RAINER UPHOFF / GRANADA
Regional government aims to relocate Boeing manufacturing and attract Airbus work
Southern Spanish aerospace consortium Andalucia Aeroespecial is being disbanded by its controlling shareholder, the regional government, due to the near-certain collapse of its biggest programme - the Fairchild Dornier 728.
Andalucian government investment arm IFA now hopes to consolidate the consortium's component manufacturing for the Boeing 717 at Seville-based Sacesa, in which it has a substantial stake.
Last month IFA managed to increase Sacesa's capital by €7.4 million ($7.3 million) in a move in which it and partner EADS reduced their relative holdings to leave the business owned 40% by IFA and 20% by EADS, with 40% belonging to three local banks.
The aim is to create an entity better placed to take on work on major projects such as the Airbus A380, with which the company already has panel and fairing contracts, and the Airbus Military A400M.
Andalucia Aeroespecial was created eight years ago. It says: "Andalucia Aeroespecial is being closed because the 728 programme has collapsed. This programme represented the lion's share of our activity. We are now trying to find an Andalucian alternative for Boeing - probably Sacesa."
The companies that made up the consortium will continue to trade independently and the 50 central co-ordinating staff will be relocated within the local industry.
The organisation adds: "We now believe that the structure of a consortium is no longer adequate. We need larger companies able to compete for larger projects on their own and which can then subcontract smaller assemblies to the shops previously operating under the Andalucia Aeroespecial umbrella."
Sacesa director general Javier Perez de los Santos says: "Our main competences are new materials and fibre structures, which is an important contribution to the Airbus projects. But it's completely up to Boeing what they are going to do about the 717."
Meanwhile, the Andalucian government and Seville city authority have invested more than €12million to entice small and medium companies with Airbus work to relocate to the Technological and Aeronautical Park of Andalucia. The park is adjacent to Seville's San Pablo Airport.
Gamesa, Elimco, Industria Especializada Aeronàutica and Magtell have already acquired 15% of the available space.
Additional Reporting by Christina Mackenzie in Seville
Source: Flight International
