstanding reputation of our country in the high-tech sector. The Augsburg Plant also follows the same glorious tradition in the airplane-production in Bavaria. It is evident today that as regards performance and reliability, we are still one of the topmost companies in this industrial sector as we have been before.”

Aloysius Rauen, President and CEO of EADS Military Aircraft congratulated the team comprising development, production and assembly departments for the results produced: “Today we have proved once again that EADS Military Aircrafts is deservedly among the most important and renowned partners for Airbus as suppliers”. He pronounced Airbus U.K. his thanks for the confidence to have selected Augsburg as a new partner and underlined the outstanding co-operation between both sides in the project.

For the first time, Augsburg did not get the contract as a participant in the German share of the production but rather by participating in an open tender floated by Airbus UK in competition against other international companies. The existing production technologies were as crucial for this as the acknowledged high engineering competence and the good reputation of EADS Military Aircraft as one of the biggest suppliers of structural components to Airbus.

The wing component delivered by Augsburg was produced with the most modern techniques. A unique method of milling used nowhere else in the world, was employed for the frame production: Tripod Technology. For the first time, even parts of the wing surface were made from carbon fibre reinforced plastic. All fixtures for production and assembly of the component had to be newly conceptualised and additional area had to be acquired by renting an assembly hall from the fighter bomber wing in Lechfeld. Even for the design of the assembly-line new paths were treaded and computer animation was used.

Designed in close collaboration with major airlines, airports and airworthiness authorities, the A380 is the most advanced, spacious and efficient airliner ever conceived. Offering about a third more seating and far more available floor space than its closest competitor, the A380 will deliver an unparalleled level of comfort, with wider seats and aisles, open spaces for passengers to stretch their legs and access to lower-deck amenities. The A380’s modern technology and economies of scale provide 15 per cent lower seat-mile costs than today’s most efficient aircraft. Consequently, the A380 will offer passengers luxury travel at much more affordable prices. Maiden flight is scheduled for early 2005 with enter into service in the following year. At the moment, the A380 has 129 firm orders and options from eleven customers including Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Air France and Lufthansa among others.

The wing component will be delivered to the Airbus plant in Broughton, Wales by Beluga. With an area of 83,000 square meters, the new plant (“West Factory”) is part of the largest Airbus Production Facility in Great Britain. The wing assembly of the A380 is carried out there.

The Augsburg Plant is responsible for the production of all centre fuselages and their electric components in the four-nation program Eurofighter. Augsburg is the largest supplier of structural components for Airbus beside the A380 with the production of tail sections for the remaining aircraft family as well as other assemblies such as flap tracks, bottom shells and floor grids. The plant delivered components for 300 Airbus aircrafts in the year 2002. Besides, 29 centre fuselages for the Eurofighter were delivered to Manching.

EADS is the second largest aerospace and defence company in the world with revenues of € 29.9 billion in the year 2002 and a workforce of more than 100,000. It is a systems integrator and as such is one of the few companies worldwide capable of combining various products and technologies to form complete systems and offering the associated services. The EADS Group includes the aircraft manufacturer Airbus, the world's largest helicopter supplier Eurocopter and the joint venture MBDA, the second largest missile producer in the global market. EADS is the major partner in the Eurofighter consortium, is the prime contractor for the Ariane launcher, develops the A400M military transport aircraft and is the largest industrial partner for the European satellite navigation system Galileo. EADS has over 70 sites in France, Germany, Great Britain and Spain and is active in many regions worldwide, amongst them America, Russia and Asia.

Augsburg delivers the first A380 wing component in time

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