Press releases 2007

Volvo Aero has acquired the composite company Applied Composites AB (ACAB) in Linköping, which currently has approximately 70 employees. The aim of the acquisition is to use ACAB and its technology to develop and manufacture aircraft engine components in composite materials, which are significantly lighter than the comparable parts in metal.

Pratt & Whitney’s decision to commission Volvo Aero to design and manufacture an important component in the GP7000 aircraft engine is a major success for Volvo Aero’s lightweight technology.

The International Aerospace Exhibition, Dubai Airshow, will open this weekend. Volvo Aero will participate this time with its largest ever involvement at an exhibition in the United Arab Emirates.

• Improved profitability within the aftermarket business • Important break through for Volvo Aero’s light weight technologies • Order book in component business increased by 47%

Pratt & Whitney and Volvo Aero have reached an agreement in which Volvo Aero has been contracted to reduce the weight of the turbine exhaust case (TEC) for the GP7000 engine for Airbus’ new A380 jumbo jet.

Volvo Aero’s wholly owned subsidiary, Aero-Craft in Newington, outside Hartford, Connecticut in the US, has changed name to Volvo Aero Connecticut.

Volvo Aero is the first company in the world to receive the “Supplier Gold” award from United Technologies (UTC), one of the US’ 20 largest manufacturing companies. The distinction represents an important confirmation that Volvo Aero meets UTC’s demanding requirements with regard to quality, ability to deliver and long-term customer service.

During the second quarter, Volvo Aero’s sales amounted to SEK 1 845 M, which was 5% lower than in the corresponding period the preceding year. Adjusted for changes in exchange rates, sales increased by 4%.

General Electric’s new GEnx engine has underwent the “Fan Blade Out Test (FBO)”, as part of the engine certification process. An important objective of the FBO test is to demonstrate that the aircraft engine, at full speed, can lose one of its fan blades without the engine becoming detached from the aircraft wing.

Volvo Aero has signed a contract for maintenance of engines for Norwegian Wideroe’s fleet of Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, PW121 and PW123 engines. The contract covers six years and is worth around 25 MUSD.