AUGSBURG, Germany, July 15 (UPI) -- Premium Aerotec of Germany has fully opened its new plant in Ghimbav, Romania, for production of aircraft components.
The new plant will specialize in the production and assembly of metal components for all Airbus series programs.
Premium Aerotec, an important manufacturer of large aircraft structures was established in 2009 as a wholly owned subsidiary of the European aerospace and defense group, EADS.
"We are pleased to support Romania in further developing its aeronautical sector by locating Premium Aerotec and other EADS subsidiaries such as Eurocopter here …," said EADS Chief Executive Officer Louis Gallois. "EADS is thus further increasing its industrial footprint in Romania, which is already significant through projects such as the border security project.
"This new Premium Aerotec facility will become an important part of the EADS Group's supply chain and help to further increase the competitiveness of the European aeronautical industry."
The Premium Aerotec investments in the Brasov County plant, which comprises 60,000 square yards, total to about $56 million. The phased ramp-up of production will now continue through the end of 2012.
EADS, which has headquarters in France, said the new facility is being smoothly integrated in the process chain of Premium Aerotec's German plants.
The new Premium Aerotec plant is a key element of Aeropark Brasov, the heart of Romania's aeronautics industry. It is close to the Romanian aeronautics enterprise, IAR Brasov and local operations of helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter.
"In only a few years, Premium Aerotec has established itself as a significant player in the aerostructures market and has become an important partner for Airbus," said Guenter Butschek, Airbus's Head of Operations and chairman of the Supervisory Board of Premium Aerotec.
"Considering the production ramp-up of the Airbus serial programs, we are very pleased to see that Premium Aerotec is ready to increase capacity with its new facility in Romania. This allows us to increase the manufacturing of structural components for the new programs, such as the A350XWB and the A400M military transporter."
"The opening of the plant in Brasov is a clear signal of our continuing growth," said Joachim Nagele, spokesman and head of Programs and Sales at Premium Aerotec. "With this action, we are providing a clear stimulus for employment and progress in the region.
"The challenge we face is always that of maintaining our position in the global competition. Our investment in the Brasov site has added a further plant with leading-edge technology and know-how to our strong company network."
Premium Aerotec GmbH has more than 7,000 employees. Its core business is the development and manufacturing of metal and carbon composite aerostructures and the associated equipment and production systems.
The company has production plants in Augsburg, Bremen, Nordenham and Varel in Germany, and in Ghimbav.
