Global Fastener News

10/9/2015
FEATURE

The past few weeks have seen a series of big announcements at Alcoa Fastening Systems & Rings.

Earlier this week Alcoa Fastening Systems and Rings signed an approximately $1 billion contract with Airbus for high-tech, multi-material aerospace fastening systems. The deal is Alcoa’s largest fastener contract ever with the aircraft manufacturer. Alcoa’s fasteners fly on every Airbus platform.

As part of this agreement, AFS&R will supply advanced fastening systems, such as those that enhance the assembly of aircraft panels and engine pylons on newer airplanes with sophisticated design features. Alcoa fasteners are made using a variety of materials including stainless steel, titanium and nickel-based superalloys, which improve fatigue life, enable lightning strike protection, and improve wear and reusability on conventional and composite aircraft.

Alcoa will produce these fastening systems at 14 of its global manufacturing facilities.

Alcoa fasteners will be used to assemble some of Airbus’s latest high-growth airplanes, including the A350 XWB, Airbus’ newest commercial airplane, and the A320neo. In addition, Airbus will use Alcoa’s fastening systems for longer-running platforms including the A330.

“Our growing aerospace capabilities, technology strength and global, first-rate customer service continue to strengthen Alcoa’s decades-long partnership with Airbus,” said Alcoa CEO Klaus Kleinfeld. “Alcoa is proud to partner with Airbus to provide breakthrough technologies for some of the most advanced aircraft in the world.”

Torrance, CA-based Alcoa Fastening Systems & Rings designs and manufactures fastening systems and rings, including specialty fasteners, fluid fittings, assembly components, installation systems, and seamless rings, for aerospace and industrial applications. AFS&R has over 8,700 employees at 39 manufacturing and distribution/logistics locations in 13 countries. Web: afsr.alcoa.com

SEPTEMBER NEWS

GlobalFastenerNews.com reported in September that Alcoa’s Board of Directors unanimously approved a plan to separate the company into two independent, publicly-traded companies. 

Alcoa’s $1.8 billion Fastening Systems and Rings business will become part of “value-added” company, which will include Global Rolled Products, Engineered Products and Solutions, and Transportation and Construction Solutions.

Current CEO Klaus Kleinfeld will become CEO of the value-added company.

AUGUST NEWS

In August Alcoa realigned its downstream portfolio into two segments. One segment, including Alcoa Fastening, will focus solely on aerospace, and the other segment will be centered on the construction and the commercial wheels markets. 

Alcoa entered the fastener industry with the 2000 acquisition of Cordant Technologies Inc., which included Huck. Huck had acquired fastener manufacturer Jacobson Mfg. Co. in 1998 and Chicago-based Continental/Midland Group in 1999. 

Alcoa acquired Fairchild Fasteners in 2002 for $655 million, combining the company with Huck International to form AFS.

• A summary of each year since 2008 of Alcoa’s fastener business is available to FIN Subscribers by clicking here.

• Among the Alcoa articles in the Fastener History section of GlobalFastenerNews.com:

2001 FIN – Acquisitions Change Fastener Industry Names
Gone are MascoTech, Cordant Technologies and Maple Leaf Aerospace; Going is Industrial Holdings…

2002 FIN – Fairchild, Huck Become Alcoa Fastening Systems
Alcoa entered the fastener industry in 2000 with the acquisition of Cordant Technologies Inc. Cordant had owned Huck since 1991….

2005 FIN – Million Fastener Jumbo Jet Unveiled
Jarrault: Alcoa designed propriety fasteners for the A380, including the XPL Lockbolt Fastening System to tie composite and metallic parts together.

2008 FIN – Alcoa CEO: Fasteners “Extremely Profitable”
Kleinfeld: “You don’t feel emotionally attached to a fastener until you realize that it attaches the plane [that you’re sitting in] together.”

2011 FIN – Alcoa Expands in Aerospace With McKechnie Deal
Valley-Todeco, Linread, TransDigm and McKechnie names involved.