“The aviation sector is beginning to recover from the COVID-19 crisis,” said Guillaume Faury, Airbus CEO at the end of last month as the world’s largest airline manufacturer prepared its supply chain for a recovery of the commercial aircraft market to pre-COVID levels between 2023 and 2025.
Aerospace is a key market for growth for Hardide Coatings and one in which we have been investing for more than ten years as we have progressed through the industry’s understandably exhaustive testing and approvals processes. Today, we hold approvals from Airbus, BAE Systems, Lockheed Martin and Leonardo Helicopters, and hold AS 9100 and Nadcap Merit accreditation. We regularly coat parts for BAE Systems’ Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 Lightning II and Airbus’ A300 Beluga Super Transporter and A380, the world’s largest passenger aircraft. First orders are expected shortly for a range of Airbus A330 and A320 wing components and we are in the final stages of agreeing a long-term supply arrangement with a major European Tier 1 supplier and arrangements with key UK and European Tier 1 suppliers for coating further A320, A330 and A400M components. First production of these is expected later this year.
At the same time, we have lots of exciting development work underway for a variety of new parts including engine metering valves, reverse thrust actuators, hydraulic cylinder actuators, landing gear actuators, door stops and landing gear pintle pins.
Our relocation in 2020 to new, larger and custom-fitted premises in Bicester, Oxfordshire and investment in our AS 9100-accredited USA facility in Martinsville, Virginia means we are production ready for the upturn and looking forward to the re-opening of the skies. Watch our new UK production site video here.
