Page 15 - AAA JULY - AUGUST 2014 Online Magazine

FEATURE TATA GROUP

Ramadorai says the partnership with
RUAG Aviation “will be of significant
importance to the Indian armed forces in TAL MAKES FLOOR BEAM without the support of the
Boeing Team. We will accelerate
their desire to produce products locally.” FOR BOEING 787 production to meet Boeing
India’s newly elected Prime Minister TAL Manufacturing Solutions requirements and are committed
Narendra Modi has already pitched for Ltd. (TAL), a Tata enterprise and a to create a center of excellence
wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata
making the country self-reliant in the Motors, celebrated delivery of its for aerospace in India backed by
manufacturing of defense products. first advanced composite floor world-class facilities, proficient
The RUAG project is the fourth Aero- beam (ACFB) for the Boeing 787-9 people and global best practices.”
structure unit to be set up by TASL Dreamliner to Boeing. The ACFB “Manufacturing composites
since 2009 in Hyderabad. The TASL has was produced in collaboration for aerospace is a complex,
already set up 100% export-dedicated with Boeing by TAL at its dedicated demanding process,” said Kent
Fisher, Vice President and
joint ventures with Sikorsky, which has world-class facility in MIHAN SEZ General Manager of BCA Supplier
indigenized the production of S-92 cabins, in Nagpur. Management. “We are pleased
and Lockheed Martin for manufacturing This is a major milestone in TAL’s with the progress TAL has made in
progression towards world class
empennage and center-wing box for the cost-effective offerings in the such a short period of time”.
C-130 J aircraft. aerospace market. In less than five years, TAL has
RUAG re-launched the Dornier 228 in Boeing India - President, Pratyush transformed a green field site at
2010 after upgrading its engine, cockpit Kumar called it a major milestone MIHAN, SEZ into an aerospace
and onboard electronic systems, and not just for Boeing and TAL but manufacturing facility, building
fitting it with a five-blade propeller made also for India. “This is not just any sophisticated aero structures. It
has also created employment
of composite material. part,” Kumar said, “It represents a opportunities for more than
State-owned aerospace company highly advanced form of composite 200 persons – with a potential
Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. also currently manufacturing that enhances for many more. Now, TAL is
India’s stature in the global
manufactures the fuselage, wings and tail supply chain network of Boeing. positioned to methodically ramp
unit of the light transport aircraft, which This is an excellent example of up production for 787-9 floor
can carry two crew members and 15-19 India bringing productivity and beams that are shipped to Boeing
passengers, at its production facility in competitiveness to Boeing, and partners in Italy, Japan and the
the northern city of Kanpur. Boeing bringing cutting-edge United States.
Referring to its arrangement with technology to India – a truly win- With a state-of-the-art facility
the Tata group, Martin Bühlmann, vice- win partnership.” and capability of manufacturing
precision, high quality and cost
president of supply chain management “We are proud of achieving this effective aerospace components,
at RUAG, says that his company found the milestone,” said Rajesh Khatri, TAL is set to foray its presence in
Executive Director & CEO, TAL.
“right partner for the future of the RUAG “This would not have been possible the global aerospace domain.
Dornier 228 program.”
“We found a strong partner in Tata for
the backbone of the airplane—fuselage
and wing,” Bühlmann adds.
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