Magellan commissions factory for F-35 work

TORONTO, Dec. 1 (UPI) -- Canada's Magellan Aerospace Corp. has commissioned a high-velocity, hard metal machining center to undertake F-35 opportunities.

Magellan currently has firm contracts for the multiyear purchase of manufacturing packages for components of the F-35 fighter program for approximately $24.4 million.

The company said it sees the potential for future manufacturing packages related to the F-35 Lightning II as increasing over the initial 15 years of the program.

Components for the aircraft will be manufactured in Chicopee Manufacturing, Magellan's Center of Excellence for high velocity, hard metal machining, located in Kitchener, Ontario.

In 2003 Chicopee Manufacturing was the first international partner on the Joint Strike Fighter program to deliver non-U.S. manufactured components to the program.

"We value this high technology work," said Daniel Zanatta, vice president, North American operations. "From the outset, Magellan recognized that the Joint Strike Fighter program was a good strategic fit with our core products and further recognized the opportunity in this program to grow our core technology and our people to the next level of advanced manufacturing.

"The advanced high-velocity, hard metal machining that will be done for the F-35s here in Kitchener will reinforce Magellan's place in the global aerospace industry."