Aerosud Aviation’s new Growth Strategy is focused on improving aviation production services to a growing industry. The Growth Strategy follows on from a successful growth trajectory that has resulted in Aerosud Holdings being the largest commercial aerospace company in SA.

Aerosud continues to provide opportunities for improvement to the aviation industry based on the company’s sound understanding of the industry, and a passion for quality and innovation both in response to industry demands and as a change agent.

Aerosud Aviation has been supplying parts and assemblies to commercial airplane manufacturers and Original Equipment manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus for almost 20 years. The company culture of strong collaboration with leading technology suppliers globally is of great benefit to the industry and significant opportunity for growth is being unlocked as a consequence.

Aerosud is meeting increasing production demands

Over the past 3 years the company has invested over 3.0mEuro in production expansions and technology upgrades, in order to meet increasing production demands from its customers.  Some of the recent highlights achieved are:

• Boeing Commercial Airplanes – Delivery of over 5 000 parts per month to 14 different Boeing production locations, including pars tot the B737 Max and also B777-X.

• Spirit Aerosystems  - Contract extension for 5 years concluded in 2017, after a significant investment in fully automated robotic welding

• Safran Electrical Power - Expansion of production rates on A320, resulting in a “production rate test” of over 60 ship-sets per month, whilst production on A380 remains stable.  Aerosud has recently delivered the first production parts on a new A350 contract concluded in 2017.

• Airbus and Aerosud Defence and Space – Delivering one A400M shipset per month and recently successfully completed the quality certification of the Structural Composite facility.

Future-forward innovation offers better solutions

Aerosud invested in a new Structural Composite technology in 2015.  This technology is owned by Aerosud Technology Solutions and required a significant further investment to bring it to the required maturity level.  This investment has resulted in a number of technology demonstrators to establish a so-called TRL level 6 (Technology Readiness Level), and to prove that the technology is production-ready.

This investment has now proven to be a sought-after technology solution for future aircraft programs of more than one OEM – and further focussed development is now underway with specific application in wing structures, wing movables, aircraft doors and engine nacelle structures.  The first pre-production parts have been delivered to a new generation business jet program, and a production contract is expected before the end of 2018.

The company is currently expanding its business solutions offer to well beyond its internal requirement and that of its integrated supplier base.  This offering is focussed on deploying the necessary elements of Industry 4.0 technologies in a practical and affordable manner. This includes truly integrated business systems like ERP, PLM, IoT, robotics and complex process control. 

Continuing to build

Aerosud employs more than 600 skilled employees, of which around 100 people are in design and industrialisation and 400 people in aircraft-parts manufacture.  Local added content is around 40%. 

The supply chain includes over 300 overseas suppliers and 15 local sub-tier manufactures.  The Company is AS 9100 approved and also holds several NADCAP approvals.

The company has a workforce with an average age of 35 and employs 30% female workers.  The IDC and Paramount Industrial Holdings are the two major shareholders to this BBBEEE level 4 contributor.

Over the past 3 years, the company has achieved recognition for excellence in manufacturing and Exports from the Annual Premier Business Awards, as well as Vison 2030.

Aerosud is well positioned to offer continued innovation solutions to the global aviation industry.