Boeing Says Aerospace Fastener Market Tight Through 2007
Boeing Says Aerospace Fastener Market Tight Through 2007
Jason Sandefur
The Boeing 787 to be unveiled on July 8, 2007, still has about 1,000 temporary fasteners that must be replaced with permanent ones, the Associated Press reports.
The use of temporary fasteners to hold together sections of 787 fuselage for transport was revealed in June (see FIN June 13, 2007). A tight aerospace fastener market has led to a critical shortage of fasteners for the 787, which could slow production for the Dreamliner as the aerospace giant ramps up to meet deliveries beginning in 2008.
Boeing’s Mike Bair told AP that it would take another month or two before the first 787 gets fully fitted with permanent fasteners. After that, a critical fastener shortage is expected to last six to nine more months, Bair predicted.
Alcoa Fastening Systems is reportedly working to complete design work and get the 9 different fastener types to Boeing’s factory in Everett, WA. Large sections of the 787 are manufactured in Japan, Italy and the U.S. and flown to Boeing’s plant in Everett, WA, for final assembly.
Boeing spokesman Adam Morgan assured FastenerNews.com in June the fastener issue would not derail Boeing’s production of the 787. “The bottom line here is that we’ve known about this, we have, and are, prepared for it, and our needs will be met. ” �2007 FastenerNews.com
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