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Eclipse Aviation and Hampson Industries PLC Sign Long-Term Agreement
Hampson Industries PLC secures contract to manufacture empennage assembly for Eclipse 500 jet
ALBUQUERQUE, NM - December 10, 2003 - Eclipse Aviation Corporation, manufacturer of the Eclipse 500 jet, and Hampson Industries PLC, of the United Kingdom, today announced a contract under which Hampson will manufacture the empennage assembly for the revolutionary Eclipse 500 jet. The agreement represents the largest single contract ever awarded to Hampson and reflects Eclipse's commitment to partner with the most capable suppliers worldwide. The contract has an estimated value of $380 million USD.
Under the contract, Hampson's Aerospace Fabrications & Assemblies Division will assemble the complete empennage structure of the aircraft, including component parts and large stretch-formed components. Completed assemblies will be delivered direct to Eclipse Aviation's manufacturing facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a just-in-time basis. Hampson is currently a principal supplier to leading aerospace manufacturers including Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce PLC.
“We are delighted to be associated with Eclipse and to have the opportunity to play a significant part in the launch of this revolutionary new aircraft,” said Kim Ward, Chief Executive of Hampson. “The securing of this contract follows other successful recent new work gains by Hampson and provides us with access to a high profile and very high volume program. We intend to work in very close partnership with Eclipse to ensure the success of the Eclipse 500 program.”
Hampson will supply assemblies for pre-production aircraft in 2004, followed by an expected rapid build up in support of Eclipse's production plans from 2006 onwards.
“The Hampson team has demonstrated strong expertise in structural part fabrication and component assembly, proven knowledge of production logistics, and an ability to scale their manufacturing to support our high volume production,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “This contract once again demonstrates Eclipse Aviation's commitment to search globally to find the most qualified partners, who share our vision to change the way people travel and have the capability to support our value proposition.”
The Eclipse 500 is a revolutionary new aircraft that will set new standards in jet safety, performance and value. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engines, the aircraft will have accommodation for five passengers plus the pilot and will have a maximum cruise speed of 375 knots. It will cost $950,000 USD.
Hampson Industries PLC
Hampson Industries is a UK-listed precision engineering group serving the global aerospace, precision automotive and specialist engineering markets. For the year ended 31 March 2003, the group had sales of £74 million and 1,300 employees.
Some 70% of the group's revenues are aerospace related. The group's operations are structured into four divisions, operating from eight facilities in the UK and three in North America. Its Aerospace Fabrications and Assemblies division has developed, through continuous investment, an unequalled range of process capabilities in aluminum airframe component manufacture, including operating some of the largest aluminum sheet stretch forming equipment currently in use in the independent European aerospace supply chain.
The group is an existing principal supplier to Airbus, with airframe components supplied on virtually all the family of current Airbus aircraft. Other principal customers include; Rolls-Royce plc, Short Brothers and GKN plc. The group's Precision Automotive division, which has a global leadership position in the manufacture of critical tolerance componentry for automotive turbo-chargers, is a key supplier to Borg Warner Automotive, Honeywell and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. (“IHI”) of Japan, amongst many others. Contact Hampson at www.Hampson-Industries.plc.uk
Under the contract, Hampson's Aerospace Fabrications & Assemblies Division will assemble the complete empennage structure of the aircraft, including component parts and large stretch-formed components. Completed assemblies will be delivered direct to Eclipse Aviation's manufacturing facilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on a just-in-time basis. Hampson is currently a principal supplier to leading aerospace manufacturers including Airbus, Boeing and Rolls-Royce PLC.
“We are delighted to be associated with Eclipse and to have the opportunity to play a significant part in the launch of this revolutionary new aircraft,” said Kim Ward, Chief Executive of Hampson. “The securing of this contract follows other successful recent new work gains by Hampson and provides us with access to a high profile and very high volume program. We intend to work in very close partnership with Eclipse to ensure the success of the Eclipse 500 program.”
Hampson will supply assemblies for pre-production aircraft in 2004, followed by an expected rapid build up in support of Eclipse's production plans from 2006 onwards.
“The Hampson team has demonstrated strong expertise in structural part fabrication and component assembly, proven knowledge of production logistics, and an ability to scale their manufacturing to support our high volume production,” said Vern Raburn, president and CEO of Eclipse Aviation. “This contract once again demonstrates Eclipse Aviation's commitment to search globally to find the most qualified partners, who share our vision to change the way people travel and have the capability to support our value proposition.”
The Eclipse 500 is a revolutionary new aircraft that will set new standards in jet safety, performance and value. Powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW610F engines, the aircraft will have accommodation for five passengers plus the pilot and will have a maximum cruise speed of 375 knots. It will cost $950,000 USD.
Hampson Industries PLC
Hampson Industries is a UK-listed precision engineering group serving the global aerospace, precision automotive and specialist engineering markets. For the year ended 31 March 2003, the group had sales of £74 million and 1,300 employees.
Some 70% of the group's revenues are aerospace related. The group's operations are structured into four divisions, operating from eight facilities in the UK and three in North America. Its Aerospace Fabrications and Assemblies division has developed, through continuous investment, an unequalled range of process capabilities in aluminum airframe component manufacture, including operating some of the largest aluminum sheet stretch forming equipment currently in use in the independent European aerospace supply chain.
The group is an existing principal supplier to Airbus, with airframe components supplied on virtually all the family of current Airbus aircraft. Other principal customers include; Rolls-Royce plc, Short Brothers and GKN plc. The group's Precision Automotive division, which has a global leadership position in the manufacture of critical tolerance componentry for automotive turbo-chargers, is a key supplier to Borg Warner Automotive, Honeywell and Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co. (“IHI”) of Japan, amongst many others. Contact Hampson at www.Hampson-Industries.plc.uk
About Eclipse:
Eclipse Aviation is in the business of designing, certifying and producing modern, affordable jet aircraft that will revolutionize the transportation market. The company is applying advanced electronics systems, manufacturing and business practices to produce aircraft that cost less than a quarter of today's small jet aircraft, will be significantly safer and easier to operate than those of today, and have the lowest cost of ownership ever achieved in a jet aircraft.
The goal of Eclipse is to bring the word "personal" into aviation, making it possible for commercial air passengers to move directly between cities on a quick, affordable and convenient basis. It will also allow pilot owners to enter the world of jet-powered aviation.