MURDO MORRISON / LONDON
US aerostructures company Vought is repositioning itself as a wing and foil specialist as it strives to regain its status as a tier one supplier two years after becoming an independent manufacturer.
The former Northrop Grumman subsidiary, bought by the Carlyle Group in July 2000, will continue to build about three main fuselage sections a month for the Boeing 747. But it will stop investing in development of fuselages and engine nacelles, which was formerly one of the biggest parts of its business.
"We plan to concentrate on the flat stuff," says Vernon Broomall, vice-president of quality, engineering and technology at the Dallas, Texas-based company. Vought has invested $60 million over two years on tooling and technology in a bid to move up the supply chain from a traditional "build to print" subcontractor to an assembler working directly for prime contractors.
"We used to be a prime [contractor] a long time ago," Broomall adds. "Now we're determined to get back to that sort of excellence."
In April Vought signed up as one of five technology partners on Boeing's Sonic Cruiser, with Alenia, Hawker de Havilland, Japan Aircraft Development and Japan Aircraft Industries (Flight International, 30 April-6 May). Broomall says the company won the work after designing a Sonic Cruiser based on the concepts published after last year's Paris air show and presenting the results to Boeing.
Source: Flight International
