Firm will be Airbus’s single source supplier of flap-track beams for the aircraft
Dynamatic Technologies, a manufacturer of precision engineering products based out of Bangalore, is set to become a single source supplier of flap-track beams to Airbus for its single aisle A-320 family of aircraft. European aircraft manufacturer Airbus has decided to source its requirements of flap-track beams from Dynamatic by June next as part of its cost reduction initiatives with the company facing stiff competition from American aircraft manufacturer Boeing in terms of pricing.
Flap-track beam is a flight critical component instrumental in controlling the speed, direction and balance of the aircraft using the flaps every time a plane takes off or lands. Dynamatic already supplies flap-track beams for Airbus A-320 as per a tripartite agreement between Airbus, Spirit and Dynamatic. Other than Dynamatic, UK-headquartered BAE Systems also supplies flap-track beams to Airbus for its A-320 aircraft. Airbus is gradually moving works from BAE Systems to Dynamatic Technologies, an initiative expected to give a much required boost to Indian aerospace sector.
Udayant Malhoutra, CEO and MD of Dynamatic Technologies, confirmed this move saying the decision of Airbus to source all their flap-track beams from the company would fetch the company an additional revenue of Rs 50 crore per annum. “In the next nine months, we will be the single source supplier of flap-track beams in the world for Airbus A-320 family of aircraft. This is for the first time that the flap-track beams of an Airbus aircraft will be made outside Europe completely, and will be manufactured by an Indian manufacturer,” he added.
Dynamatic’s relationship with Airbus started about two years ago when Spirit AeroSystems, the world’s largest manufacturer of aerostructures, signed an MoU with the company. Spirit today produces many critical aerostructures and entire wings for aircraft manufacturers including Boeing and Airbus. The partnership with Spirit helped Dynamatic to industrialise flap-track beams in India.
Airbus presently sells about 35-40 Airbus A-320 aircraft globally every month. Malhoutra said by June 2010, Airbus’ entire requirements of about 40 sets (40x6) of flap-track beams will be produced and assembled at the company’s plant in Bangalore.
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Going forward, the company expects aerospace business to drive growth with the opening up of India’s defence sector and participation of global defence suppliers in defence contracts.
“I think the biggest growth will come from aerospace and defence products. We are filling the gaps and skills which has positioned us better than our competitors,” added Malhoutra.
Dynamatic, which initially started as a manufacturer of hydraulic gear pumps, launched the aerospace business in 1995. The company’s aerospace division was involved in various defence initiatives in India including the Arjun battle tanks, India’s pilotless target aircraft Lakshya, HJT-36 intermediate jet trainer and Sukhoi MKI 30 fighter-bomber. The aerospace division, headed by Air Cmde (Retd.) Ravish Malhotra, who was trained to be a cosmonaut, contributes about a fifth of the company’s consolidated revenue of about Rs 500 crore.
“India offers huge cost arbitration as well as engineering talents to aerospace companies worldwide who are in fierce competition in terms of pricing of their aircraft. Airbus decided to source flack-track beams from us because we met all their criteria — quality, price and delivery. The entry of more and more aerospace companies will help the Indian aerospace manufacturers in creating a unique level competency in the next 20 years,” said Malhotra.