TenCate Advanced Composites and Fokker Aerostructures have signed a long-term agreement to provide TenCate thermoplastic composite materials  for the construction of several aircraft components by Fokker Aerostructures for the international aerospace industry, at  yesterday’s  Paris Air Show.

The agreement covers the supply of continuous fibre reinforced thermoplastic laminates and a range of semipreg composite materials that are used in commercial, regional and military aircraft built by OEM's like Airbus, Boeing, Gulfstream, Dassault and AgustaWestland.

Advantages of the application of these light-weight composites are, among others, the saving of kerosene and the ability to produce large volumes in series.

Long-term supply

This agreement is an important step forward for the close cooperation between TenCate Advanced Composites and Fokker Aerostructures.

Frank Meurs, group director of TenCate Advanced Composites, explained: “The new agreement emphasises the success of our advanced thermoplastic composites in general, and in particular of our productive relationship with Fokker within the innovative Dutch aerospace industry.”

“This agreement also underlines the continuation of our close partnership since the early 1990s for the supply of thermoplastic composite materials, designed for the part production of Fokker Aerostructures for the international aerospace industry.”

Working together

Both companies are partners within the Thermoplastic Affordable Primary Aircraft Structure (TAPAS) consortium, consisting of eight Dutch companies and institutes from the aviation industry under the leadership of Airbus.

A new fuselage panel for Airbus, made of thermoplastic composite from TenCate Advanced Composites and produced by Airbus, Fokker Aerostructures and other TAPAS partners, was presented at the Paris Air Show yesterday, where the Dutch Economic Affairs Minister Henk Kamp signed a letter of intent extending the TAPAS consortium.

www.tencate.com