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AEROSPACE
6.1
%
Capital expenditures
allocated forthe
Aerospace division reached
6.1% of sales in 2011
achievement in itself. The U.S. manufacturer also
secured certification of the “passenger” version in
December and should thus be able to ensure a first
delivery in the first quarter of 2012.
A year characterized by a host
of new models
As far as new programs are concerned, Airbus’ A350
and the B787 – Boeing’s composite aircraft, the first
deliveries of which took place in 2011 – concentrate
a large portion of the market’s future growth and are
therefore carefully scrutinized by all industry players.
Despite Boeing’s delay with its flagship program, the
user experience and initial feedback are extremely
positive. In total, the U.S. aircraft manufacturer
delivered 3 aircraft in 2011 (to Japanese company ANA)
against the expected 10 to 15, and plans 63 deliveries in
2012, to reach a pace of 10 aircraft per month by 2013.
A second assembly line has also opened in Charleston,
South Carolina, to ensure the ramp-up.
The Airbus A350 program, also designed from
composite materials, encountered some difficulties in
early 2011, which forced the manufacturer to delay by
six months the delivery of the first copy, now scheduled
for late 2013.
Boeing and Airbus orders amount
to 8 years of production
For the ninth consecutive year, Airbus is ahead
of Boeing in terms of deliveries across all market
segments, and surpasses it in terms of net orders for
the fourth consecutive year. With 1,419 net orders
recorded in 2011, Airbus has indeed beaten its record
1,341 net orders in 2007. However, Boeing is expected
to benefit from the B737
Max
effect in 2012, and
hopes to overtake Airbus this year. Given the expected
production rates, the order books of these two major
customers of LISI AEROSPACE represent between 5 and
8 years of production depending on the model.
New aerospace
accreditations
for the Saint-Brieuc
plant
The plant in Saint-Brieuc, which historically
produced high-tech parts and components for the
Formula 1 market, has strengthened its presence in
the aerospace markets. The site now produces shaft
nuts and reactor blade locks for the group’s motorist
customers such as Pratt & Whitney or Rolls Royce,
and conducts subcontracting operations for other
LISI Group plants. The plant was awarded in 2011
the qualifications required to ensure the marketing
of these products. An initial series of deliveries also
took place in 2011. This new orientation confirms the
diversification potential of the site and consolidates
the business activity for years to come.