Aleris inks contract with Airbus

The aluminum manufacturer Aleris, headquartered in Cleveland, has signed a multiyear contract with the France-based airplane manufacturer Airbus to supply aluminum plate and sheet to be used in the production of all Airbus aircraft programs. The contract starts in 2017 and includes the supply of technically advanced wing skin material, Aleris says.

"This vote of confidence from Airbus validates our strategy to expand our global rolled products footprint and invest in technology as we are now able to extend our range of aerospace products and better serve Airbus," says Sean Stack, president and CEO of Aleris. "With world class facilities strategically positioned in Koblenz, Germany, and Zhenjiang, China, we are in a strong position to support the significant growth projected in the aerospace industry, particularly in the Asia Pacific region."

The agreement extends Aleris’ relationship with Airbus to include applications such as aircraft fuselage, wing structures and wing skins—a highly specialized product that requires additional processing and premachining.

The supply to be used for the Airbus contract will come from Aleris’s facilities in Koblenz and Zhenjiang, the latter of which represents a $350 million greenfield project for Aleris. The Zhenjiang facility was qualified by Airbus for the production of aerospace material in 2015.