Spirit AeroSystems develop sustainable composite manufacturing technologies for next generation high rate wing Aerostructures

FARNBOROUGH, England, July 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. has matured a low cost, high rate composite manufacturing process for primary wing box parts production. This work has been carried out by Spirit Shadow Works European division in their Composite Development Centre facilities in Prestwick, Scotland. The innovative out of autoclave fabrication process will produce high tolerance composite integrated parts such as primary wing skins and spars with less energy input, lower capital investment and lower recurring part production costs.

Marcello Grassi, Head of Technology, Spirit AeroSystems Europe commented: "This is a crucial milestone in our quest to deliver to our OEM customers a composite production system capable of coping with next generation Aerostructures' high production rates with more balanced and sustainable technology."

Neil McManus, VP and Managing Director Spirit AeroSystems Europe said: "Working closely with the UK and Scottish governments, as well as the trade association ADS, we have developed a reliable R&D and Technology plan to allow us to get closer to our customer product strategy and its future requirements."

During the last four years Spirit has been collaborating with its customer on a number of government supported R&D programmes such as Next Generation Composite Wing (NGCW), I-Composites Grand Challenge and Rapid Technology Evolution (RATE). On display at the Farnborough 2012 Air Show is the composite integrated wing cover demonstrator, which with its associated Spirit proprietary technology portfolio, represents the summation of the initial efforts aimed at developing high value and sustainable manufacturing technologies for next generation short range aircraft.

McManus concluded; "We operate in a highly competitive market. By developing design and manufacturing technologies capable of reducing factory footprint, capital equipment costs, as well as production costs by way of integrating technologies into a smart product solution gives us a tremendous platform upon which we can execute our mission and achieve our objectives to be the design build partner of choice."

On the web: www.spiritaero.com

About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.

Spirit AeroSystems (NYSE: SPR), with headquarters in Wichita, Kan., USA, is one of the world's largest non-OEM designers and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft. In addition to its Wichita and Chanute facilities in Kansas, Spirit has locations in Tulsa and McAlester, Okla.; Kinston, N.C.; Prestwick, Scotland; Preston, England; Subang, Malaysia; and Saint-Nazaire, France. In the U.S., Spirit's core products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components. Additionally, Spirit provides aftermarket customer support services, including spare parts, maintenance/repair/overhaul, and fleet support services in North America, Europe and Asia. Spirit Europe produces wing components for a host of customers, including Airbus.

SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems