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Composites

New 3D wovens plant for aero engine composites

Safran and Albany International, the advanced textiles and materials processing company, have inaugurated a new plant in Rochester, New Hampshire, which will be producing 3D woven composite parts for aircraft engines. The inauguration ceremony, where Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran, and Joseph Morone, President and CEO of Albany International, have announced the news, was held in the presence of representatives of the US and French governments.

2nd April 2014

Innovation in Textiles
 |  Rochester, NH

Industrial, Construction, Transport/​Aerospace

Safran and Albany International, the advanced textiles and materials processing company, have inaugurated a new plant in Rochester, New Hampshire, which will be producing 3D woven composite parts for aircraft engines.

The inauguration ceremony, where Jean-Paul Herteman, Chairman and CEO of Safran, and Joseph Morone, President and CEO of Albany International, have announced the news, was held in the presence of representatives of the US and French governments.

Strong and lightweight

The plant, which opened during 2013, was built to produce 3D woven composite parts using RTM technology for aircraft engine parts. The first application will be fan cases and fan blades for CFM International’s LEAP engine, dedicated to the next-generation single-aisle aircraft, the company reports.

According to Albany International , the foundation of the LEAP engine is rooted in advanced aerodynamics, environmental, and materials technologies. Particularly strong and lightweight, the 3D RTM composite parts produced by Safran and Albany are expected to contribute strongly to provide 15% better fuel consumption compared to today’s best CFM engine.

Selected to power new and improved narrow-body commercial aircraft including the Boeing 737 MAX and the Airbus A320neo, the LEAP engine has achieved broad-based market acceptance with more than 6,000 engines ordered to date.

Commitment to US

“I am very pleased to inaugurate this plant today along with our Albany International partner,” said Jean-Paul Herteman. “Our presence in Rochester reflects our commitment to this state and to the US. For more than 40 years, through CFM International, our exceptional long-term partnership with GE, and both organic growth and acquisitions, Safran has become a formidable presence in the US.”

“Our aim is to continue to expand our position and to contribute to the development of the aerospace and security markets as an American company, to ensure optimum service for our civil and military customers here.”

Joseph Morone commented: “Today’s event is an important milestone in a collaboration between Safran and Albany that began in 2000 as joint research and development and that has blossomed into the unique partnership epitomized by this plant.”

Significant investments

Safran and Albany have made significant investments in the Rochester plant, which features a state-of-the-art industrial design.

The two companies are also building a similar plant in Commercy, France, which will start operations in mid 2014 and will produce the same advanced composites parts for the LEAP engine.

www.albint.com

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