Saertex Extends Supply Contract with Bombardier

The two companies have reached an agreement to contractually extend their cooperation on the manufacture of lightweight components made of carbon-fibre, non-crimp-fabrics for the Airbus A220 aircraft.

Saertex supplies Bombardier in Belfast with textile reinforcement materials and carbon fibre non-crimp-fabrics to produce wing skins for the A220 aircraft using its resin transfer infusion (RTI) manufacturing process. Bombardier’s carbon-fibre wings are currently the largest and most complex composite structures designed, manufactured and assembled, using this infusion technology.

Saertex’s carbon-fibre, non-crimp-fabrics was developed especially for Bombardier’s Resin Transfer Infusion manufacturing technology. The resulting significant weight savings help the A220 deliver unbeatable fuel efficiency in a single-aisle aircraft.

The wings of the A220 are built by Bombardier at the company’s Belfast plant in Northern Ireland. Spirit AeroSystems has entered into an agreement with Bombardier to acquire its aerostructures and aftermarket activities in Belfast, Casablanca and Dallas. The transaction is expected to complete in the first half of 2020 and remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.