Burnley aircraft parts maker signs 10-year supply contract

Source: The Business Desk   Neil Hodgson

Lancashire aerospace composites manufacturer, Velocity Composites, has signed a 10-year contract extension, and an increased scope of work with a long standing Tier One customer.

The contract is for the supply of composite material kits parts for the Airbus A350 programme.

It runs to 2035 in line with the customer’s agreement with the OEM (original equipment maker) to supply materials to the A350 programme.

Airbus employs around 4,500 staff at its Broughton plant, near Chester, which makes wings for all its commercial aircraft, and more than 2,700 staff in Filton, Bristol, where it designs wings, landing gear and fuel systems.

It currently has a backlog of new aircraft orders stretching for years.

The Velocity Composites contract renews the supply of structural material kits for the A350-900 wing spars by Velocity.

It expands the scope to include kits for the A350-1000 variant for the first time, subject to the necessary approvals, alongside additional new material kits for both aircraft types.

The contract is expected to generate approximately $2.5m in revenue in financial year 2026, with $1m representing new business.

The new business will replace contracts with other customers that are coming to a natural end.