Goodrich to expand into work for regional planes
Wednesday, April 30th, 2008Source: Press-Register - al.com (Original Article)
Goodrich Corp. said Wednesday that it has won a deal to
build and maintain housings for engines that will go on two
new regional jet models, opening up a new line of business
for the company’s nacelle division, which employs
almost 800 people in Foley.
The company, based in Charlotte, N.C., said the business
could be worth $5 billion in the 25 years after the new
planes enter service. However, the ultimate value of the
business will hinge heavily on how many planes Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries and Bombardier sell to customers. Both
companies hope their planes will begin flying commercially
in 2013.
Until now, Goodrich has only built and repaired nacelles for
large Boeing and Airbus jets, and not for regional planes.
If the work comes through, officials said it’s unclear
what impact it will have on Foley, where Goodrich both makes
and repairs nacelles. A nacelle includes the engine cowling
and other pieces, such as the thrust reverser. Goodrich also
makes the pylons that connect an engine and nacelle to a
wing or fuselage.
Goodrich will be doing the work for Pratt & Whitney, the
airplane engine maker. That unit of Connecticut-based United
Technologies Corp. has been chosen by both Mitsubishi and
Bombardier as the exclusive supplier of engines for their
jets.
Pratt & Whitney, one of the world’s top three
jet-engine makers, has said its geared turbofan engine will
reduce fuel consumption by 12 percent or more over similar
engines now in use.
“The nacelle system will be a major contributor to a
lower-weight, high performance propulsion system,”
Cindy Egnotovich, head of Goodrich’s nacelles and
interior systems unit, said in a statement.
Goodrich has long been a supplier of nacelles for Pratt
& Whitney, and has been working with the engine company
since early 2005 to design a nacelle and build a prototype.
Vickie Langham, a spokeswoman for the Foley operation, said
parts Amex Credit Card were shipped from the nacelle division …continue reading