Spirit AeroSystems and Airbus open high-tech composite facility

02 Jul 2010

Spirit AeroSystems, the world’s largest independent supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components, today formally opened its new 46 450-sqare-meter (500 000-square-foot) manufacturing facility in Kinston, North Carolina. Employees at the facility will design and manufacture the composite center fuselage upper and lower shells (section 15) and front wing spar for the Airbus A350 XWB aircraft. Design work has been underway for approximately 2 years, and the manufacturing process will begin immediately.

The ceremony was hosted by Spirit President and CEO Jeff Turner, and Airbus President and CEO Tom Enders. Other special guests included Governor Beverly Perdue, along with numerous community partners from around the region and state.

“We are proud of what Spirit has achieved over the last 2 years and honoured to have been invited to Kinston to witness the opening of this high-tech facility. Here at the Kinston plant an important part of our all new A350 XWB will be manufactured,” said Tom Enders, Airbus president and CEO. “Our cooperation with Spirit is an example of how Airbus is growing its partnerships in the United States, both supporting jobs and contributing to the American economy,” he added.

“The Kinston community has been more than welcoming to Spirit,” said Dan Wheeler, vice president/general manager, North Carolina Business Unit. “From the announcement and groundbreaking in 2008, to the occupancy ceremony in April, to the grand opening today, it’s been a challenging yet rewarding experience for everyone involved. We can’t wait to begin producing quality components for Airbus at this site.”

“We’ve been anticipating this day for quite some time,” said Jeff Turner, Spirit president and CEO. “I’m proud of our team for many reasons, including staying on-track with the development of this facility as well as reaching critical milestones for this program. The innovative design/build process we’ve created will undoubtedly bring value to our customer.” Initial employment is on track to exceed 200 by the end of the year, and will grow to about 700 over the next few years on the Airbus work statement alone. Reaching the total employment goal of 1000 will require placing additional work at this site.

Spirit won a contract with Airbus in May 2008 to design and produce the A350 XWB’s composite fuselage structure, known as Section 15, which will be approximately 20 meters (65 feet) long, 6.2 meters (20 feet) wide and weigh nearly 4000 kg (9000 lbs). The company also will produce the front spar for the aircraft’s wings at the Kinston plant. The spar is a wing structure made of nearly 100% composite material, weighs more than 900 kg (2000 lbs), and measures approximately 32 meters (105 feet) long.

Fuselage components designed and manufactured in North Carolina will be shipped across the Atlantic, received at Spirit’s new facility in Saint-Nazaire, France, and assembled before being transported to Airbus as “Section 15.” The front spar will be shipped to Spirit’s UK operations in Prestwick, Scotland, for integration into the wing leading edges before being shipped to Airbus for final assembly.

The A350 XWB Family is Airbus’ response to widespread market demand for a series of highly efficient medium-capacity long-range wide-body aircraft. With a range of up to 8300 nm (15 400 km), it is available in 3 basic passenger versions. Powered by new-generation Rolls-Royce Trent engines, the A350 XWB Family is designed to confront the challenges of high fuel prices, rising passenger expectations, and environmental constraints. Firm orders for the A350 XWB now stand at 530 from 33 customers worldwide.