AIDC Signs Production Agreement with Sicamb of Italy

Taipei, July 18, 2012 (CENS)--State-run Aerospace Industrial Development Corp. (AIDC), the largest aircraft maker in Taiwan, recently signed a production agreement with Sicamb SpA of Italy during the just-ended Farnborough International Airshow held July 9-15 in the U.K.

According to the agreement signed by AIDC president Y.N. Hsu and Sicamb president Marco Klinger, AIDC will supply composite parts to horizontal stabilizer leading-edge auxiliary box assemblies for Sicamb-made B787-8 jets, with the order valued at over NT$1 billion (US$33.3 million), and to help build Taiwan's aerospace sector.

AIDC also won American helicopter maker Bell's repeat orders for H-1 helicopter's tailbooms.

AIDC and Sicamb supply B787-8 auxiliary box assemblies for AleniaAermachii of Italy. To leverage synergy, AIDC and Sicamb reached an agreement for AIDC to manufacture the composite parts and Sicamb the metallic parts, without affecting the current B787-8 box assembly production, but helping to expand mutual capacities and reduce costs, AIDC said.

AIDC delivered the first set of B787-8 box assembly to AleniaAermachii in October 2011.

AIDC added that the B787-8 is a long-range, mid-size wide-body, twin-engine jet developed by Boeing, seating 210 to 290 passengers. Boeing claimed that it is the company's most fuel-efficient airliner and the world's first major airliner to use composites extensively to over 50%.

AIDC said that over the next two years, it plans to produce 30 to 40 box assemblies monthly, and gradually to 60 to 70 units starting in 2015. Confirmed orders for B787-8 totals 800 units, AIDC said.